We all know that Saona Island gets busy – it is not without reason the most popular attraction in the Dominican Republic. And even though Saona’s nature is – without a doubt – wonderful, people often complain that Isla Saona is just too touristy. But wait, there are certain ways of how you can explore this natural beauty without all the crowds and have a much better experience than everyone else. This article here, written from someone who has visited the island several times – shows you how.
This is a specific article about how to explore Saona Island off-the-beaten-track.
For the whole Saona Island guide with all recommendations, experiences and insider tips, continue reading here.
If you’re looking for private tours to Isla Saona, here is your comprehensive guide.
The problems: long transfer, heavy crowds, pushy vendors, mediocre tours
Before we start, let me just introduce you my main Saona Island guide here, where I am telling you everything about the best tours (for all budgets), how to get there, how to book, places to visit, accommodation, etc.
This post here is specifically about how to avoid the crowds and how to experience Saona Island off-the-beaten-track, so that you can enjoy the real natural beauty of the island. Isla Saona is undoubtfully extremely gorgeous, but the list of complaints from people who don’t get on the right tour are always similar:
- Long transfer times from the resorts in Punta Cana
- Pushy sales vendors
- Unnecessary shopping stops
- Mediocre food
- Large groups
- Average beaches
Most of these problems can be solved by the following 3 ways of visiting Saona Island, which beat the crowds, show you the hidden gems of the island and will give you a much superior experience of Saona Island compared to the standard tours you can book everywhere (even though they’re not bad at all if you know what to expect).
Option 1) A small group tour to the less-visited parts of the island
Let’s start with the easiest, most affordable (at least compared to option No. 2) and most convenient way: a small group tour to Saona Island. When talking about a small group tour (sometimes also called a semi-private Saona tour), you have the following advantages compared to traditional Saona excursions:
- Quicker transfer times due to fewer resort pick-ups (and drop-offs)
- Better customer service due to less people in the group (and usually also due to better guides)
- Usually, you visit more remote places as a small group allows going more off-the-beaten-track
- Better focus on the attractions and natural highlights of Saona Island, less focus on entertainment and party
There are different semi-private and small group tours to Saona which all differ a bit in the itinerary – here are the most popular ones.
Most popular small group tour from Punta Cana*: Melvin’s tour is legendary! Just check the reviews and you know why. Nothing is missing here at this tour. A small group with a maximum of 14 people, quick transfers, a full itinerary and you’re going to see the sea stars and visit the turtle sanctuary in Mano Juan. This tour regularly gets sold out, so it is definitely recommendable to book your spot in advance.
The best Saona Island off-the-beaten-track*: Like Melvin, the Dutch-run company of SeaVis has been in the business for many years – and has received top-notch reviews since the beginning. Their Saona Island tour shows you all the hidden gems where other tours with slower boats and bigger groups can’t go: Canto de la Playa, Mano Juan, the turtle sanctuary, the mangroves and a tour through the remote village – those are just some of the highlights (where other tours don’t go … ) you will see with this tour which runs with a maximum of 24 people.
The premium catamaran for the best relaxing tour*: If you come to Saona more for relaxing and not so much for sightseeing, this premium catamaran is the best tour for you. Capped at 30 people on a super spacious 75-foot catamaran (where other companies usually pack 100 people), you can enjoy much quicker boarding and deboarding times, more pristine beaches (with a premium beach area) and a service with attention to detail unparalleled by other tours. As the catamaran is pretty slow, you won’t reach the attractions further away (such as Mano Juan), but on the positive side this is one of the very very few (could even be the only one) tours to Isla Saona where you go both ways with the catamaran, hence it is a true Caribbean experience.
Option 2) Taking the public boat and exploring Saona on your own
If you’re more on the adventurous side and want to explore Saona Island and skip the crowds, I have great news for you: this is possible.
Your key for a unique Saona Island experience is the public boat, which runs around 09:00am every morning from Bayahibe to Mano Juan (the only village on the island) and back around 02:30pm from Mano Juan to Bayahibe. Note that both times are island time and can vary. Also don’t expect a ferry, it is just a simple boat with a few benches – I told you it is adventurous. Mainly locals are using this boat, but you’re welcome to hop on it as well.
The boat takes around an hour and costs around 1000 DOP (approx. 17 USD) per way.
The public boat drops you right in Mano Juan, a village where you feel like you’re in the Caribbean from the 80’s or 90’s. Even though they got 24-hour electricity in recent years, it doesn’t mean that tourism has arrived yet. Mano Juan is still a very sleepy village with around 200-300 inhabitants and less than half a dozen restaurants and shops.
Besides Mano Juan, you can also explore the turtle sanctuary on Saona Island and Canto de la Playa, one of the most stunning beaches in the Dominican Republic, which usually doesn’t see many tourists (just the small group tours mentioned above for an hour or so). It’s a one-hour walk from Mano Juan so you can make it within the public boat times. If you don’t want to walk you can also charter a boat in Mano Juan.
It is also nice to walk around in Mano Juan for a bit and understand the life of the locals here. This is definitely Saona off-the-beaten-track.
You can make this trip even more memorable when staying 1 or 2 nights at Mano Juan, there are basic accommodation available. You can find all the accommodation recommendations, what to do and more information on how to get there in my full Saona Island guide in the section “Visiting Isla Saona on your own”.
Option 3) A private tour to Saona Island
An even better option to avoid ALL the crowds at Saona, guarantee the quickest transfer times and don’t have to deal with drunken tourists or pushy sales vendors is a private tour. The advantages are pretty obvious:
- Create your own itinerary and visit only the places you want
- You don’t have to wait for other tourists and can avoid the peak hours
- Full attention to your preferences and needs
- Visit the beaches you like and find the less crowded spots
- And many more
The advantages of private tours are obvious. You can even visit places around Saona Island where no other tours are going currently, such as Cayo Raton, Isla Catalinita (not to be confused with Isla Catalina) or the Saona channel. This also means you can find some great snorkeling spots, as most of the snorkeling where the regular tours are going are just mediocre.
However, private tours to Saona Island are also the most expensive option of visiting the island. But, here is the good news, they can be less expensive than you might think. And when you’re traveling with more than 2 or 3 people, you quickly have a similar price than if you would book individual spots on a small group tour to Saona Island.
The most affordable private tours are starting at around 600-700 USD per group, but those are typically barebone excursions, hence you have to pay extra for everything (food, drinks, national park fees, etc.)
A very good and recommendable private tour to Isla Saona starts from 1000 USD and up. Here are two excursion companies you definitely should check out:
- Private Tour 1* – one of the best-reviewed private tours to Isla Saona with an itinerary which can be easily adapted to your needs. If you want a private tour without any worries and without investigating a lot – this is your trip!
- Private Tour 2* – one of the most affordable options for a private Saona tour – and a good one as well. Drinks, lunch, transfers, national park fee, guide, etc. – everything is included.
- Private Tour 3* – this tour is offered from Hispaniola Aquatic Adventures, a reputable tour operator in Punta Cana. Even though their main business is in Punta Cana, you can also book a Saona tour with them, where – similar to the other two tours recommended – all important things are included.
For further recommendations of private tours to Saona Island, there is a separate article here.
Bottom Line
Saona Island can be definitely done without the crowds. I have presented three specific ways you can opt for if you want to explore the stunning island a little bit different than others.
What’s your favorite way of getting to Saona Island off-the-beaten-track?
I can guarantee you that at all three of these options presented here, you will have a great time as you avoid the typical tourist traps around Saona which spoil some people’s experience (which is the reason why you often find conflicting reviews about Saona).
I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments! And of course, if you have any questions about these Saona hidden gems, feel free to reach out and comment below.
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CHRIS
Author, Travel Coach & Industry Professional (Bachelor’s degree in tourism)Hey, I am Chris, a born and raised German, travel-addictive and Caribbean soul, who has been living in the Dominican Republic for 6 years. I’d love to be your Punta Cana expert, as I have stayed at more than 45 all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana and the country, visited more than 70 beaches, explored more than 40 waterfalls and have seen basically all the attractions Punta Cana has to offer. I have also studied tourism for 3 years and worked in the tourism industry my entire life, which is why I am not only giving you recommendations and tips as a traveler but also the best secrets and travel hacks as an industry professional.
Do you need more information? Read more at my About Me Page, send me a travel coaching request or Contact Me here.
ALSO WORTH READING:
Finest Punta Cana – a comprehensive review of this newly built all-inclusive resort
How to travel Punta Cana on a budget? (Backpacking Punta Cana)
The 8+ cheapest all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana 2024 (hand-picked and recommended)
The 30 best beaches in the Dominican Republic – hidden gems, spectacular beaches, paradisical stretches (incl. map)
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