Saona Island: Day Trip with Catamaran Party & Lunch

Summary

Caribbean sea stars, natural pools and a catamaran back to Bayahibe

You’ll float in turquoise water at Lagun Azul’s natural pool, watch sea stars beneath your feet, eat lunch under palm trees on Saona Island, then dance (or just chill) on a catamaran ride back with music and open bar. Expect real Dominican warmth—plus hotel pickup and drop-off for zero stress.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest — we almost missed our pickup in Punta Cana because I thought the meeting spot was next to the bakery (it wasn’t). Our guide, Rafael, just grinned and waved us over anyway, no big deal. The bus ride to Bayahibe was longer than I expected — about an hour — but watching palm trees flicker past and hearing everyone chat in Spanish and English made it feel like we were all heading somewhere special together. There was this little kid behind me who kept singing “La Bamba” (off-key), which still makes me smile.

The speedboat out to Saona Island was loud and fast; salty spray everywhere, hair whipping around. We stopped at this shallow blue spot called the natural pool — Lagun Azul — where you could actually see sea stars on the sand below. Rafael said not to touch them (“solo mirar!”), so we just floated around with drinks in hand. The water felt warm and soft somehow. I remember the smell of sunscreen mixing with rum punch. Someone tried to teach me how to say “estrella de mar” properly — failed miserably but got a laugh out of it.

Lunch on Saona Island itself was buffet-style, nothing fancy but honestly good after swimming: grilled chicken, rice, some kind of local salad that tasted super fresh. People wandered off under the palms or played dominoes in the shade. I ended up talking with a couple from Santo Domingo who told me about their favorite beaches (they swore by Macao). On the way back, the catamaran cranked up merengue music and suddenly everyone was dancing or at least trying to move along. The sky went hazy gold as we drifted toward Bayahibe again — I didn’t expect to feel so relaxed after a group tour like this.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Full day Saona Island excursion

• Pick up from hotels in morning
• Transfer by bus to Bayahibe port
• Travel by speedboat to natural pool
• Enjoy welcome drinks and see sea stars
• Observe channel dividing Saona and mainland
• Have lunch on Saona Island
• Return on catamaran with music and drinks

Top questions

How long is the Saona Island day trip from Punta Cana?

The full excursion lasts about 8 hours including transfers from hotels in Punta Cana or nearby areas.

Is lunch included on the Saona Island tour?

Yes, lunch is served buffet-style on Saona Island as part of the tour package.

Are drinks included during the Saona Island excursion?

Yes, drinks including water, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages are included (open bar).

Does this tour include hotel pickup in Punta Cana?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included from most hotels or apartments in Punta Cana area.

Is the boat wheelchair accessible?

Yes, transportation options and boats are wheelchair accessible for this excursion.

Can children join the Saona Island day trip?

Yes, infants and small children can join; strollers are allowed onboard.

What is the maximum group size for this tour?

The speedboat holds 30-45 people; catamaran holds up to 60 guests per trip.

What’s included

Your day includes morning hotel pickup from Punta Cana or nearby towns, roundtrip bus transfer to Bayahibe port, speedboat ride out to Lagun Azul’s natural pool for swimming among sea stars (just looking!), buffet lunch on Saona Island itself with drinks from an open bar throughout, plus a lively catamaran cruise back before return drop-off at your hotel.