A Caribbean island with white-sand beaches and palm groves, part of the Cotubanamá National Park. Clear waters make it ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
Saona Island lies 1.5 miles from the southeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, forming part of Cotubanamá National Park as a 42-square-mile protected area. Visitors walk on bright white sand, swim in clear shallow waters with visible coral formations, and spot starfish resting on sandbars. Bottlenose dolphins swim near the coast, and green-and-red-feathered parrots nest in palm groves inland. Two small villages—Mano Juan and Catuano—use solar panels for electricity, maintaining simple lifestyles focused on fishing. Parts of Pirates of the Caribbean were filmed along these shores, linking the island to Hollywood film history.
Getting to Saona Island
Most travelers join group tours departing from Punta Cana or Bayahibe. These trips start with hotel pickup and a 90-minute drive to Bayahibe’s docks. From there, you board either a speedboat for a 45-minute ride or a catamaran for a 90-minute journey. Speedboats take you through the Catuano Channel, where you see tangled mangrove roots and coral patches below the surface. Catamarans serve drinks from an open bar and play music as you travel. All tours pause at a sandbar known as the “natural pool,” where water reaches your waist and starfish dot the sandy bottom. Return trips usually switch vessels, with catamarans allowing time to relax on deck during the slower ride back.
Beaches and Coastal Areas
Playa los Abanicos attracts the largest crowds with its wide stretch of soft white sand and gentle waves. For fewer people, walk east to Canto de la Playa or west to Playa del Gato, where coconut palms provide shade. The island’s northern edge has jagged limestone rocks forming small caves, while the southern side holds saltwater lagoons like Secucho—look for pink flamingos wading here at dawn. Snorkelers find angelfish and sea turtles around offshore reefs, particularly near the eastern tip. Inland trails pass through forests containing rare orchids and trees with peeling red bark called gumbo-limbo.
Protecting Wildlife
Between June and October, park rangers monitor sea turtle nests along Saona’s eastern beaches, protecting eggs from predators until hatchlings reach the ocean. Fishermen in Mano Juan clean their catch near brown pelicans that swoop down for scraps. Snorkeling guides point out brain-shaped coral colonies and striped triggerfish in the national park’s clear waters. Solar-powered streetlights in the villages reduce light pollution that could disorient turtle hatchlings. Tour leaders remind visitors not to lift starfish from the water or step on coral formations.
Things to Do on the Island
Full-day tours provide snorkeling gear, grilled seafood lunches, and access to beach games like volleyball. Dance instructors teach basic merengue steps on the sand after meals. In Mano Juan, walk past wooden houses painted light blue and pink, then visit the community’s turtle nursery. Private boat charters let you snorkel near coral heads used as filming locations for The Blue Lagoon. Between December and April, some tour boats pause during transit to watch humpback whales breaching near the mainland.
History and Movie Filming
Christopher Columbus arrived here in 1494 during his second voyage, giving the island an Italian name from his crew roster. Archaeologists discovered Taino farming tools near Mano Juan, evidence of yuca cultivation before European contact. Three Spanish galleons sank near the island in the 1500s—their cannons now lie encrusted with coral. Remnants of a wooden shipwreck built for Pirates of the Caribbean filming sometimes wash ashore after storms. A naval station in Catuano patrols the waters daily to prevent unauthorized fishing within park boundaries.
Daily Life in the Villages
Mano Juan’s residents repair fishing nets each morning and sell necklaces made from palm seeds near the beach. Small restaurants serve fried fish with sides of rice cooked in coconut milk. The village school teaches 60 children, and the health clinic operates three days a week with a visiting doctor. Park staff host evening talks about rescuing injured sea turtles found in fishing nets. Navy personnel in Catuano sometimes explain how solar panels power their surveillance equipment during rare guided tours.
Planning Your Visit
Tours start between 7–8 AM and return by 5 PM, with lunch and park entrance fees included. Pack shoes that can get wet for walking on coral-tinged beaches. Use sunscreen labeled “reef-safe” to avoid harming marine organisms. Though Saona lacks hotels, Bayahibe’s beachfront lodgings let you reach departure points quickly. Visit from January to April when rain showers are brief and ocean conditions stay smooth. Reserve tours at least three days ahead during Christmas and Easter weeks to guarantee boat seats.
