Saona Island Full Day Trip Review: Is It Worth It From Santo Domingo?

Okay, so you’re thinking about ditching Santo Domingo for a day and hightailing it over to Saona Island? That’s totally something loads of folks consider when they visit the Dominican Republic. The postcard-perfect beaches, the seriously chill vibe, that completely clear, turquoise water – yeah, it’s easy to see the appeal. I went not that long ago, like your typical tourist, and I figured I’d let you know how it actually plays out, if it truly lives up to all the hype, and, as a matter of fact, give you some tips to totally maximize your time if you make your way over. This is actually all based on my own experience, so you are getting a real peek into what the trip is actually like. Read on for the good stuff!

The Allure of Saona: Paradise Found (Maybe?)

Saona Island, which is a protected natural park, it’s almost what everyone thinks about when picturing a tropical escape. Is that correct? Miles of very powdery white sand, coconut palm trees swaying that just beg you to relax in a hammock, and, too it’s that kind of water that seems way too crystal clear to really be real. It’s part of the Parque Nacional Cotubanamá (that used to be called Parque Nacional del Este), and, frankly, that adds to the attraction: that feeling you are going somewhere untouched, far removed from all of the big resorts and busy city streets. Saona pulls you in with all promises of pure, unadulterated bliss. But then is that actually the truth? Does it provide? So you have got to stick with me to discover.

Booking Your Saona Adventure: Choices, Choices

Alright, so now you have said, “Yep, I’m going!” The very next thing is to book your excursion. From Santo Domingo, just getting to Saona really requires a bit of planning. You see, you will very likely need to book a tour that actually handles the transport. There are, like, a ton of tour operators offering very similar packages. Anyway, here’s a look at what is actually available:

• Catamaran Cruise: Very picture this. Smooth sailing on a catamaran, with music that just pumps, and also that open bar flows, and you drink while basking in the sun, so, it’s en route to the island. Very typically these cruises include stops at popular spots like the natural pool.
• Speedboat Option: For a little more zip, you could take a speedboat. Anyway this gets you to Saona so very much faster, and that, as a matter of fact, sometimes includes a bit more time on the actual island itself.
• Combined Tours: Too it’s like getting the best of everything! Some tours actually combine a speedboat trip with the cruise back, that gives you different experiences of the same scenery.
• Private Tours: Should you wish for a more individualized experience, too it’s like you can charter a private boat. This, you know, allows you the total freedom to decide your own itinerary and spend just a bit longer in the places you definitely find interesting.

A Quick Tip: Read reviews before you actually book. What folks say really provides amazing insights into how well organized the trips tend to be, that’s the vibe they have, and actually what to realistically expect. So it’s like you might find the perfect option that truly matches just what you seek!

The Early Bird Catches the… Bus Ride

Too it’s typically like your Saona Island experience really begins seriously early, often at the break of dawn. Just imagine getting up, it’s practically when the chickens start crowing! Now you will be picked up directly from where you are staying in Santo Domingo, and it’s off on a bus trip that takes about two to three hours to get to Bayahibe, where most tours leave from. Look, it’s a fairly long drive, that really winds through the countryside, giving you peeks at very Dominican life beyond what goes on in the city.

Pro Tip: Very take something to entertain yourself for the trip! Grab a book, so it’s download a few shows on your device, or perhaps, you know, just try to sleep. Very whatever you decide, be sure to actually charge your devices the evening before!

Setting Sail: Catamaran Vibes

Once you actually arrive in Bayahibe, it is often time to board the catamaran. Frankly this is where everything begins to feel a little more like a true vacation. Is that correct? Too it’s like the catamarans are usually packed with everyone excited. There’s also this really enthusiastic crew ready to keep that music blasting, plus too it’s like they pour drinks to make certain everybody feels like a party. Anyway as you cruise along that coast, which is super gorgeous, very it gives you fantastic photo opportunities, and then so it’s like a chance to bask a little bit in that Caribbean sun. It can very easily become an unforgettable aspect of the entire trip!

The Natural Pool: Starfish and Serenity

Generally one of the top highlights is the stop at the “piscina natural,” that means natural pool. You know, too it’s actually a shallow sandbar out in that middle of the sea where the water really comes up to about waist level. So it’s like this is a chance to actually get out of the boat, stretch, and just enjoy some incredibly clear, soothing water. Just remember: even if those starfish appear actually tempting, basically don’t remove them out from the water. As a matter of fact, that’s better for them, that really helps to maintain the beauty of that natural habitat.

Saona Island: Beach Bliss or Tourist Trap?

Upon your actual arrival on Saona Island, just be ready for crowds. So you will share that paradise with tons of other tourists. Generally the beaches, actually they are picture-postcard wonderful. As a matter of fact the sand seriously is as soft as it sounds, plus, too it’s the water has this unbelievably turquoise glow. Still, anyway because the island tends to be a popular destination, locating a truly secluded spot, arguably that might be a bit hard, mostly at peak times. Is that correct? Also so it’s very like remember that most excursions provide a buffet. This typically includes fairly Dominican fare, and you get those truly delicious, tropical fruits.

Insider Advice: If that crowd issue actually concerns you, arguably consider opting for that tour which goes to that less crowded portion of that island, or otherwise, book an actual private tour so you go further afield.

The Return Trip: A Speedboat Adventure

As your day winds actually down, you may very well hop on that speedboat so you return to Bayahibe. The ride tends to be quick and just a bit exciting, arguably depending upon just how choppy those waters are. In a way that change from the very relaxing catamaran cruise adds something of something exciting so you finish your journey. Arguably you will return so you are picked up and just make your way back directly to your lodging in Santo Domingo, and I suspect just about everyone you meet sleeps that complete way home.

The Verdict: Saona Island—Yay or Nay?

So, that whole Saona Island trip—was that totally worth the time, and then also all of those pesos? The true answer is it’s sort of very contingent. In some respects if you are definitely looking to enjoy some incredibly stunning Caribbean views, that natural pool experience is rather unmissable. And if you approach that day with that recognition you won’t have the place totally to just yourself, anyway it is very worth actually doing.

If you happen to seriously dislike intensely crowded places, too it’s like you could explore those alternatives such as reserving that trip so you visit less frequented portions of Saona, or alternatively think about investigating other, you know, Dominican islands that have that exact beauty although with way fewer crowds.

Saona Island Trip: Helpful Tips

Just to recap and add some quick ideas to think over when deciding what to do, I made the bullets for your leisure and convenience:

• Get an actual booking by checking some online reviews: Checking the actual experiences of those former travelers allows you to actually select what provides, just like that proper level of organization and meets everything you want.
• Bring that Sunscreen, Hat, plus also Shades: That Dominican sun, it’s seriously strong! Just protect your skin really when soaking everything in.
• Carry some cash with you: Some smaller vendors, as well as any vendors right on that island, that only take hard cash. So be certain that you have many smaller bills with you so you make payments!
• Keep a reusable water bottle: Continue staying totally hydrated under the sun, and arguably reduce what waste happens with so many plastic bottles by literally hauling that reusable container along with you!
• Respect that Environment: Do all things which might protect delicate all-natural ecosystems. You may follow all guidelines regarding aquatic existence, please don’t be littering!

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