Saona Island day trip from La Romana: Beach, lunch & natural pool

Eight hours on a protected island with palm-lined beaches, a coral-rimmed natural pool, and a midday Dominican buffet

A full-day tour of Saona Island, a protected natural reserve southeast of La Romana, with round-trip transport from your hotel, a guided stop at the natural swimming pool at Playa Palmilla, and a typical Dominican lunch buffet on the beach. The island sits surrounded by palm trees and white sand. The natural pool lies about 200 to 300 meters offshore, where the water reaches knee to waist height and a coral terrace creates the geological formation. Live guides speak English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language. Children from age 1 are welcome, and infants sit on an adult's lap.

Step-by-step itinerary

Saona Island day trip activities

• Travel to Isla Saona
• Relax on beautiful beaches
• Visit natural swimming pool at Playa Palmilla
• Enjoy typical Dominican lunch buffet
• Play beach volleyball or walk coastline

The experience

Saona Island is the most popular excursion in the Dominican Republic, and the day starts with pickup from your hotel in La Romana. The boat carries you to the island, a protected natural park with virgin beaches and coastlines lined with palms. Once there, you can lounge on a beach chair, order drinks from the all-inclusive beach bar, or play beach volleyball while the morning passes.

Mid-morning brings a stop at Playa Palmilla, where the natural swimming pool sits about 200 to 300 meters from the shoreline. The water reaches your knees or waist, and you walk roughly 800 meters parallel to the beach between white sand and a massive coral terrace. The geological wonder that holds the pool in place and separates it from the open sea. This is where most travelers spend time in the water before heading back to the island.

Around midday the beach buffet opens with a typical Dominican meal: chicken, pork, rice, vegetables, beans, salad and fresh fruit. After lunch you can walk the coastline, swim again, or stay under the palms. The boat returns to La Romana in the late afternoon, ending an eight-hour day on the water and sand.

What’s included

• Round-trip hotel pickup and boat transport to and from Saona Island.
• a guided stop at the natural swimming pool at Playa Palmilla.
• all-inclusive beach bar access.
• typical Dominican lunch buffet with chicken, pork, rice, vegetables, beans, salad and fruit.
• beach chair and volleyball access on the island.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 09:30

AgesAdult (18 to 70 years) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Infant (1 to 4 years): free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 45 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Oasis Humpack RD

Is this one for you?Book this shared tour if you're arriving with a set window of time and want lunch and transport handled. Choose private rental if you'd rather control your schedule and which beaches you visit.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 17 years); Child (5 to 9 years); Infant (1 to 4 years): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What is the natural pool at Playa Palmilla like?

The natural pool sits about 200 to 300 meters offshore in water that reaches knee to waist height. A massive coral terrace runs parallel to the beach for roughly 800 meters, separating the calm pool from the open sea and creating the geological formation that makes it possible to swim in shallow water so far from shore.

What does the lunch include?

The beach buffet serves a typical Dominican meal with chicken, pork, rice, vegetables, beans, salad and fresh fruit. It is included in the tour price and served midday on the island.

How long is the full day?

The tour runs eight hours total, including hotel pickup, the boat ride to the island, time at Saona and Playa Palmilla, lunch, and the return to La Romana.