Saona Island image

Saona Island

Island

Lush nature reserve known for its serene beaches & coral reefs popular among divers & snorkelers. People often mention island, beautiful, boat, beach, Saona, water, Island, amazing, time, trip,


Address

23000, Dominican Republic

Rating on Google Maps

4.70 (3.1K reviews)

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Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: island (21) beautiful (20) boat (15) beach (14) Saona (12) water (10) Island (10) amazing (8) time (8) trip (8)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 Reuvèn 2 years ago on Google
    Isla muy linda! Very beautiful island. The water is is gorgeous. Once you arrive the food and drinks are free. Its quite large, so if you walk you can find a more quiet spot. I was hoping for some snorkeling, but visibility was 0, so i couldn't even tell if there was coral. Still a really chilled island to spend a day at. As they control how many people come on the island, make sure you use a reputable travel service to reserve the boat, as we were kicked on and off the boat several times and ber booked through Princess adult resorts.
    11 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Karen M. 2 years ago on Google
    Out of the excursions that we did, I'd go back and do this one all over again. We booked with Seavis Tour and had the most amazing time. We were given a tour of multiple towns within the island beaches and the views were spectacular. Clear water, perfect for lunch spots, some village shopping and just relaxing even more into your vacation The island has a turtle conservation program that some tours include and it's just amazing to learn about this while visiting the island
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alex 2 years ago on Google
    Saona Island in the Dominican Republic is a real paradise for tourists. You must definitely visit and see with your own eyes all the beauty of the nature of the Caribbean) But it is better to go to it on a high-speed boat, and not on a catamaran ..
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 piczum 1 year ago on Google
    An amazingly beautiful island with super chill beaches amid palm groves that actually reach the water line in some places. There are so many ways to spend the time - you can snorkel in the mini reef looking for starfish and other sea denizens or you can just chill in a lounge chair or you can take a walk along the beach. Many things to do and all of them fun. You get there by a boat, usually as part of a whole day excursion with all the food and drinks included. Definitely recommend for a day in the sun.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Emma S. 1 year ago on Google
    Stunning island. White sands and crystal blue water. The coach trip from la romana is over sn hour thrn thr boat journey is long. They take you out a quarter of the way into yhe ocean on a dmall boat then transfer you in yhe middle of the sea to a catamaran.this was an experience. They had to hold the boats together do people voild be transferred and this took forever as they kept losing the ropes to hold them together. Once everyone was transferred it was a beautiful journey. Arriving at the island you get off into the water and they provide lunch. Uou can buy s pina volada in a pineapple for 10 dollars. Expensive but delicious. The sea is crystal vlear and the island is do beautiful. You come back on a deed boat so it's one journey. They do stop in then ocean do upu can swim amongst the star fish which is stunning. Its shoulder height waters. I can't swim and thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Avalus (Travel with T. 9 months ago on Google
    Saona Island is a beautiful travel destination and makes for great photos, but there are things you should be aware of before venturing there because you most likely will be doing it with a tourist group. The trip there will usually leave from Bayahibe and will take two hours on a loud raucous party boat where they ply you with rum. Once there, you have to step off into the water from a smaller boat that takes you to the shore. The shoreline along the coast is treacherous with sharp rocks and sea coral. Put your sandals on, and hope you don't break an ankle as everyone pushes to get off. With the heat blasting down on you, there is a quarter of a mile walk through a small jungle. You will most likely be taken to tables where you will be given lunch (usually offered with tours), which is quite good. The beach is about as crowded as you can get. Good luck getting chairs. Vendors will constantly haraunge you to purchase their wares. If you are an English-speaking white person, expect to pay triple for everything outside of what is provided on your tour. I paid some guy $15 USD for three coconuts and then watched a Spanish-speaking girl get one for free. Also, people will take your belongings off a chair and replace them with theirs. Every girl thinks she is an Instagram model, and "photographers" will chase them around, feeding their ego. As for the water? Wear sandals because you will cut up your feet on razor-sharp rock below the surface. Also there are waves! I thought this island had a relaxing, gentle waterscape, but I was wrong. We found the trip and our time on the island anything but relaxing and would never return.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Andjela 2 years ago on Google
    I’d like to go there every day! perfect place! 🤩
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Yoe V. 2 years ago on Google
    Great place love it !!!!🏖🌴🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰it’s really nice experience.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Carrie S. 2 years ago on Google
    This island is breathtakingly beautiful. We only got to stay a couple hours because we were on an excursion but enjoyed every minute that we were there. The pictures I took don’t do this beautiful island justice. Amazing
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Martin W. 10 months ago on Google
    Took a day excursion to Saona. Trip started with a speed boat trip to the lagoon, where we had rum and coke in the sea, then onto the island, which was beautiful. Relaxed on the beach, swam in the warm sea, and then lunch. Open bar all day, then a sail back on a catamaran with more drinks and music. P
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Damien B. 1 year ago on Google
    We booked primarily through our travel agency, after reading the reviews on the way to the airport my partner decided to scroll the Facebook groups and we decided to cancel and go with Orlando OMP, he promised our own personal minibus, our own speed boat for my family, our own buffet at a beach side restaurant. He over delivered.. even stopping on the way to the port for our own personal alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks and ice from the store on the way. We stopped first at the film's sites of Pirates of The Caribbean then Blue Lagoon, and the set of the show Survivor. The natural pools were the only place in which we had other tourists around us, the rest of the journey it was just my family and the boat crew. I held a large Star Fish and kept it safeky below the water to not damage it. The first beach Playa Isla Saona was where we had our own personal buffet near an old pier, and beautiful white coral sands, this is where I proposed to my partner. The second beach Playa El Toro was about 30 mins East, and the sand was so fine it was like putty to touch and the champagne and rum was flowing. The lake near by Laguna Los Flamencos was interesting, I believe the tour guide explained that there were no fish in it, and not much life but I couldn't understand as to why. But it was a bit smelly. There is trash if you look for it which is unfortunate, as it's such a beautiful natural gift of an island. We only got asked for massages near our buffer once and I refused, then at the bus depot we got asked to buy a bottle with our picture and I refused that too. After being pestered at the resort by the relentless sales people, and hearing so many bad things about overcrowded buses and boats and bad food, I'm glad we found Orlando.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jade 1 year ago on Google
    Loved Saona Island! Definitely go with the VIP tour if you really want an experience... just be prepared for a 13hr+ day from the time you leave your hotel... on top of that you will be baking in the sun all day & have multiple transfers between buses/vans & catamorans to boats & vice versa... all in all would not change a thing to experience the Carribbean side of DR & get to see Saona more than the regular tours. Beautiful country side views, waters, weather & tons of fun!! Definitely a must! Just make sure you bring towels, sunscreen & bottles of water for the bus ride home.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alexandra S. 1 year ago on Google
    If you’re in Dominican Republic, you have to go to Saona. I would go there again and again. We took a tour offered in our hotel lobby (Dreams Macao) and we did not regret it. Beautiful views, one of the most stunning beaches and very lovely crew. The only downfall is the public bathrooms, long wait and super dirty, but that did not spoil our time there. Get their special piña colada at the bar, who cares if it’s overpriced, you’re in paradise, well worth the $10. To note that if you take the speed boat, be prepared to get soaked 🤣🤣🤣
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Luis C. 11 months ago on Google
    Beautiful place and wonderful and amazing beach, I give a 4 star because a lot of vendors it’s overwhelming, I saw a few people get offered a free one minute massage and the they do the massage for longer and charge you for the other minutes (scam) out tour guide give us a warning before but it’s sad to see people getting scam. But the place is beautiful
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kostas D. 1 year ago on Google
    Amazing place. Just amazing. Beautiful beach with golden white sand!!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 marcelina m. 1 year ago on Google
    It was an amazing experience !! Saona Island is a real pearl of nature! We've also visited sea turtles sanctuary, I highly recommend this place to visit!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Karen “Caramel” S. 2 years ago on Google
    The atmosphere ,the people, the food and drinks. Wow truly amazing and this beach is awesome. Clean and just beautiful.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Max Z. 2 years ago on Google
    Well, another popular truistic destination. Standard trips gives you not much. Not much time to walk about to explore the island. However if you are quick enough you have chance to walk through 3-4 beaches and some palm forest. Otherwise its another beach relax as the one can afford at La Romana. Natire I f course is beautiful.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 kokaroll 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful Island!After high crowded season reccomend

  • 5/5 Claudia H. 1 year ago on Google
    Great excursion, the Island is beautiful and tranquil, the white beach is spectacular! The trip with catamaran was around 90 minutes, but in this time the captain started a party with music and rum! Highly recommended!

  • 5/5 Tatiana I. 1 year ago on Google
    Looking for Jack Sparrow I found an amazing island that is beautiful even when there are clouds in the sky or when it rains!🥥🏝🇩🇴🥥🏝🇩🇴

  • 5/5 Gabrielle D. 2 years ago on Google
    A beautiful and spectacular island. The island service is amazing and the food excellent.

  • 5/5 Sandra A. 10 months ago on Google
    This place is out of a movie scene! Incredible! If you have a chance to visit it, DO NOT hesitate even for a moment. You will remember it forever. Beautiful, magical, surreal 💙

  • 5/5 Оксана �. 2 years ago on Google
    If you’d like to run somewhere off the beaten track and find a romantic and secluded place to keep calm and listen to the waves sound, and probably will hear a gratefulness of your soul and it’s song, go to exclusive and picturesque Saona Island and enjoy the moment

  • 5/5 Chris 11 months ago on Google
    Simply Beautiful, no other words to describe it, the sand is soft and plentiful, water is perfect temperature, nice tucked away spot from Macao and Punta Cana beach.

  • 4/5 james e. 1 year ago on Google
    The trip to Saona Island is a full day. It was fun for sure, but only a couple hours to enjoy the island as the ride to Bayahibe can be long as well as the boat from Bayahibe to Saona (we went to Playa Canto) itself is 90 mins or so. Enjoyed some rum on the boat rides. Make sure you don’t waste your time getting photos done by the locals…go and enjoy and explore.

  • 5/5 Naureen C. 2 years ago on Google
    Isla Saona was one of our favorite places to visit in Dominican Republic. This Caribbean beach is one of those destinations that seem unreal/ too perfect to be true. You can see every shade of blue and green on an unpolluted Caribbean Sea, offering crystal clear waters for swimming and snorkeling. Beautiful places like this are rare, if you travel to Dominican Republic I highly recommend adding a day trip to this Island.

  • 5/5 Frangel A. 2 years ago on Google
    A beautiful paradise in Dominican Republic. Loved the trip.

  • 5/5 Tania Tavares, V. 2 years ago on Google
    Amazing it was paradise ❤️

  • 5/5 Cristian S. 9 months ago on Google
    Most beautiful place I’ve been too in the DR. The scenery was breathe taking! Must visit!

  • 4/5 Ariel L. 2 years ago on Google
    Great beautiful beach. It's one of the paradise place on earth.

  • 5/5 Kai T. 9 months ago on Google
    Must do Trip. Very beautiful Dominican Republic Island


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