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Small Group Saona Island Tour: A Unique Ecological Adventure
4.9
1,382 Ratings
Isla Saona
Embark on a unique ecological adventure with our Small Group Saona Island Tour. Visit hidden gems, learn about turtle conservation, and enjoy the stunning beaches of the Dominican Republic.
Embark on a unique ecological adventure with our Small Group Saona Island Tour. Visit hidden gems, learn about turtle conservation, and enjoy the stunning beaches of the Dominican Republic.
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Isla Saona - Abanico Beach, Saona Island. The visit lasts approximately 3 hours, featuring lunch and beach enjoyment. Reserved beach chairs, an open bar, and a buffet lunch are included.
- Parque Nacional del Este - Palmilla Beach Secret Location for observing starfish, relaxation, snorkeling, and appreciating the vibrant water colors. This…
- Isla Saona - Abanico Beach, Saona Island. The visit lasts approximately 3 hours, featuring lunch and beach enjoyment. Reserved beach chairs, an open bar, and a buffet lunch are included.
- Parque Nacional del Este - Palmilla Beach Secret Location for observing starfish, relaxation, snorkeling, and appreciating the vibrant water colors. This stop includes starfish viewing, snorkeling, and learning about starfish at a secret beach location. Relax and enjoy the natural pools formed by sandbars at La Palmilla Beach.
- Saona Island - Mano Juan Town, Saona Island. Turtle Conservation Area. Enjoy breakfast at Mano Juan and engage with local leader “Negro,” the founder of the Turtle Conservation Area. A 10-15 minute walk through Mano Juan Town is included.
- Parque Nacional del Este - Mangroves Protected Area. Observation and explanation of the mangroves’ significance to the ecosystem within Cotubanama National Park, East National Park.
- Parque Nacional del Este - Bayahibe Beach Reef. Snorkeling time to observe the diverse fish and fauna of Bayahibe Beach and Cotubanama National Park, East National Park.
What's Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Alcoholic beverages
- Carbonated beverages
- Bottled water
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Alcoholic beverages
- Carbonated beverages
- Bottled water
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- In-vehicle air conditioning
Additional Information
This exclusive trip to Saona Island is designed for small groups of up to 14 people, with only two groups allowed. The tour will take visitors to less crowded spots, starting with a speedboat ride to Mano Juan, the only inhabited area on Saona Island. Here, participants will meet a community leader who manages the turtle conservation area, providing an…
This exclusive trip to Saona Island is designed for small groups of up to 14 people, with only two groups allowed. The tour will take visitors to less crowded spots, starting with a speedboat ride to Mano Juan, the only inhabited area on Saona Island. Here, participants will meet a community leader who manages the turtle conservation area, providing an opportunity to learn about turtles and their significance to the planet. In Mano Juan, a breakfast of cheese, tomato, and turkey ham sandwiches will be served. Following this, the tour will proceed to Abanico Beach, renowned for its stunning white sands, ideal for swimming and enjoying the Caribbean Sea of the Dominican Republic. Beach chairs and an open bar will be available. At Abanico Beach, guests will savor a private buffet lunch featuring Dominican cuisine. After lunch, the tour will explore the mangroves and discuss their ecological role. The journey continues to Palmilla Beach for snorkeling to observe starfish, concluding with snorkeling at Bayahibe Reef to view various fish species.
- 0-5 not allow
- Pregnant not allowed
Location
Isla Saona
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(1382 Ratings)
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Lisa_c
Mar 12, 2026
Great trip! Amazing guide, beautiful beach, lots of wildlife. - The whole day was amazing. It was a small group so more intimate and not crowded. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. We did so many things! The best beach in DR that we had seen with white sandy beach and beautiful warm water. We saw turtles and went to the turtle sanctuary and saw giant sea stars. We learned about the culture on the island. The mangrove area and snorkeling were phenomenal. Food was good too. It was our best day of the week in DR. I highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Tassiobarboza
Mar 10, 2026
Our best DR experience - Very good experience. Very friendly and attentive staff. Breakfast and lunch good, good people, good atmosphere. Dazzling images.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jason_m
Mar 10, 2026
Adventure comes with some... - Adventure comes with some uncertainty! Getting to the marina took some time and trust, but once we got to the boat (and on to the island) it was perfection. Melvin is a great host and his crew did a ln excellent job taking great care of us. It is ABSOLUTLEY worth it to get up this early as the beach becomes a total zoo in the afternoon!
I read many reviews and didn’t see others sharing what they had for lunch. Ours was a buffet consisting of: bread, cabbage and vegetable salad, warm mashed potato salad, fruit, rice, spaghetti with tomato sauce (had lobster broth in it), grilled chicken and grilled pork chop. Everything was very tasty and there was plenty for all.
Review provided by Viator
Judy_c
Mar 9, 2026
Wonderful Experience - It was a wonderful experience, we were picked up at the hotel, the food, the places where we went were very good, I was with my wife and two daughters and they were very friendly all, thank you for being part of this holiday that made us feel great, I recommend this company to anyone who wants to do this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Sherpa721526
Mar 7, 2026
Best trip ever - Best experience ever had. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and the island was a paradise. I strongly recommend it.We arrived at the island first,that’s the trick.Worth all the money.Thank you very much for this amazing trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Clare_c
Mar 7, 2026
Amazing excursion - This trip is so worth the extra money! With an early start we were able to get to the destinations before the other large boats.
Melvin is extremely passionate about showing people 'all parts' of the island, not just the 'tourist' areas.
Melvin has great knowledge of Dominican history. Some of the money you pay allows Melvin to finically support the turtle sanctuary and local school.
We were able to see turtles in the mangroves, experience the local community, swim in seas along the beautiful beaches. We snorkelled at the reef and observed all the fabulous fish. The food provided is plentiful and the drinks are always offered. Having the free photos is another plus for this tour.
The staff are great, so happy and really want you to experience their local wildlife. The starfish are amazing and Melvin makes sure you handle them correctly and safely, without harming them.
I'm so glad we paid the extra money, as seeing some of the large boats with so many people on, and not having life jackets, was a worry.
Ultimately Melvin gives you a close encounter with wildlife and community, in an ecological way, that is supportive of the local people and environment.
Review provided by Viator
Dana_s
Mar 6, 2026
Small group 100% recommended! - Great day! Relaxing, informative and super interesting! This was the best, you get it all! Great food, relaxing beach time, island info on turtle conservation & mangroves. Stopping to find turtles and starfish. Plenty of Rum drinks, beer, soda and water and food. Small speedboat gets you there early before the rest of the crowd which was so nice, no crowds. Also the owners of the tour group Natalie and Melvin are on the excursion making sure everything is perfect. The whole crew were amazing. I would 100% recommend, especially if you’re not the party boat type!
Review provided by Viator
Dan_m
Mar 5, 2026
A good choice - It was nice to have a small tour operator that was really keen on giving a wicked experience and also supporting locals as part of the tour. We got to spend way more time on Sanoa island compared to the big party boat tours.
Review provided by Viator
Emma_p
Mar 5, 2026
Impeccable: fantastic tour, amazing staff, great vibes, perfect choice for your Isla Saona trip - 100% recommend this tour, my words cannot sum up how amazing it was but I'll try. First, honourable mention to the organisers and the staff. Everything was perfectly taken care of, from the order of the stops, the choice of the locations, the food and drinks, the transport, and the incredibly insightful story telling about the Dominican Republic and Isla Saona. They even took free top quality pictures of us in incredibles spots and sent them immediately after the tour. As a plus, the organisers are very passionate about supporting the local community and making the tour ethical and responsible. We got to see the true, less touristy side of places, especially where the local Saona islanders live.
Now, onto the tour itself. First, 100% worth the early start as we were the first to get to all the different stops on the tour, especially the beaches, and trust me it makes a massive difference. We never felt rushed, we always had enough time to enjoy, relax, take pictures, eat etc., but always avoiding the crowd. Also cause we had our own reserved beach beds in a supervised area. It was actually a small group tour (10-12 people) which made us feel special and taken care of. And also, another honourable mention to the boat captain which made the journey feel safe, smooth and fun.
Finally, Isla Saona is as beautiful and breathtaking as you see in in the pictures, if not even better, so definitely a must see.
Thanks a lot from our family to Melvin and the rest of the crew for this impeccable day.
Review provided by Viator
Djurdjijak
Mar 5, 2026
Worth it! - Wonderful experience! Worth every penny! Staff super friendly and organized. My recommendation.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
