Saona Island Day Trip From Punta Cana: Full Guide

Pickup is early, usually between roughly 7 and 8 a.m., and you will normally be told your exact time the day before. From most Punta Cana and Bavaro resorts it is about a one-hour drive to the departure point near Bayahibe.

The classic format is a speedboat out to the island and stops, then a slower, more relaxed catamaran cruise back with music and an open bar. Plan for roughly a 10-hour day from pickup to drop-off.

The Natural Pool is a shallow sandbar in the open sea where the water is only waist-deep and crystal clear. It is a highlight of the trip and where most people see and photograph starfish.

Important: starfish are living animals. Look but do not lift them out of the water for photos, as removing them from the sea can harm them. A good guide or photographer will frame the shot with the starfish left where it belongs.

You typically get a few hours on Saona's beaches, enough time to swim in the warm Caribbean, lounge under the palms, and explore the shoreline. A Dominican-style buffet lunch is usually included, with chicken, pork, rice, beans, salad, and fresh fruit.

There is music, animation, and an open bar, so the atmosphere is festive. If you want quieter beach photos, walk a little away from the main lunch and bar area.

Pack reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a cover-up, and water shoes if you have them. The sun is strong on open water, so reapply often.

Bring a waterproof phone pouch or a waterproof camera. Between the speedboat spray, the sandbar, and the beach, your phone will be near water all day.