Any thoughts on which is a better excursion? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Saona Islands beaches are more scenic and overall it is a more popular experience and for a reason! The weather will accompany us and we will be able to bathe in the transparent water of the Caribbean. The ride from Bayahibe to Catalina by boat takes about 25 min. For groups of 10 or more, please contact us directly. Excellent choice highly recommended! CC Help Jenn Is the snorkeling low key or more advanced? Especially in these unprecedented times, private tours are offering an enormous extra value compared to standard group excursions: safety and health. Saona VIP is our most complete tour to visit this beautiful island. Advantages of private tours to Isla Saona and Isla Catalina? Isla Saona gets visited every day by thousands of tourists. and share your adventures with friends and family. Catalina & Saona are on the Caribbean Sea, so the water will be warm. If you feel that this itinerary might limit your expectations or it is not as much fun as it could be, you should continue reading below, as in this case, a private tour to Isla Saona might be exactly what you are looking for. The best 5 beaches in the Dominican Republic, Rent a boat and discover the best coral reefs in the Dominican Republic, A good profile picture helps you attract customers, Private Catamaran to Saona or Catalina in Bayahibe, SAONA ISLAND Speedboat for private rental in Bayahibe, VIP Speed Boat for Rent in Casa de Campo to Saona or Catalina islands, Luxury Yacht Charter from Casa de Campo to Saona or Catalina. You may also be interested in these articles, Difference between Saona and Catalina Islands, Hidden treasures of the Dominican Republic. Find out in this article what other advantages you have on Saona Island and Catalina Island when booking a private tour. 1 on Tripadvisor (out of 54 water sports and excursion companies in Bayahibe, the departure port to go to Isla Saona). Tourism During Covid I will design your tailor-made itinerary, tell you how to save money on your trip and send you the best insider tips and recommendations. GOOD NEWS! No shoes on the boat. We hope! Explore our exciting land and seaactivities & adventures, hotel packages, and otherspecial offers. We're taking YOU to the Super-Star of off-shore islands in the Dominican Republic. Once in Saona, you will be able to enjoy its beaches and vegetation at your leisure. As you can read in my review about Isla Catalina, it further scores with its catamaran cruise, as you can enjoy it both ways as opposed to the combined speed boat-/catamaran ride to Isla Saona. Since 2011 I have been living in the Caribbean, among them 5 years in the Dominican Republic. Since 24 years I have been living and working together with my better half on the beautiful sun-drenched island called La . Click. You choose the type of boat: sailing catamaran, motor catamaran, yacht or motorboat. Moreover, Saona Islands more secluded beaches that you can reach on a private tour make social distancing much more enjoyable! Do you remember the gorgeous Bounty Chocolate commercials that showed off a deserted island with a gorgeous white sand beach and turquoise waters? It's an all day excursion with snorkeling and/or diving. This price is for Children 4 to 8 years of age. Spend a relaxing time on Catalina Island, an uninhabited nature reserve and national park, and enjoy a barbecue-style lunch on the island. The first tourist boat to dock at Saona was Christopher Columbus in 1494 and Saona has not ceased to amaze visitors for the last 500+ years! Day Trip Saona Island - Quetzal boat; Day Trip Saona Island - Small group; Day Trip Catalina Island; Whale watching . Check out the 35 best Punta Cana tours! This is why we are committed to providing Dominican Republic visitors with an alternative and more exclusive way to experience Saona Island. First of all, we show you our classic excursion to Saona Island. This excursion should be preferred if you only want to visit some of the must-see sights of Saona Island. If you ever get hot during your Saona Island trip, simply go for a swim in the crystal clear waters or drink a cold Presidente! We, as an agency and tour operator, also depend on transportation to the islands, which are independent, so the cost also depends on these factors.Even so, you can book our Saona Island and Catalina Island experiences from these prices: As you can see, both paradises are at your fingertips. Isla Saona is not connected to the Dominican Republics electricity grid and runs entirely on solar panels! It is part of the National Park Cotubanam (formerly called Parque Nacional del Este). For lunch, you dont have to line up with 30 or more unknown people. Come to enjoy them in Saona or Catalina Island in Dominican Republic. 16 Rum Factory Tour. Catalina Island Saona Island is a must if you come to spend your vacation in the Dominican Republic and its popularity is well deserved. I asked a resident of Bayahibe about the present seaweed conditions and they are very bad around Punta Cana but Bayahibe and areas nearby are very clean, beaches look gorgeous around Bayahibe and Saona. It is an island in the southeast of the country, dotted with palm-fringed beaches and surrounded by incredibly blue turquoise waters. 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua Tour from Cabarete, Sosua and Puerto Plata. Caribbean cruise ships used to call at Catalina pre-Covid. The captain is included with the boat rental. At the island, you have plenty of time to enjoy your private lunch, the beautiful beach and refreshing drinks alcoholic and non-alcoholic. With Catalina you're snorkeling off the boat or off the Wall so less concerns about sand and you have both the Aquarium and the Wall to snorkel. He was able to arrange a private boat at a very good cost to pick up my girlfriend and I right next to our resort on the beach. Punta Cana Whale Watching 15 Dominican Republic: Saona Sailing Tour with Lunch and Drinks. Another difference between visiting Saona Island and Catalina Island is the price. As mentioned, there is quite an amount of people visiting Isla Saona (and to a lesser extent Isla Catalina as well). By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy. If you need a transfer from Punta Cana, they can organize it as well. Also, Saona seems to be more of a party. I highly recommend this company to anyone wanting to do any type of boating activity. The dives at this point are between 20 and 40 meters, only within the reach of the most experienced divers. The village of Mano Juan is still there and is one of the two charming fishing villages on Isla Saona, along with a village called Catuano. History of Saona Island In its interior was found Captain Kidd's Cannon, considered the only pirate cannon found in the Caribbean. This is not to say that there's not big boats going to Catalina. Hotels Pick-up. We will be there first part of March :). This is a real island mon! Catalina is more recommended if you are in snorkeling and scuba diving. And its not surprising! Lion fish, frog fish and seahorses are the real protagonists. Saona Island is a must if you come to spend your vacation in the Dominican Republic and its popularity is well deserved. This is not to say that there's not big boats going to Catalina. Diving in Catalina Island reaches its maximum expression in places like The Wall or The Aquarium. In case of any problem, you can always seek immediate help from the staff or with the organizer. Tours to Isla Catalina are offering a relaxed cruise and have a snorkeling stop included. . Christopher Columbus renamed the island to commemorate his friend Michele de Cuneo, an explorer from the city of Savona in Italy. It belongs to the Cotubanama National Park and is fully protected by the Dominican government because of its abundant and wild natural life. 4 EXCURSIONS FOR USD250 P/P . They have beaches worthy of a picture postcard, kilometers of sandy beach surrounded by palm trees and bathed by turquoise waters in a protected natural park. 17 Full day buggy Safari with lunch and Chavon River Tour. the best reefs are there.the island itself is not that great and the beach at your hotel is probably better. Valid on days: Monday Wednesday and Friday. Food good, excellent staff for pro excursions. ATV Samana Adventures ATV Tours & Excursions in Samana Dominican Republic. If you cancel the booking for any reason up to 14 days before the trip date, we will refund the deposit to you. One of the cheapest and most recommended tours is this Private Saona Island Cruise for up to 6 people*. As if that were not enough, in Catalina there is also the wreck of a ship called Cara Merchant, commanded by Captain Kidd at the end of the 17th century. Some of them are: Those are just a few of the advantages when booking a private excursion to Saona Island and Catalina Island. Thank Kanta M . Enjoy the Saona or Catalina Islands with this private tour to suit your group. experience in tourism in the Dominican Republic. Oh, there's also music, animation and open bar. Isla Catalina offers a more intimate experience because it is a quieter island and tourists dont visit it as often as Saona Island. Started June 21, 2021, By Caribbean Life & Travel magazine has selected Isla Saonas unspoiled beaches as the best beaches of the Caribbean. They make for a gorgeous photo background, too! The element that contributes most to the marine fauna is the coral reef that surrounds the island. Our private boat tours let you have the experience of your dreams! Due to the seaweed problem at Saona Island (can anyone confirm this that's been lately? Saona has basically two types of excursion; the party trip usually using speedboat one way and catamaran the other (imho speedboat out cat back is best for the party) and our best trip was trimaran both ways , and the eco trip run by Seavis Bayahibe which visits empty beaches and the turtle hatchery at Mano Juan using motor boats. When arriving at this picture-perfect island with its stunning coastline, you will feel like you are in paradise. It's an All-inclusive, Full-Day, outing and you need some time away from your Punta Cana resort. A few meters away, palm trees and jungle vegetation appear, where we can find endemic fauna and flora of the island. Has anyone used Passion Paradise Adventures?? The great thing about snorkeling is that all you really need is a mask and a life jacket. But the highlight of the activity is the visit to the village of Mano Juan, where you can meet the inhabitants of the island. This island also has a lot to offer you. Even the particular beach you visit always depends on the company you book with, but chances are that you visit a less crowded part of the island. Where to begin to describe one of the most beautiful places in the Dominican Republic. The yacht features a kitchen, a covered seating area and sufficient space outside to lounge and to enjoy the sun. You can define the itinerary. This is why we are committed to providing Dominican Republic visitors with an alternative and more exclusive way to experience Saona Island. The island of Saona is the most visited island in the Dominican Republic. You can relax on the beach with a cocktail or a soft drink or join in a volleyball game. However, the finishing village of Mano Juan does have a small hotel where you can rent a cheap room for the night.