Snorkeling Saona Island from Bayahibe: Small group catamaran

Three stops, one boat, your pace on the beach

A full-day catamaran snorkel from Bayahibe to Saona Island in the Dominican Republic with a small group and English-speaking guide. You snorkel at Catuano reef, spend three hours on Saona's beach with lunch served in the sand, then visit the starfish-filled natural pool at Las Palmillas. Pickup from Bayahibe is included. The boat holds a small group only.

Step-by-step itinerary

Saona Island Catamaran Tour

• Board catamaran at Bayahibe
• Sail 1 hour to snorkeling spot
• Snorkel with guide at Saona Island
• Relax and have lunch on beach
• Boat to natural swimming pool
• See starfishes and enjoy drink

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment.
• pickup from Bayahibe or Dormicius.
• breakfast sandwiches and Doritos.
• lunch on the beach with salads, pasta, chicken, beef and fruit.
• Rhum, Presidente beer and soda throughout the day.
• afternoon cake and drinks at Las Palmillas.
• English-speaking certified diving guide.

Times

• Thursday 07:00

Another time? ›

Before you book

Group Up to 20

Live guide English, Spanish and French Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point. You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Book up to 14h before

Ages Adult (13 to 70 years) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free 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.

Confirmation Confirmation within 48 h

Good to know

Low physical effort Public transport nearby

Operated by Quetzal Catamaran Excursions - Saona & Catalina

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

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The experience

The catamaran leaves Bayahibe around 9am and motors about an hour to Catuano, the first snorkeling stop on Saona Island. Your guide, a certified diving instructor, points out the tropical fish (stingray, lobster, puffer fish) as you work the snorkel gear yourself. The reef sits in shallow water. You decide how long to stay in and when to climb back aboard.

After snorkeling, the boat heads to Saona's main beach, a thirty-minute ride away. This is where the day opens up. You get roughly three hours here with no schedule: swim, walk the shore, lie in the sand, or sit in the shallow water with a drink. Lunch arrives on the beach itself (salads, pasta with pesto, chicken breast with ginger, beef, fruit, and sandwiches) eaten with your feet in the sand and no crowds nearby. The operator keeps the group small enough that the beach never feels packed.

At 2:30pm the boat leaves for Las Palmillas, a natural pool about thirty minutes away. The water is so clear you can see starfish on the bottom. You wade in, float around, and get another drink before heading back to Bayahibe, arriving in the late afternoon. The whole day runs eight hours from pickup to return.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

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 kind of snorkeling happens at Catuano?

Catuano is a shallow reef stop where you'll see tropical fish including stingray, lobster and puffer fish. Your guide, a certified diving instructor, accompanies the group and points out what's below. You control how long you stay in the water and when you're ready to move on.

How much time do you actually spend on Saona Island beach?

Saona Island is where you spend the longest stretch of the day: roughly three hours. You can swim, walk, sunbathe, or wade in the shallows. Lunch is served right on the beach in a private area for your group, and the operator keeps numbers small so it stays quiet.

What is Las Palmillas and what do you do there?

Las Palmillas is a natural swimming pool about thirty minutes by boat from Saona. The water is exceptionally clear, so you can see starfish on the bottom. You wade in, float, and enjoy a drink before the boat returns to Bayahibe.

Does the tour include food and drinks?

Yes. Breakfast items (sandwiches and Doritos) come in the morning, lunch is served on the beach at Saona with salads, pasta, chicken, beef and fruit, and drinks throughout the day include Rhum, Presidente beer, and soda. A cake arrives in the afternoon.

What's included in the price besides the boat and snorkeling?

Snorkeling equipment is provided; pickup from Bayahibe or Dormicius is included; all food and drinks listed above are included. You'll need your own towel and sunscreen.

How long is the boat ride to get there and back?

The ride from Bayahibe to Catuano takes about an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes. The return trip at the end of the afternoon is the same length. Between the snorkeling stop and the beach is thirty minutes, and between the beach and Las Palmillas is another thirty minutes.