Every time I travel to a tropical destination, I always visit some of the best beaches and choose an island hopping or boat tour. While researching Punta Cana and the Dominican Republic, I came across Saona Island. Apparently, it’s one of the best beaches in the country—and the photos I saw definitely supported the claim. But would it live up to the hype?
Choosing the Right Tour
There were several day tours to Saona Island, most with a similar structure but different costs and little perks. We ended up booking through GetYourGuide: the “Punta Cana: Saona Island Cruise with Lunch & Open Bar” tour, operated by Melinmar Tours.
👉 Here’s the link we used to book
This tour had great reviews, a better price, and didn’t charge for kids under 3. It included:
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Bus transportation to Bayahibe
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A boat ride to the Natural Pool
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Buffet lunch and 3 hours on Saona Island
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Return transportation
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And of course… unlimited booze 🍹
For the three of us, it came to $207 CAD. Considering other activities we booked (like the overpriced ones from vendors on Bávaro Beach), this one was a steal.
Getting There: A Rough Bus but a Smooth Start
The bus, advertised as having AC, (which it did, but was slightly run down) picked us up at the security gate of our hotel. Luckily, we got a ride to the gate in a golf-cart—Melia Resort’s property is massive. Despite being an old bus, it did the job and got us from point A to B.
They told us to be punctual and we made it just in time at 7:50 AM… only for the bus to be 20 minutes late, typical island time. 😄 Still, being able to communicate with them via WhatsApp was super handy.
We made one more stop, then drove to Bayahibe, with a quick break in Higuey. This stop was a bathroom/beer/souvenir combo and came with free shots of Mamajuana with the hope we'd purchase a bottle. We were also shown an array of cigar and naturally, I ended up buying two boxes.
Bayahibe was a cool little beach town with shops and restaurants along the beach. I would have liked more time to explore, but that’d eat into our time on Saona Island and shortly after taking our photo (for security reasons apparently, I’ll get to this later) we got onto a speed boat and headed out.
First Stop: The Natural Pool 🏝️
From Bayahibe, we headed to the Natural Pool, about an hour away. There, we swam and drank in warm, waist-deep, super calm water in the middle of the Caribbean Sea. It was a blast—music was pumping from nearby boats, drinks flowed from the back of ours, and the scenery was perfect
The tour had a pro photographer (another money grab), but he was awesome. I didn’t bring my sunglasses, so he whipped out several pairs to choose from for the photos. He was fun and helpful, and yep… I caved. On the return catamaran, we viewed the slightly edited shots on his iPad, and $100 USD later, we had 30 fantastic photos uploaded to both our phones. Pricey, but worth it.
Saona Island: A Slice of Paradise
After the Natural Pool, we continued by speedboat to Saona Island—and wow.
Turquoise water, soft white sand, and lush palm trees (including those iconic angled ones).
There were fewer tourists than I expected, which made it feel even more like a hidden gem. But of course there were people hogging those perfectly angled palm trees for Instagram shots… I didn’t have the patience to wait too long, so I dove into the water instead.
Lunch was served buffet-style and was surprisingly good—chicken, pasta, seafood, fruit, bread, and of course, more beer. I tried to get some drone footage, but, rookie mistake: I hadn’t updated my software since our Bahamas trip, and most features were locked, coupled with the wind, it was difficult to fly so I didn't get the footages i'd hoped for. Oh well. I got some nice shots, swam, and sipped a piña colada under the palms.
We had about three hours to enjoy the island, which was just enough.
The Party Catamaran 🎉
After that, we got back on our speed boat, drove for a few minutes and jumped ship to the catamaran for the trip back to Bayahibe. The catamaran t turned into a full-blown party. The music was loud, the drinks were flowing, and before I knew it, a 50-year-old Puerto Rican lady was dancing and shaking her ass to celebrate her birthday.
Our tour guides and even the photographer were hyping everyone up. It was a whole vibe. And of course… I bought a Dominican Republic doo-rag for $5 USD, put it on, looked like an idiot and continued dancing like a fool. No regrets.
One Last Money Grab…
Remember that “security photo” they took of us at Bayahibe before we got on the boat? Turns out, it was for something else.
On the bus ride back, the tour guides brought out Mamajuana bottles with custom photo labels of everyone on our trip. I was tempted to buy one—but the boss (my wife) said no way. 😅
Final Thoughts
Despite the small money grabs, this was an amazing experience and an incredible value. From the crystal-clear water at the Natural Pool to the party vibes on the catamaran, this was one of the best excursions I’ve ever done. The tour guides and staff were fantastic and it was truly a paradise.
Saona Island is now one of my top 10 favorite beaches—and if you’re heading to Punta Cana, this tour is a must-do.
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