Saona Island day trip from Punta Cana: Natural Pool and lunch

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Free cancellation

1/12

Duration9h

GroupUp to 50

LanguagesEN · DE +3

PickupAt your hotel

Swim at a sandbank in the open sea, then spend the afternoon on Saona Island

A day trip from Punta Cana to Saona Island combines a stop at the Natural Pool—a shallow sandbank surrounded by starfish in the Caribbean—with several hours on the island itself for swimming and beach time. Hotel pickup in an air-conditioned bus, catamaran transport, a Dominican buffet lunch served on the beach, and an open bar with rum, soft drinks and water are included. The full day runs about 9 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Saona Island day trip with lunch

Hotel pick-up by air-conditioned bus
Travel to Bayahibe port
Board catamaran and receive safety briefing
Sail to Natural Pool for swimming and photos
Arrive at Saona Island and enjoy free time
Buffet lunch served on the beach
More free time on Saona Island
Return to Bayahibe and board bus
Transport back to original hotel

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in Punta Cana, with timing adjusted for your location—guests further out like Cap Cana or Uvero Alto leave earlier. The bus takes you to Bayahibe port, where you board a catamaran with Caribbean music and views of the coast. Before reaching Saona, the boat stops at the Natural Pool, a shallow sandbank in the middle of the sea where you can swim among starfish, take photos or simply float with a drink in hand for about 30 minutes.

Once at Saona Island, you have several hours to swim, sunbathe, play beach games or walk the shoreline. A buffet lunch is served right on the beach—chicken, pork, fish, rice, pasta, salads and seasonal fruit, with soft drinks and water included. The open bar on the catamaran runs throughout the day and includes rum, so you can order drinks during the boat ride and at the island.

The return journey follows the same route back to Bayahibe, then the bus returns you to your original hotel. Drop-off times vary depending on traffic, and you'll want to collect all your belongings before leaving the bus. Guides speak English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language, so you'll have information about the stops and the day's logistics from the start.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and return in an air-conditioned bus.
catamaran transport to Saona Island with a stop at the Natural Pool.
Dominican buffet lunch on the beach with chicken, pork, fish, rice, pasta, salads and seasonal fruit.
open bar on the catamaran with water, soft drinks and rum throughout the day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Universal Excursion

Is this one for you?Book this if you're staying in Punta Cana and can commit to a 9-hour day starting before 8am; you'll spend significant time in the water at the Natural Pool and Saona Island, so comfort wading and floating matters more than strong swimming skills.