Saona Island Beach: Ultimate Guide to Paradise in the DR
- Naureen Chhipa
- Sep 5
- 8 min read
Isla Saona (Saona Island) was one of our favorite places in the Dominican Republic. Saona Island beach is one of those destinations that seems unreal/ too perfect to be true. You can see every shade of blue and green on the unpolluted Caribbean Sea, offering crystal clear waters for swimming and snorkeling, perfect-looking palm trees, and ultra-soft white sand that will massage your feet with every step you take. Beautiful places like this are rare; if you travel to the Dominican Republic, I highly recommend adding a Saona Island excursion/ day trip to your itinerary. Saona Island Beach was one of our favorite beaches in the Dominican Republic, and here's your ultimate guide to finding paradise in the DR.
Isla Saona is located in the Caribbean Sea, off the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic. You can access this Island from almost anywhere in the Dominican Republic, but the shortest/most popular day trips come from Punta Cana, La Romana, and Bayahibe.
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Beautiful places like this are rare
Saona Island Beach: Ultimate Guide to Paradise in the DR
Table of Contents: Saona Island, Dominican Republic Travel Guide
Where is Saona Island Located?
Saona Island Map
How To Get to Saona Island | Getting to Isla Saona
3.1. From Punta Cana | How to get from Punta Cana to Saona Island
3.1.1. Excursions to Saona Island from Punta Cana & Private Guided Tours/Day Trips
3.2. From Santo Dominigo | How to get from Santo Domingo to Saona Island
3.2.1. Renting a Car in the Dominican Republic
3.3. From La Romana | How to get to Saona Island from La Romana
3.4. From Bayahibe | How to get to Isla Saona (Saona Island) from Bayahibe
Where to Stay on Saona Island
Things to Do in Saona Island
Is Saona Island Worth Visiting?
Is Saona Island Safe?
Are There Sharks in the Dominican Republic?
What to Bring to Saona Island
What is the Best Beach in the Dominican Republic?
Watch it on YouTube | Saona Island Video Vlog
General Info. | What to Know Before Visiting Saona Island
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Where is Saona Island Located?
Saona Island, or as the locals call it, Isla Saona, is located off the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic—a mere 45-minute scenic speedboat ride from Bayahibe.
Saona Island Map | Saona Island, Dominican Republic
Getting to Isla Saona | How to Get to Saona Island
From Punta Cana: Getting to Saona Island from Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
The best way to travel from Punta Cana to Isla Saona is by booking a Saona Island excursion or day trip. Overnight stays on the Island are not permitted because the Island is part of Cotubanamá National Park, a protected area in the Dominican Republic known for its pristine beaches, marine biodiversity, and natural beauty. When you book an excursion, there's transportation to and from your hotel. Isla Saona is only reachable by boat, making it a very scenic boat trip adventure, navigating the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.
When booking an Island excursion, you have the option of choosing between a group tour or a private tour. Group tours generally offer the best value. Typically, these groups consist of 15 to 20 people, and the price includes hotel pickup and drop-off, all activities, a buffet lunch, an open bar, a natural pool stop, and onboard entertainment. Click here for more information and the latest prices on group tours to Saona Island.
Private Guided Tours and Excursions to Saona Island from Punta Cana
Private tours offer the flexibility to spend more time at a location, saving time overall. With a private tour to Isla Saona, you can skip multiple hotel pickups and drop-offs and head directly to the Island! We opted for a private tour, and it was definitely the best choice. We arrived at the beach early and enjoyed having the entire Island to ourselves for over two hours. Typically, full-day trip tours from Punta Cana to Saona Island last between 8 and 10 hours. I highly recommend booking your day trip to Isla Saona with Sun Sand Spirit DR. They offer a variety of excursions and activities throughout the Dominican Republic, including yoga retreats, guided tours, and boutique hotel accommodations.
❖ Punta Cana to Saona Island Distance: Drive + Speedboat about 2 hours each way.
❖ How far is Saona Island from Bavaro Beach? About 2 hours each way on a speedboat.
From Santo Domingo: Getting to Saona Island (Isla Saona) from Santo Domingo
My favorite way to get from Santo Domingo to Saona Island is to rent a car and drive. I recommend driving from Santo Domingo to Bayahibe and staying overnight. You can make stops and explore places like La Romana and Altos de Chavon by driving.
❖ Santo Domingo to Saona Island Distance: Drive + Speedboat about 3 hours each way.
🚙 Renting a Car in the Dominican Republic
I highly recommend making car rental reservations beforehand. You can arrange for car pickup and drop-off in different parts of the Island; this is hugely beneficial and time-saving when flying in and out of different airports and doing a road trip of the Dominican Republic. We rented our car from Discover Cars and had a great experience. They offer competitive rates by searching all major car rental companies for the best price. I always love using this site to find cheap car rentals worldwide. You'll need a credit card to rent a car in the Dominican Republic, but you don't need an international driver's license. If you prefer to avoid driving, excursions from Santo Domingo to Isla Saona are also available.
Car Rental in the Dominican Republic ➡️ Click here for more info and the latest prices.
Santo Domingo to Saona Island Excursion ➡️ Click here for more info and prices.
From La Romana: Getting to Saona Island from La Romana, Dominican Republic
Since you're already staying in La Romana (the southeast part of the Dominican Republic), I recommend booking an excursion from La Romana to Isla Saona. Travel time is approximately 45 minutes, and you can choose between a speedboat or a catamaran cruise. Taking a Saona Island excursion is one of my favorite things to do when staying in La Romana, and it's also a favorite place to visit for an epic beach day in the Dominican Republic. Click here for more information on guided tours and the latest prices.
❖ La Romana to Saona Island Distance: Drive + Speedboat about 1 hour each way.
From Bayahibe: Getting to Saona Island from Bayahibe, Dominican Republic
Bayahibe is a Caribbean Beach Resort town in the Dominican Republic, located closest to Isla Saona. We stayed at Tracadero Beach Resort for two nights and loved being surrounded by nature. We took a private speedboat from the dock at Tracadero Beach Resort in Bayahibe, and our total travel time was only 25 minutes to Saona Island. We booked our resort stay and day trip to Isla Saona with Sun Sand Spirit DR.
❖Bayahibe to Saona Island Distance: Speedboat about 45 minutes each way.
Where to Stay on Saona Island (Isla Saona)
Can You Stay on Saona Island?
Unfortunately, you can't stay overnight on Saona Island. Saona Island (Isla Saona) is only accessible via boat and on a day trip. We recommend staying at Tracadero Beach Resort in Bayahibe, the closest to Saona Island. This resort has the best sunset views overlooking the Caribbean Sea from one of the many mineral saltwater infinity pools. Click here for more information on Tracadero Beach Resort and for the latest prices.
Things to do in Saona Beach, Dominican Republic
Cruise the Open Caribbean Sea on a Speed Boat or Catamaran
Go for a Swim on the Beach
Relax Under a Palm Tree
Explore the Island on foot (bring water shoes).
Get a Dominican Deep Tissue Massage (a little pricey but worth it!)
Drink some local coconut water
Visit the Mangroves
Stop at Mano Juan, a colorful fishing village
Pass by the Private Filming Island where Pirates of the Caribbean was shot.
Swim with Wild Starfish in Las Piscinas Naturales
Have an Authentic Local Dominican Lunch (we had the best fried fish near this Island.)
Is Saona Island Worth it?
Yes! It was one of the most beautiful beaches we experienced in the Dominican Republic. It can get crowded when the tour caravans arrive, but if you book a private tour, you can get the Island all to yourself for a few hours in the morning.
Is Saona Island Safe?
Yes. We found Saona Island to be a safe island on the south coast of the Dominican Republic, especially since you'll be visiting with a tour guide. We were able to store our belongings in our day trip boat while swimming and snorkeling on the Island.
Are There Sharks in the Dominican Republic?
Yes, there are sharks in the deep waters surrounding the Dominican Republic. However, sharks stay away from popular tourist beaches like Punta Cana, due to natural coral reef barriers and the presence of other large marine life like dolphins, manatees, and turtles—sharks like to swim in deeper offshore waters for more opportunities to catch their preferred prey of seals, sea lions, and larger fish. If you plan to go diving in the Dominican Republic, you may encounter the Caribbean reef shark, lemon shark, bull shark, tiger shark, nurse sharks, and hammerhead sharks, which are the types most commonly spotted by divers.
Scuba Diving Beginners Course ➡️ Click here for more information and the latest prices.
What to Bring to Saona Island
I have a blog post that will help you pack for a trip to the Dominican Republic, including Saona Island, that you can read here. Some essentials would be snorkeling gear, sun protection, comfortable watershoes, and underwater camera gear for some epic tropical fish pics and videos! Shop my curated Amazon shopping list for the Caribbean here.
What is the Best Beach in the Dominican Republic?
I've visited over 50 beaches in the Dominican Republic over the years, and my favorites are on the north and south coasts of the Island. On the northeastern part of the Dominican Republic, you have the Samaná Peninsula, which is where you'll want to go for a crowd-free jungle-vibe beach with a laid-back and rustic atmosphere. In the northwestern part of the Dominican Republic, you'll find Punta Rucia, which I love for its snorkeling and family-friendly trips, especially the shallow waters of Punta Rucia Beach and the opportunity to day trip to Cayo Arena (Paradise Island) for more snorkeling. On the southeastern part of the Island, you have Saona Island (Isla Saona), with one of the most beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic-- Saona Beach. On the southwestern part of the Island, you have Bahia de las Aguilas, another hidden gem of the Island and the place to find the most picture-perfect beach in the Dominican Republic. Although more touristy, Punta Cana is also known for having amazing beaches and the best all-inclusive resorts on the Island.
Watch it on YouTube | Saona Island Day Trip Adventure
Thanks so much for reading this post on Saona Island, one of my favorite beaches in the Dominican Republic. This ultimate travel guide to Isla Saona will help you navigate the Island like a pro! If you're looking for more beaches to visit in the Dominican Republic, read "Best Beaches in the Dominican Republic" next! Till Next Time!
If you go to Saona Island, Dominican Republic:
Saona Island General Info:
Entry Requirement for the Dominican Republic | E-Ticket Republica Dominicana:
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