Catalina Island · From Uvero Alto
Catalina Island tour from Excellence El Carmen
Door-to-door pickup at the Excellence El Carmen lobby, about 1h 15min to La Romana marina, full-day boat tour with snorkeling at The Wall, natural pool and beach BBQ — back at the resort by ~5:30 PM.
Overview
Our full-day Catalina Island tour from Excellence El Carmen is the snorkeler's pick: a 25-min boat ride from La Romana marina to "La Pared" (The Wall) — a vertical reef drop where you snorkel over 20 m of clear blue, then anchor at a knee-deep natural pool, then ashore at Catalina's white-sand beach for a BBQ lunch. Pickup at 6:20 AM at the Excellence El Carmen lobby in Uvero Alto, about 1h 15min drive to La Romana. Flat $89 per person, kids 4–12 at $45, under 4 free. Round-trip transfer, boat, snorkel gear, beach BBQ, open bar, taxes and crew tips all included. Back at the Excellence El Carmen around 5:30 PM.
Highlights
- Full day at Catalina Island
- Snorkeling at "La Pared" — the famous wall reef
- Natural pool stop on the way back
- Beach BBQ lunch with open bar
- Door-to-door pickup at the Excellence El Carmen lobby
- Pickup at 6:20 AM · back by ~5:30 PM
- Less crowded than Saona — fewer day-trippers
- Bilingual crew (EN/ES)
Included
- Round-trip transfer from Excellence El Carmen
- Boat to Catalina + The Wall snorkel
- Beach BBQ lunch
- Open bar on board (rum, Presidente, cocktails, soft drinks)
- Snorkel gear
- Bilingual crew
- All taxes and crew gratuity
Not Included
- Premium spirits
- Beach photographer prints
- Personal expenses
Itinerary
6:20 AM
Lobby pickup at Excellence El Carmen
A/C van meets you at the Excellence El Carmen main entrance in Uvero Alto. about 1h 15min highway drive to La Romana marina.
~9:00 AM
La Romana marina boarding
Check-in at the dock, life jacket and snorkel gear handed out, group briefing in EN/ES.
~9:30 AM
Boat to Catalina + The Wall
25-min ride to Catalina. First stop is "La Pared" — a vertical reef drop, 45 min snorkeling over reef fish, parrotfish, the occasional turtle.
~11:30 AM
Beach BBQ + open bar
Ashore at Catalina's white-sand beach. BBQ lunch: grilled chicken & fish, rice & beans, salads, fruit. Bar opens, loungers and shade.
~3:00 PM
Natural pool stop
On the way back the boat anchors at a knee-deep natural pool — last swim, last cocktail, fewer crowds than Saona.
~5:30 PM
Drop-off at Excellence El Carmen
Boat returns to La Romana, A/C van back to the Excellence El Carmen lobby — in time for sunset.
Excellence El Carmen
Why book from Excellence El Carmen: From Excellence El Carmen we run private-van Saona days so you're not stuck on a shared 6 AM mega-bus — same boat at the island, calmer morning leg.
Questions
Where exactly is pickup at Excellence El Carmen?+
Main Excellence El Carmen lobby in Uvero Alto. Driver name and van plate sent on WhatsApp the night before. From Excellence El Carmen we run private-van Saona days so you're not stuck on a shared 6 AM mega-bus — same boat at the island, calmer morning leg.
Pickup and return time?+
Pickup at 6:20 AM, back at the Excellence El Carmen around 5:30 PM.
Saona or Catalina?+
Catalina is shorter (9 vs 11 hours), less crowded, with the best snorkeling on this coast (The Wall). Saona has the iconic beach and natural starfish pool. Both are great — Catalina wins for snorkelers, Saona for first-time beach days.
Good for kids?+
Yes — kids 4–12 are $45, under 4 free. The natural pool stop is knee-deep and crew supervises snorkeling.
Is the open bar really included?+
Yes — Dominican rum, Presidente beer, cocktails, soft drinks and water, unlimited on the boat.
Cash on pickup?+
Yes — USD or DOP to the driver. Cards and transfer also accepted. No deposit.
Weather cancellation?+
If the captain cancels for weather, we rebook for any other day or refund 100%.
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