Excursion Data
Saona Island Tour Statistics — Punta Cana's #1 Excursion 2026
Updated: 2026-06-01
Executive summary
Saona Island receives an estimated 1.2 million tourists per year, making it the single most-visited excursion in the Dominican Republic. The tour departs from Bayahibe, combines catamaran + speedboat, and includes the famous Piscina Natural starfish pool.
Key statistics
1.2M
Annual pax
110 km²
Park area
8–9 h
Tour duration
US$ 89
Avg. group price
Saona Island tour facts & figures
Saona is part of Cotubanamá National Park, protected since 1975. All tours depart from Bayahibe — Cana.tours transfers pick guests up directly at the Punta Cana / Bávaro hotel or Airbnb. The classic format: catamaran outbound with open bar, beach lunch on Saona, then a speedboat return with a stop at the Piscina Natural starfish pool.
Saona Island tour benchmarks 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual visitors to Saona Island | ~1,200,000 |
| Departure port | Bayahibe (≈80 km from Bávaro, ~90 min) |
| Saona Island area | 110 km² (Cotubanamá NP) |
| Protected status | National Park since 1975 |
| Standard tour duration | 8–9 h (07:30–17:00) |
| Transport mix | Catamaran outbound + speedboat return |
| Natural pool stop (Piscina Natural) depth | ≈1 m, sand bottom |
| Group tour price (incl. lunch & open bar) | US$ 75 – 110 / pp |
| Premium small-group / private | US$ 140 – 220 / pp |
| Best months | Dec – April (dry season) |
Sources: Cotubanamá NP / Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Viator, GetYourGuide, internal Cana.tours data.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Saona Island tour?+
Can I do a private Saona tour?+
Sources & methodology
- Wikipedia — Saona Island (Isla Saona) — Cotubanamá National Park, 110 km²
- Ministerio de Medio Ambiente RD — Parque Nacional Cotubanamá (Saona) — Saona protected area, 110 km² — Cotubanamá National Park
- Viator — Punta Cana excursions & tours — Live tour pricing benchmark
- GetYourGuide — Punta Cana activities
- Arecoa — Excursiones más vendidas en Punta Cana — Trade-press analysis of best-selling DR excursions
- TripAdvisor — Punta Cana things to do (rankings) — Top-ranked Punta Cana excursions by review volume
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