Saona + Catalina: Two Islands in One Day
$99 per person
Saona + Catalina is a full-day speedboat excursion from Punta Cana that takes you to both of the Dominican Republic’s best-known Caribbean islands in one day. It costs $99 per adult and $49 per child, and the price covers the bus from Bávaro, snorkeling, drinks and a buffet lunch on Saona.
The day starts at the tourist port of La Romana, about 15 minutes by boat from the Catalina coral wall, so you are snorkeling by 9:00 am, before the bigger boats arrive. After the reef comes an hour on a quiet Catalina beach. Then the boat heads for the natural pool, a waist-deep sandbank in the open sea where starfish lie on the white sand and a floating bar serves drinks and fresh fruit. Lunch is a Dominican buffet on the beach on Saona, with time to swim, dance and rest under the palms. The trip ends in the fishing village of Bayahibe.
Choose this tour if you have one free day and do not want to pick between the two islands: you get the snorkeling Catalina is known for and the beaches and natural pool Saona is known for.
The day at a glance
- Price: $99 adult, $49 child (2–12), infants free
- Start: 7:30 am bus pickup in Bávaro; boat from the port of La Romana
- Stops: Catalina coral wall, Catalina beach, natural pool, Saona Island, Bayahibe
- On the water: speedboat with a sun canopy
- Food and drinks: morning coffee, open bar, fresh fruit, buffet lunch on Saona
- Finish: about 4:30 pm in Bayahibe, then the bus back to your hotel
- Snorkeling at the Catalina coral wall
The boat leaves the tourist port of La Romana and reaches the reef in about 15 minutes, so the group is in the water around 9:00 am, before the bigger boats arrive. Life vests and masks are handed out on board, and the crew stays in the water with the group.
- A quiet beach on Catalina Island
About an hour on a stretch of Catalina beach away from other groups: white sand, palms, calm clear water and the open bar.
- Natural pool with a floating bar
On the way to Saona the boat stops at the natural pool, a waist-deep sandbank far from the shore where cushion starfish live. Drinks and fresh fruit are served from a floating bar, with music.
- Buffet lunch on Saona Island
Two and a half hours on a Saona beach: a Dominican buffet lunch on the sand, an open bar with national drinks, swimming, palms and music.
- Bayahibe, the fishing village
The boat ride back ends in Bayahibe, a small fishing village, where the bus waits to take you back to your hotel.
- 7:30 am Bus pickup in Bávaro
- 8:30 am Tourist port of La Romana: coffee, juice and cookies, boarding
- 9:00 am Snorkeling at the Catalina coral wall
- 10:00 am Catalina Island beach and open bar
- 11:00 am Boat ride to the natural pool
- 12:00 pm Natural pool: floating bar and fresh fruit
- 1:00 pm Buffet lunch and beach time on Saona Island
- 3:30 pm Departure from Saona Island
- 4:30 pm Arrival in Bayahibe, bus back to the hotels
- Round-trip bus transfer from Bávaro
- Coffee, juice and cookies at the port of La Romana
- Speedboat with a sun canopy for the whole route
- Snorkeling stop at the Catalina coral wall, with life vests and masks
- Beach time on Catalina Island with an open bar
- Natural pool stop with a floating bar and fresh fruit
- Buffet lunch on the beach on Saona Island
- Open bar with national drinks on Saona
- Crew and guide for the whole day
- Infants (0–2 y.o.): free
- Bring swimwear, a towel, a hat, reef-safe sunscreen and some cash for tips and souvenirs
- Starfish in the natural pool: look and take photos, but do not lift them out of the water
- The speedboat can bounce on the waves, so we do not recommend the tour during pregnancy or with back problems
- Times are approximate and can shift with the weather and sea conditions
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
Frequently asked questions
What is the Saona + Catalina tour?
It is a full-day group excursion by speedboat from Punta Cana that visits both Catalina Island and Saona Island in one day. The route is: bus from Bávaro to the port of La Romana, snorkeling at the Catalina coral wall, an hour on a Catalina beach, the natural pool with starfish, a buffet lunch on Saona and the return through the fishing village of Bayahibe.
How much does the two-island tour cost?
$99 per adult and $49 per child aged 2 to 12; infants under 2 travel free. The price includes the bus from Bávaro, the boat, snorkeling, drinks and the buffet lunch on Saona. Tips, souvenirs and personal expenses are not included.
Is one day enough for both Saona and Catalina?
Yes, because the day is built around a speedboat and an early start. You get about an hour of snorkeling, an hour on the Catalina beach, an hour in the natural pool and two and a half hours on Saona. If you want a long lazy beach day on a single island, a Saona-only tour gives more beach time; if you want to see both islands, this is the route.
What time does the tour start and finish?
Pickup in Bávaro starts at about 7:30 am and boarding at the port of La Romana is at about 8:30 am. The boat arrives in Bayahibe at about 4:30 pm, and you are back at your hotel at around 5:30–6:00 pm. Your exact pickup time is confirmed after booking.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer for the snorkeling stop?
No, but you should feel comfortable in the sea: the stop is in open water above the reef. Everyone wears a life vest and the crew stays in the water with the group. If you would rather not get in, you can stay on the boat.
Will I get seasick on the speedboat?
The boat is fast and some stretches cross open sea, so it can be bumpy on windy days. If you are prone to motion sickness, take your usual remedy before boarding and sit toward the back of the boat, where the ride is smoother.
Can I touch the starfish in the natural pool?
You can look at them and photograph them under water, but not pick them up. The natural pool is inside Cotubanamá National Park, and park rules and guides do not allow starfish to be lifted out of the water, because air harms them.
How is this different from a regular Saona Island tour?
A regular Saona tour visits one island, usually by catamaran from Bayahibe. This tour starts at the port of La Romana, 15 minutes from Catalina, adds morning snorkeling at the coral wall and a Catalina beach stop, and then continues by speedboat to the natural pool and Saona.
Saona or Catalina: which island is better?
They are different. Catalina is smaller and quieter and is known for its snorkeling and diving. Saona is the postcard island: long white beaches, leaning palms and the natural pool with starfish. This tour is for travellers who would rather not choose.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes. Children aged 2 to 12 pay the child rate and infants under 2 travel free. The natural pool is about waist-deep for an adult and the beaches have calm water. The snorkeling stop is in open water, so parents decide whether younger children get in or stay on the boat. Keep in mind that it is a long day with an early start and several boat rides.
What should I bring?
Swimwear, a towel, a hat, sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen and some cash for tips and souvenirs. A waterproof phone case is useful for the snorkeling stop and the natural pool.
What happens if the weather is bad?
If the port authority closes the sea or the weather makes the trip unsafe, we offer another date or a full refund. Group tours can also be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before departure.
Which hotels do you pick up from?
The bus collects guests from hotels in the Bávaro and Punta Cana area. If you are staying in Cap Cana, Uvero Alto, Bayahibe or La Romana, message us on WhatsApp and we will confirm your pickup point and time.
