The natural park bracelets (tax) are not included in the price: 5$ USD per person. If you dont find the right offer among those private tours and you are looking for other excursions to Isla Saona, feel free to send me an email to puntacanatravelblog (at) gmail (dot) com. And even the price seems steep at first glance, if you break it down to 15 people, it is just a bit more than 100 US per person a real bargain for a private full-day catamaran cruise! It has awning and a cooler with ice ready to go! The Turtle Sanctuary is our other visit in the small town, to get to know these fascinating animals. A much more affordable dive is that of The Aquarium. Alternatively, you may use. Saona island is an island where you have to go to disconnect, to relax after a few days in the busiest tourist areas. Alternatively, you may use, Sanctuary Cap Cana, a Luxury Collection All-Inclusive Resort, https://www.proexcursionsbayahibe.com/en/index.html. Which is better Catalina Island or Saona - Tripadvisor The conventional way to visit Saona Island is to go on an excursion on a big boat with a crowd of people you do not know and a mediocre buffet lunch. Just like many other areas in the Caribbean, Catalina Island served as a refuge for pirates and privateers from 1520 to the 1720s. A few meters away, palm trees and jungle vegetation appear, where we can find endemic fauna and flora of the island. ), I'm thinking of going to Catalina Island instead using Passion Paradise Adventures. If you are long overdue for a relaxing SPA day or vacation, a day trip to Saona Island might be just what you need! Sea water has healing properties. Gabriele il Toscano Escursioni & Diving attraction reviews - Gabriele Check out the following options for some additional Isla Saona private tours for up to 10, sometimes even 12 people. Explore our exciting land and seaactivities & adventures, hotel packages, and otherspecial offers. SHARING IS CARING! It is easy to reach Saona Island by boat or yacht. CC Help Jenn However, tours are sometimes cheaper than you might think, hence it is worth having a closer look at Catalina Island and Saona Island private tours. Take your friends and family (maximum 10 passengers). There is one more geographic curiosity about Saona. Would you like to take advantage of someone with years of experience in the tourism industry (knowing all the travel hacks ) and living right in the place where you would like to spend your holiday?Thats what my personal travel coaching is for. If you are 9 or older, you must pay the Adult fare. This article is exclusively about private tours to Isla Saona and Isla Catalina. Saona Islands beaches are more scenic and overall it is a more popular experience and for a reason! Saona Sun & Fun - Excursions to Saona Island Most Popular Posts on Punta Cana Travel Blog . Punta Cana Whale Watching Most of the Saona Island excursions have a set amount of stops. Advantages of private tours to Isla Saona and Isla Catalina? We start approximately 8:00 am from Bavaro - Punta Cana to Bayahibe. Our private boat tours let you have the experience of your dreams! The cheapest private boats to Saona Island. Isla Catalina (Repblica Dominicana) - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre Boats with Clean & Safe badge on WannaBoats, On-Board Covid-19 Safety Protocols (email). Book an excursion or rent a private boat and enjoy the best beaches in the Dominican Republic, Why choose WannaBoats.com to rent a yacht, catamaran or speedboat to go to Saona or Catalina in Dominican Republic, Renting an all inclusive luxury catamaran yacht in the Bahamas can be done easily through WannaBoats.com, 1 or 2 weeks on a luxury catamaran for 6 people in the Bahamas, Rent a boat and explore the Exuma Islands, an essential visit in the Bahamas, The Bahamas recognized as a sustainable destination by the UNWTO, Why choose WannaBoats over other private boat rental websites, WannaBoats.com has been awarded the Travelers Choice badge on Tripadvisor from 2020 to 2022. However, this shouldnt mean that a visit to Isla Catalina is not worth-to-go by no means. We'll be contacting you shortly with the exact location". 3. Hotel El Eden. Any thoughts on which is a better excursion? Hotels near Saona Island and Catalina Island | Saona Dreams - Domingo How to find the best Private Tours to Isla Saona and Isla Catalina How many opportunities will you have to sail the Caribbean Sea? This price is for Children 4 to 8 years of age. Drinks & Food options available for an extra fee and depending number of passengers. We later passed by another area and swam again. Most Saona Island tours leave from Bayahibe and arrive straight to the gorgeous wild beaches shortly after. $ 95 $ 70 All itineraries are custom designed by the Captain in collaboration with you. All Rights Reserved. If you want to have a Saona Island day trip, you might be wondering what the best way to visit this beautiful Caribbean island is. Our most popular Saona excursion is the Saona Crusoe VIP: an adventure per fast speedboat to the most remote and the most beautiful beaches on Saona Island. Any information would be appreciated. Book your private, 10 Best Beaches in Punta Cana You Dont Want to Miss, 5 Best Scuba Diving Spots in the Dominican Republic. Private SpeedBoat Tours Saona or Catalina Islands | WannaBoats Catalina Island We swapped the waters of Saona for those of Catalina Island. Saona Island's beaches are more scenic and overall it is a more popular experience and for a reason! You get the boat, the open bar and the food. 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. If we were seeing what are the differences of both islands, now it's time to put something in common. Furthermore, there are some companies which are taking the hygienic protocol not too seriously. There are two places worth exploring while diving: El Muro, an impressive wall that plunges into the Caribbean Sea, reaching a depth of about 100 meters; and El Acuario, where the dive is 11 meters, full of coral formations, where you can find some of the most typical species of the Caribbean Sea such as seahorses, the famous lion fish or toad fish, among others. 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. Max. Catalina Island Excursion From Punta Cana - Excursion Saona It is an island in the southeast of the country, dotted with palm-fringed beaches and surrounded by incredibly blue turquoise waters. Of course, we would recommend visiting both, but if you can only decide on one, we leave you a brief comparison to help you choose. Saona Island Complete Guide | Best Things to Do | Punta Cana Hero Finally, I came across wannaboats.com I decided to call the contact number directly. Each one offers different options, so it is up to you to decide which experience you choose. Although the difference is minimal, Saona is usually cheaper because it is closer to the tourist sites of Punta Cana. $ 120 $ 98 6 - 8 Hours Car SALE 27 Waterfalls Buggies Tour Puerto Plata $ 95 $ 65 3 - 4 Hours buggies SALE 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua Tour from Cabarete, Sosua and Puerto Plata. On the way to Isla Saona, theres a gorgeous natural pool, a large area with waist-deep shallow and crystal clear water. We use the same quality standards as for our boat tours. There were lots of vans picking up to go to Saona/Catalina. LauraS It brings you to the most beautiful places of Isla Saona with a private speed boat. It offers seemingly endless miles of white sand beaches, but some of the most popular Saona Island beaches are Canto de la Playa, Playa Bonita, and Playa del Gato. You can get a message on a gorgeous white sand beach under the swaying palm trees with a pina colada by your side and feel yourself again. Saona Island has natural sandbars offshore that make the water very shallow, about waist-deep. When traveling with up to 15 people, there are also other options available you can book online. Isla Catalina offers a more intimate experience because it is a quieter island and tourists don't visit it as often as Saona Island. DESCRIPTION. We were back by 5 PM and everything went great. Has anyone used Passion Paradise Adventures?? Our last activity is for those who love scuba diving. 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. Everything is included: gourmet food, service, alcohol, water sports, scuba, linens with a Captain, Chef/Hostess, and first mate. Both islands are worth the visit and have their advantages, but your experiences will be a bit different. Isla Saona is an important turtle breeding ground and you can visit a turtle conservation project on your Saona Island trip. 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. However, this is different for private tours, which is why I would lean more towards Isla Saona if I had to choose where to go on a private excursion from Punta Cana with my friends or family. And surely in its sand and turquoise water you will feel in one of the most spectacular paradises on the planet. They all pretty much go to all the same stops. The element that contributes most to the marine fauna is the coral reef that surrounds the island. Isla Saona gets visited every day by thousands of tourists. Catalina Beach. So, we kinda take you to a sandbar, far from the coast with clear, waist deep water. Oh, there's also music, animation and open bar. Or perhaps you'replanning your first visit to the island. Gabriele il Toscano Escursioni & Diving discounts - what to see at Dominicus - check out reviews and 4 photos for Gabriele il Toscano Escursioni & Diving - popular attractions, hotels, and restaurants near Gabriele il Toscano Escursioni & Diving Catalina Island, a must in Dominican Republic | Saona Dreams There were about 20 of us, and only two divers. Catalina Island not only for divers but also for snorkeling is a wonderful vacation experience. Caribbean cruise ships used to call at Catalina pre-Covid. Catalina & Saona are on the Caribbean Sea, so the water will be warm. Its pristine beaches surrounded by vegetation are also worth seeing, and enjoying its white sand for a couple of hours. It just depends on what you are looking for. Catalina Island features coral very close to the shore that are easily accessible. They drop you off at a central location and there's a lot of people going to Saona, not so many to Catalina. And when you find yourself in its crystalline waters, you must remember that you are in one of the most important ecological reserves of the Dominican Republic. If so, check out our comprehensive Punta Cana Excursion Guide with the most exciting 40+ activities for your vacation. Bayahibe Travel Guide On the other hand, if your intention is to enjoy a privileged environment where you can also snorkel or dive, you should choose Catalina Island. The time on Saona island is priceless. However, the finishing village of Mano Juan does have a small hotel where you can rent a cheap room for the night. Isla Saona offers more spectacular scenery and picture-perfect views, Isla Catalina is quieter and has better snorkeling. Situated 10km from the cruise port and in front of Caleta Beach stated above, Catalina is a tiny uninhabited island consisting of 3.7 square miles. We will make our first stop in the middle of the ocean to Snorkel or Dive (depends the program youve booked) with some of our professional guides in the water with the most marine fauna in the Caribbean. Isla Saona: Saona Info | Book it*Dune buggy and ATV excursion: Buggy Info | Book it*Punta Cana Ziplining: Zipline Info | Book it*Party boat & booze cruise: Party Boat Info | Book it*Scape Park Cap Cana & Blue Lagoon: Blue Lagoon Info | Book it*Los Haitises National Park: Los Haitises Info | Book it* Santo Domingo: Santo Domingo Info | Book it*Saman (Salto El Limn & Cayo Levantado): Saman Info | Book it*Helicopter & airplane tours: Helicopter Info | Book it*Whale watching (Jan-Mar only): Whale watching Info | Book it*Looking for more inspiration? FULL PACK TOURS . Snorkeling at Saona is nothing special. No shoes on the boat. Choose your destination: A stop is made at the natural pool in front of Palmilla Beach, where the water will reach your waist and you can enjoy a spectacular natural environment. Saona Island Saona is more recommended if you are looking for a nice beach with no seaweed and great views. Are you a small group or maybe even just a couple looking in getting away from the huge groups and the crowded Saona excursions? The indegineous Taino people, the native populations of the Dominican Republic, occupied Saona Island before Christopher Columbuss arrival in 1494. Aparta-Hotel Villa Baya. Caribbean Life & Travel magazine has selected Isla Saonas unspoiled beaches as the best beaches of the Caribbean. Especially when you are traveling with 16 people or more, I am happy to get you in touch with the best companies or give you personal recommendations on your tour. In case youre looking for some other Saona Island private tours among them some with food, drinks and transfers included there are plenty of options for groups of up to 6 people. We have several tours to Catalina and Saona islands. How many islands does the Dominican Republic have? The pool is formed because lots of sand naturally gets accumulated in one area, bringing ocean levels to just a couple of feet and making it feel like a pool! The island of Saona is the most visited island in the Dominican Republic. At Mano Juan, you will find a few gift shops with typical souvenirs to take back home with you, stands with local art, and a small restaurant that serves fresh island food. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Isla Saona is the #1 demanded excursion in Punta Cana so Book now to ensure . Mainly, tourists who come to Catalina Island do so for two reasons: snorkeling and diving. Saona Island only has two small villages and a total population of just around 500 residents, but the charming villages of Mano Juan and Catuano are well worth your visit. DIVING + CATALINA ISLAND . This excursion should be preferred if you only want to visit some of the must-see sights of Saona Island. During the navigation to Saona, you will enjoy an incomparable landscape, observing the beauty of the Cotubanam Natural Park (also known as Parque Nacional del Este), full of beaches, palm trees and mangroves. Un servicio impecable. A private tour to Isla Saona or Isla Catalina comes with many advantages. leave from Bayahibe and arrive straight to the gorgeous wild beaches shortly after. While in most cases the safety measures are fine with hand sanitizer, face coverings and avoiding peoples congestion, the risk of transmitting Covid-19 can never be lowered to 0% especially with 70 other people on the boat. Muchas gracias Antonio por tu amable comentario! Tourism During Covid