Snorkeling Saona Island from Bayahibe: Natural pools and starfish

Starfish in waist-deep water, then hours alone on white sand

A speedboat snorkeling tour from Bayahibe to Saona Island in Punta Cana with guide, meals and open bar included. You stop at Palmilla Natural Pool to see giant starfish in shallow water, then spend several hours on Saona's beaches before returning on a catamaran with Caribbean music and drinks. The tour runs 7 to 8 hours and includes park entry, ground transport from your hotel, and a buffet lunch.

Step-by-step itinerary

Saona Island speedboat tour with activities

• Pickup passengers and travel to Bayahibe
• Stop at Palmilla Natural Pool and drink rum
• Arrive at Saona Island and enjoy free time
• Have buffet lunch on the island
• Return on catamaran with music and open bar
• Transport back to hotel in Punta Cana

The experience

The boat leaves Bayahibe in the morning after hotel pickup from the Punta Cana area. Before reaching Saona Island itself, you make a mandatory stop at Palmilla Natural Pool: a sandbank in the middle of the sea where the water only reaches your waist. This is where the giant starfish live. You can watch them without touching, and the crew serves Dominican rum here. The water is clear enough that spotting them is straightforward, and the shallow depth means you're standing, not swimming.

Once at Saona Island, you have several hours of free time. The beaches stretch for kilometers, and the itinerary notes that the appeal of this tour is getting away from the crowds. You're not herded through a schedule. Swim in the clear water, walk the shore, or stay under a palm tree. Lunch is a buffet with grilled chicken, rice with beans, fresh salads and tropical fruits, served on the beach while you listen to the waves. Cold snacks and soft drinks are available throughout the day. The VIP option includes an open bar.

The return happens on a wide catamaran where Caribbean music and dancing start as soon as you board. The open bar runs for the whole ride back to Bayahibe. Ground transport then takes you back to your hotel in the Punta Cana area. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese, and the whole experience (boat, snorkeling, meals, drinks and transport) is included in the price.

What’s included

• Park entrance to Saona Island.
• speedboat and catamaran transport.
• snorkeling in the natural pool and island waters.
• guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• buffet lunch with grilled chicken, rice, beans, salads and tropical fruit.
• cold snacks and soft drinks throughout the day.
• ground transport from your hotel in the Punta Cana area (or La Romana and Bayahibe, depending on your option choice).
• open bar on the return catamaran (VIP option only).

Options for this experience

2 options

Isla Saona Budget TourGuide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 07:00The tour lasts 8 hours. The vessel may be either a catamaran or a speedboat. On the island you visit 1 natural swimming pool and 1 beach. This is not a VIP tour. Pickup is included.

VIP Tour to Saona Island!Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 07:00VIP option: a private beach table with a waiter and a welcome toast with sparkling wine. The tour lasts 8 hours. VIP lunch is either octopus or calamares a la criolla, plus 2 shrimp skewers and fried calamari. The route is combined: outbound by boat and return by catamaran, or the reverse. VIP open bar includes water, soft drinks, beer, rum, whiskey, gin and vodka, with red and white wine served during lunch. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and FridayDeparts at 07:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (11 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 7 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 40

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by ParaViajantes Tours

Is this one for you?Book the VIP option if the open bar and catamaran celebration on the return matters to you. The Low Cost option gives you the same snorkeling, beaches and lunch without it. Choose the La Romana or Bayahibe pickup if you're staying outside Punta Cana and want to avoid a longer hotel transfer.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 3 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 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the Natural Pool stop like, and can I snorkel there?

Palmilla Natural Pool is a sandbank in the sea where water reaches only your waist. You can see giant starfish here, but touching them is not allowed. It's a viewing stop rather than a snorkeling site. The actual snorkeling happens in the waters around Saona Island itself.

How much free time do I actually get on Saona Island?

The itinerary gives you several hours of free time on the island after arrival. You can swim, walk the beaches, or relax under a palm tree. The schedule is built around giving you space to explore rather than moving you through set stops.

What's the difference between the VIP and Low Cost options?

Both options include the same snorkeling, beaches, natural pool and lunch. The VIP option adds an open bar on the return catamaran. The Low Cost option does not. Both include cold snacks and soft drinks throughout the day.

Is hotel pickup included, and does it cost extra?

Ground transport from your hotel in the Punta Cana area is included in the tour price. If you're staying in La Romana or Bayahibe, you can choose that option at checkout. Otherwise, pickup happens from your Punta Cana hotel.

How long is the whole tour, and what time does it start?

The tour runs 7 to 8 hours total, including the time for hotel pickups and the return trip. The exact start time depends on where you're picked up, but the itinerary begins once all passengers are collected in Bayahibe.