Full-day Excursion In Saona Island

We had an incredible time on this tour! The guide was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and punctual. Everything was well-organized from start to finish. Highly recommended to anyone visiting!

It was an amazing experience even for solo travelers like myself. It was well organized, lots of music, food. Everyone vibed together and looked out for each other. I love how the tour guide managed the group and ensured that we were together at all times.

We didn't get to go. We waited by the main lobby and no one ever picked us up. We later received a text to meet them outside our resort which we couldn't do. We would like our refund. Larry and Gloria Cooper.

Driver was 45 minutes late and then they double booked the speed boat and the Catamaran, so they were both late as well. The food was just in the open full of flies and there was no allergy warning for the pasta which had lobster pieces in it. Someone who is allergic ate some and when I asked about emergency services they said "no, it is what it is".

This trip was around £60 less than what Tui tried to charge and included gift shop stop, natural pool and soana island including buffet and sprite coke and rum. It was a lot of traveling. We originally got picked up in a small mini bus travelled around an hour to be put onto a big coach of around 50 people. This bus took us to the gift shop for 20 minutes then to the port. We were waiting for around 30/40 minutes in the port to get on the boat which was a long time to wait in the sun with nowhere to sit. Every time we tried to walk of to find somewhere shaded the tour guide would shout quite bluntly at us and that seemed to be a running theme across the trip. In the port they say you must have a ‘security’ picture taken for free we declined as didn’t think it was necessary and knew there would be a charge somewhere along the line, they took one of us with our bags waiting for the boat at the port then when u get on the coach home they try sell you the picture on a used bottle filled with wood so you can make your own mamajuana for $15 each. The speed boat took around 30 minutes to get to the natural pool. There were no fish, starfish, turtles or any sea creatures but it was pretty cool and refreshing. We stayed here for for 30/40 minutes. There was sprite, rum and coke to drink in the sea. We got back in the speed boat and went to soana island. When getting on and off the boat you do have to get in the ocean and the waves are pretty big so do expect to get wet, I would have probably brought a waterproof bag if I knew. Once on Soana island we were taken for food they served a chicken, some other meat, tomato spaghetti, creamy pasta, rice, bread and fresh fruit. I did eat everything other than the meats and I did get unwell around 12-18 hours later and I’m the only person in our group who ate at the buffet so unsure if this is what made me unwell? After that we laid on the sun loungers which where included. We had about 2 and a half hours on the beach, there’s a lot of people trying to sell you things but if you politely say no they will leave you be. Getting on the speed boat to get to the catamaran was very difficult due to the waves and I did actually slip on the stairs and hurt my arm which left me with bruising. The speedboat takes you out to deeper water where you have to step across the boats to get on to the catamaran. As someone with mobility problems this was very difficult. We had to do the same to get on the speed boat back to the port. The catamaran also served rum,coke and sprite. The staff where great at getting everyone up and dancing on the catamaran playing a good mixture of mostly Spanish and some English songs. There wasn’t many places to sit other than the floor on the catamaran and it was pretty slippy. Towards the end of the trip they went round putting durag style hats on people then once you’ve worn it dancing they come back to you and say $5 each. Once everyone has paid up the staff stop smiling and dancing and stand and count their money together. The transport back to the hotel was a little quicker but we did drop lots of the staff off home on our way. In total we were out of the resort over 13 hours and we spent 20 minutes at the gift shop, 40 minutes at the natural pool and about 2 and a half hours on Soana island. I’m glad I’ve done it but it was a very long day for very little stops and I’ve been unwell ever since.

Everything was perfect! Picked up from resort lobby, was about an hour drive to boats. Stopped at a gift shop along the way. Once on the boat it was about a 30 mins ride w drinks and lots of fun that stopped at a natural swimming pool that was beautiful. An additional 30 mins to soana island. Food was great and island was beautiful

Overall we had a wonderful day on a beautiful island and had an amazing time. The price was well worth it but we found that the cheaper price warranted high pressure sales for so many additional items including photos, jewelry, hats, etc. we were the only people that spoke English, and the staff spoke very little. We felt as though being the only Americans we were charged much higher prices for additional items because of the communication barriers. The ride home was actually scary because the driver spoke no English and did not remember where he picked us up. None of the guests spoke English and could help us. They actually mocked us singing in a language that we understood very little but what I did know was that their singing and chanting was targeted towards us being Americans and not in a good way. I’m pretty sure the driver was drunk as he was behaving the same as all of the other drunk passengers. The only reason we got back to our Airbnb was that there were other passengers who got off close to where we were staying and we jumped off the bus as fast as we could. I gave it a 3 because the place itself was beautiful and we truly had a great time but being the only Americans, we were treated like lepers. Thank goodness we were on our own on the island. I would not recommend if you cannot speak Spanish fluently.

We had the best time on this excursion -- dancing, blue waters, blue skies and the swimming was amazing.

I booked this as it states English speaking guide. Once picked up in a van we were transported to another area after an hour of driving and transitioned with more people into another bus. Not one person including the guests and drivers plus the guide spoke English. Me and my husband had no idea what was being told to us as we were transported. They then began putting pink string on our wrists. Still no idea. We stopped picked up one person off the highway. Then stopped a separate time to wait for a car to pull out in front of us and jump out to give the driver a package then we took off. Again we started to drive another hour when we went off the way to the boat and were dropped at a souvenir shop. Once again we could not understand a word that was told to us on directions on how to get from the van to the boat and back from the island. It was honestly terrifying. Then once on the island there was trash everywhere which was really sad. And your constantly bothered for sales and massages. Even after repeatedly stating no. We almost got on the wrong boat to go back because we seen some from the trip getting on it but then figured out wrong color wrist band and hopped back off. If this was an upfront and honest place who stated Spanish speaking guide me and my husband would have never booked and stayed on the resort. This was a very uncomfortable situation to be put in.

The destinations were fabulous (loved the island and the protected waters). Our guide was awesome--he really seemed to enjoy what he did, which made the experience even better.

The trip itself was great. Tiur guide was awesome. But photographer lied to me. Gave me one price but charged a different price to my credit card. Not happy.

Very good and organized. I would definitely recommend Pepe and his team. Not an excursion I would repeat though.

It was amazing. My family and I really enjoyed this tour. It was really worth the money.

The excursion itself was great, but our main concern was with the transportation and driver. We specifically requested an English-speaking driver; however, the driver spoke very little English. We were grouped with a van full of Spanish-speaking passengers, and as a result, we had no understanding of what was happening throughout the trip or the purpose of the different stops. On the return trip, we also made an additional stop that did not seem necessary, which delayed our arrival back to the hotel. Overall, our frustration was with the lack of clear communication and the way the route was handled. It appeared that the driver and other passengers were coordinating the trip in Spanish, which made it difficult for us to follow along and felt outside what should have been the standard experience for this excursion.

I had an amazing time. The island was so beautiful. I enjoyed the ferry ride as well. The lunch was tasty. A very well rounded trip.

We had such a fun experience overall! Our tour guide was very knowledgable and the boat staff were all so kind and made the boat party unforgettable - they were full of energy! It was also great taking photos with my partner at Saona Island. I just wish the food was better. Although it was buffet, I don't think that there would've been enough to come back for seconds. We also wish the transportation to get there didn't have to take so long - we had to make multiple pitstops to pick people up from other hotels, which made it less efficient. However, it was still worth it!

The ad is misleading. You take 2 hours to drive in a super cramped bus to get to a midpoint where you get 30 minutes to look in a souvenir shop. Then you drive another hour (3.5 hours in total) before you get to the town and get on a speedboat. You ride the speedboat for 10 minutes and then are on the catamaran. The catamaran is fun! It’s about 2.5 hours to the island. You get free drinks, but NO snacks were provided at any point. We did not go to a cave or blue lagoon, which was a huge let down. On saona island, the tour guide kept blowing his stupid whistle at us. Buffet was good, but the pasta was way overcooked. Catamaran back was about an hour long. They forced a life jacket onto our heads, even though we said no thank you due to a severe sunburn. George was rude and disagreeable the entire time. Not a fan! Would not do this again.

Do not book your Saona Island excursion with TUI! You will end up on the bus for most of the trip. Our TUI rep advised that this tour would take approx 8 hours and that we would be back in our hotel by around 6pm. We started this trip at 7am and didn't get back to our hotel until 8pm. The whole trip took 13 hours! We ended up missing our dinner reservation. Be warned if a big TUI coach turns up at your pick-up point-- this means picking up tons of passengers! It was a nightmare waiting on the bus and picking passengers up from various pickup points, waiting to get on the boat to the island and dropping passengers off in different hotels. There was a stop at a chocolate shop on the way back, which didn't help as it meant more waiting for passengers to get back on the bus (some inconsiderate passengers definitely took their time inside the shop). There was a poor attempt by the bus driver and tour guide to get people back. It's a shame as Saona Island is beautiful and we could have spent more time on the island (we were only there for just over 2 hours). Our day was spent waiting endlessly on the bus. If you are thinking of taking this tour, join a smaller group where it's more organised and less touristy--definitely not with TUI!

Great trip. Good value for the money. Others paid much more on the trip. But rude from pickup to boats was too long.

I feel like the experience I was promised was not the experience I received. Everything felt extremely unorganized. Before booking, I was told my pickup location was fine, but the day before the excursion I got a message telling me to meet at a Catholic church by 8:00 a.m. I arrived at 7:30, expecting to leave on time, but multiple buses showed up at the same spot and we all had to transfer onto a charter bus. We didn’t end up leaving until around 9:15 instead of 8:00. On the way, we stopped at a store that was clearly a tourist trap they work with, pushing us to spend more money. After that, we arrived at what we thought was the destination, but it wasn’t we had to walk a full mile just to reach the water. Once we got there, we waited about 30 minutes for a boat to take us to another boat in the ocean so we could transfer again. It was confusing and poorly explained. Once we finally boarded the catamaran, things were okay music, drinks, a decent vibe. But as we got closer to the island, the crew started going person to person asking for tips, which felt uncomfortable. And the moment we stepped onto the island, we were swarmed by people trying to sell us services we didn’t want. They would get upset when we said no. I travel internationally often, but this was one of the most chaotic experiences I’ve had. I shouldn’t feel pressured to tip after already paying over $200 for the excursion. When it was time to eat, the instructions were unclear, and the whole process felt disorganized. After that, we went to another island, which honestly ended up being the best part it was beautiful and peaceful compared to everything else. The worst part came at the end: they dropped me and my boyfriend off on the side of the road to wait for an Uber. It felt unsafe, especially with the way local traffic can be. I can’t in good faith recommend this excursion.

Awesome and beautiful island. Lots of people on bus and island, but that’s cuz it’s so popular and beautiful. Food was meh but who goes for the food?

Transporting to our destination took longer than the actual stay at the island but the island was beautiful food looked amazing and people were fun.

It was great, and the tour Guide was awesome!!!! I would do it again and for the price you can’t complain cause it was worth it.

What an incredible way to spend the day and see the beauty of the country that we normally would not get to experience from being on a resort.

We paid for a caterman and didn’t go on one, which was highly disappointing, we ended up on a small speedboat crammed with people.

Pickup and drop-off went smoothly if you don't mind the drive to pick up other people who stay at other resorts and are also going to Saona Island. Bathroom on the boat and on the island are not the most hygienic but they are usable if you can bear the stench. The island and the waters at the pool and on the beach are beautiful. There are photographers on board from other companies who take stunning photos of all members in your travel group, but they do charge a lot for the photos. But they are worth it if you buy the entire set of photos. The food and drinks on the island are decent. Chicken, salad, rice and soda or beer to drink. Not too bad. Drinks on the catamaran were only coke or sprite with or without rum. Music on board was all pretty much local Dominican music. I didn't enjoy the music at all. Sailing to the island was not a problem, but it did take some time. The weather was sunny with a mild wind. Bring sunscreen lotion, a hat, and sunglasses. The staff running this excursion did their best to keep everyone informed and safe. I thought tips were optional, but two staff members who tried to sell me and my family bandanas asked for tips from me and all the other guests on board. I didn't mind tipping as the staff did work very hard to make this a good excursion for everyone. This entire trip took the whole day so be prepared with an extra water bottle and cash for souvenirs, drinks, tips, and anything else once you get to the island. Overall, not bad. I recommend improving the bathrooms, drinks, and adding American music on board.

This was the best excursion we did. Great team and energy. The crew was patient with us as we were a few minutes late to meetup at the pick up point.

This is a must do tour!! This was our second time on the same tour. One year later still amazing! The staff are super friendly and go out of their way to help you. The transfer and communication with the provider was exceptional. The natural pool and Saona island was great lovely and scenic. The slow catamaran ride back to the island was nice where you could enjoy some drinks and relax on the front of the boat or party by the bar. Highly recommend. Would book again without hesitation! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Best day tript saona and natural pool, picked from lopesan hotel 7;55 and returned 8pm. Lunch was great. Must do in DR. Big bus and comfy.

Scheduling, pick up and return were all exceptional. Picked up right on time and brought to the departure area. Boarded a boat out to a much larger vessel to take everyone on the tour. The employees were very helpful and kind people. We set off to the natural pool about an 1h15m away, what I didn't realize was that it was full of college kids and had an open bar throughout which provided some entertainment, many kids were smashed by the time we reached the first natural pool stop. Lol. After about 45 minutes there we continued onto Saona Island where we sat off the coast awaiting transportation to the island. Now this is where they need more assistance getting people to the destination. It took quite awhile to get on another dingy to head ashore. Once ashore we hung out for about 3 hours, had lunch, drinks and headed back to the tranport boats out to the larger vessel for the return trip. Now this is where it really sucked badly. I understand people like to party and have fun but the music on the return trip to Bayahibe was utterly obnoxious and dare I say dangerously loud. There were children and also very young under 1 year old kids on the boat having to endure that absurd loudness and for this reason alone I would never book or recommend this excursion for anyone with young children. It's really too bad because it didn't need to be half as loud as it was and it would've been a good time, they just blew it up. Lastly, when arriving back at the dock we waited a good 45 minutes from shore to be transported back again. Totally sucked and made for an extraordinarily long day. Maybe if I was in my early 20's with no kids it would have been okay but as a mature adult I won't be doing this again.

Experience was amazing. The island was beautiful. Extremely worth the travel time it takes to get to the destination. Good Long Day trip. Everyone was super helpful with our 10 month old throughout the whole trip. Staff were great and extremely helpful especially our guide.

A nice trip to the harbour to pick up a ride on a speed boat which took us to a cataram. We sailed over an hour ,the ride included free alcohol rum and softdrinks and beer. The ride had a party atmosphere dancing and loud music. We arrived at the island which looked amazing.we took a short trip from the cataram by speed boat,we then had lunch and drinks ,the food and drinks are all inclusive . We then spent 4 hrs on the island soaking up the sun and going in the clear turquoise sea which was warm and free from sargassum. Visiting the Caribbean in certain seasons can produce a lot of sargassum which can spoil some beaches. A must visit for anyone going to the dominican republic. Highly recommend.

Good experience , nice , worry free. Driver was nice.. and the guide was nice and helpful too. It is a long day trip. Be ready.

It was a great experience, from start to finish, punctual and delivered everything they promised, always kind and polite staff.

Horrible horrible I was told to be in the lobby at 7am I was in fact there at 6:30 nobody called for me then customer service said they left me and refused a refund and the person was very rude to me

We were happy with the company. Our tour guide Tony is great. The trip took us 12 hours starting from leaving our house and getting back. Will book here again.

Went on this tour yesterday as said previously waiting about takes most of your time. The boat to the island we had a catamaran said 2 hours but felt longer. Only drink available was cola rum. Sprite. Got to the island and compared to last time visited it was dirty and not a nice place to relax due to people trying to sell things. The toilets both on boat and at the island were a disgrace Lunch was okay but you had a fight off the flies. We left our hotel at 7.45 and arrived back at 7.25 so just about 12 hours on the go it was a long day. Totally disappointed by this trip

It was amazing! Saona island is so picturesque and relaxing. I would definitely recommend it to everyone I know.

Picked up at 7am, spent 3 hours going to other hotels, swapping from a mini bus to coach to then another coach. then finally got to the port at 11:20. Told to get off as too busy for coach to get into car park, followed guide through streets who left half of the people behind and they went wrong way. Then got onto small boat to take us to Catamaran. Finally left port for Saona Island at 11:56. Was supposed to be a party boat but all that happened was a man, who was the 'entertainer' thrusting himself at us. Eventually got to Saona Island around 13:30. Then had to get onto another small boat in groups of 15 or so to take final trip to Island. Told we only had 2 hours. Fly's and bug's all over food, beach full of rubbish which is such a disgrace from people leaving it. Guide called us together then to get small boat to Catamaran, the time it took to get us all on as we had to go in order the Catamaran left us behind. We then had to go in groups of 15/20 crammed onto speed boats to get back with no drinks onboard. Finally got back to hotel at 9pm. Spent 14 hours away from hotel with only 2 hours on Saona Island In a nut shell waste of time, the organisers could not run a bath

Would not recommend this company at all! the driver never turned up, we messaged the company to asked what time was the transfer was coming only to get a very rude response saying it had already come when this wasn’t the case what so ever! the transfer was arranged to pick us up at 7:35am we got to the lobby for 6:30am to be on the safe side, us along side another group who had also booked this trip had not had our name called out by the drivers! Would not book with this company!

The beach is beautiful! I wish there was music playing and it was a bit more lively, but it was a nice relaxing experience. I would recommend.

Fun, nice scenery, but This trip makes for a very long day, don’t make any other plans for your day.. Early morning pick up late evening drop off to your hotel.

Bus late the store they take u 2 omg $$$$ bring your own 🍿🥤. 🍉 had to many flys eat first they pick buffet up fast. Don’t forget 🧴guide sucked very poor communication. The open bar just Coke or Sprite mixed w/ rum boat captain tossed trash in ocean photography $$$$ different boat on way back party boat one way swimming was amazing water shoes a must crew was unprofessional hit on us asked us out dancer on boat was so nice on beach was rude also sneaking beer to his coworkers was a long day photo of boat showed a slide into water none of that beach provides free chairs towel a must massage ladies are rude if you say no cost 50 for 30 mins or 90 for whole body for 30 mins

The best part was the 45mins spent in the lagoon. We spent more time waiting on transportation. On the island was just a so so beach with vendors to try to get you to pay outrageous prices for stuff. There was no information given about the island and nothing to see. The lunch provided was so so and considering the heat, water was free from a huge container but tiny cups. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND.

I recommend this trip, a little but of everything and coming back in a party boat. I highly recommend this to all veterans, they are safe and don't leave no one behind... I had a great experience, the beach was amazing and the beach pool! Best place ever, especially to do something new. Love it!!! 😍😍😍

It was very nice, alone of food choices, the staff were very polite, the pool was fabulous. I will definitely go again. We had a family member that took us to a island and we had fried fish outdoors. Night life was good, entertainment for the kids, water aerobics was fun.

The island itself was good but a logistical nightmare to get there. They pick you up in a bus, then take you to a parking lot where you stand around for 30-45 minutes waiting for a big tour bus. Then you get to the port but it's another 45 minutes before you get on the boat. Then on the way back you do it all over again. Large tour bus to the parking lot to another bus to take you back to your hotel. They need to work on the logistics of the trip we were outside of our hotel from like 8am-7pm but we're only on the excursion for about 4 of those hours

A must do excursion!! The island is amazing 10/10. Driver and guide was great. Speed boat to the island and catamaran back. Stopped and seen star fish while having a party in the blue shallow water.

Awesome!! Great staff, Super fun. My family loved it. Great food. The trip going and coming back was great. I would’ve loved staying at Saoana for more than 2:45 hrs.