Saona Island: A beauty that never stops surprising

A testimonial of Saona Island Premium Tour

I must say that I have already participated in more than 100 Saona Island tours with more than 10 different companies/ water sports operators before, and this one was the most enjoyable, by far.

We started in Punta Cana, and after a 45-minute ride arrived at ScubaCaribe´s base in Bayahibe. A beautiful dive & water sports center on the beach with the Caribbean Sea right in front. What an office view to be jealous of! After meeting and greeting all of the inland staff, we were introduced to the boat captain Narciso, the sailor Adeimin and Maria, a young energetic stewardess. We were around 20 people on the boat and had plenty of room for us and our backpacks. Normally this tour is done by sailing catamaran, but we went on a private tour, called Saona Premium – full day.

The boat was a 36-foot power Catamaran with two powerful 200cc engines that makes it navigate fast, but you don’t even feel it. It was very clean, provides life vests, 2 bathrooms, a wide foredeck where you can enjoy the amazing view, a hard covered top, fresh water, non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks. Basically, everything to make the tour unforgettable! The captain then held a briefing about our tour and pointed out important rules about the boat and the tour itself, such as “do not dive with your head”, “don’t touch the starfish”, etc.

Our tour started by navigating along the beautiful coastline, where we could see the crystal clear water bay of Bayahibe, the resorts along the beach, the National Park of the East and the breathtaking limestone formations. Palm trees everywhere, and if you looked down you could even see the bottom of the Caribbean Sea and its coral silhouettes.

After navigating for 25 minutes, we arrived at the stunning and spectacular natural swimming pool. A bank of sand that extends for miles with waist-deep water and covered with starfish. The water is so crystal clear that you can see them without even submersing your head into the water. You don’t need to touch them. In fact, it is forbidden by Dominican Law, because people just took them out of the water. We were hanging out there for about 40 minutes and literally feel the Caribbean vibe. Waist deep crystal clear water, beers, rum, music, and relaxation. All you need!

We didn’t want to leave but there was so much more to see and experience.

Back on the boat, it was time to go to the Island. Whenever you go, don’t forget to look to your left after leaving the natural swimming pool. There is a breathtaking view of the Catuano Channel where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean.

15 minutes later, we arrived at Saona. I have to say that, normally, all tours stop their boats right on the beach where people have lunch. It was a great perk that we got to walk through some mangroves and native trees to get to ScubaCaribe´s beach. 100 tours to Saona, and this was my first time to actually see a bit of the island’s interior. Waiting for us was a charming Caribbean hut with a solid table and comfortable seats. We were promptly served with some welcome champagne and a fresh octopus salad.

All the waiters provided a fantastic service, bringing us red and white wine, too. They then arrive with the grilled lobsters. Perfectly cooked and served with a layer of pineapple, giving it that Caribbean taste. Food and service were not over yet, though. We still had a great buffet opening. Fish, meat, pasta, rice, salad, even dessert! Again, after so many tours to the island, this was the first time that I felt like I have been brought to a real restaurant in this paradisiac island! You can still feel the Caribbean but you eat like a king! Needless to say that I had to taste everything, and it all tasted delicious!

We had plenty of space on the beach to relax after a great meal and joyful conversation with everyone from the group. Not the typical crowded beach where you have to fight for a seat in the first row. At the end of a good stroll along the beach, we had to return. That’s the sad part of the day but still was amazing to appreciate the breathtaking scenery along the coast, for the second time. The boat slowly ferried us back at a perfect speed, so we could take some last photos and nobody felt rushed, at any time.

To wrap it up, it was an amazing day. We enjoyed a great time with the boat crew and staff on the beach. Our food and drinks were perfect regarding quantity and quality. The clean beach and plenty of space made everything cozy, and the comfortable boat and speeds were a plus.

We truly can’t wait to join this tour again!

Thanks a lot for this wonderful experience, ScubaCaribe in Saona Island!

I.Da Silva