Saona Island tour from RIU Palace Punta Cana

Overview

Our full-day Saona Island tour from RIU Palace Punta Cana is the Caribbean classic done right: speedboat across the Catuano channel to the Palmilla natural pool (knee-deep turquoise, starfish on the sand), then a catamaran with open bar to Saona's white-sand beach for a Dominican lunch buffet. Pickup at 6:45 AM at the RIU Palace Punta Cana lobby in Arena Gorda, about 2h on the highway to Bayahíbe — no resort-loop detours. Flat $89 per person, kids 4–12 at $45, under 4 free. Everything is included: round-trip A/C transfer, the boats, snorkel gear, the open bar (rum, Presidente beer, cocktails, soft drinks), lunch on the beach, taxes and crew tips. Back at the RIU Palace Punta Cana around 6:30 PM.

Highlights

• Full day at Saona Island and Palmilla natural pool
• 45-min snorkel at the natural starfish pool
• Open bar on the catamaran (rum, Presidente, cocktails, soft drinks)
• Dominican lunch buffet on the beach
• Door-to-door pickup at the RIU Palace Punta Cana lobby
• Pickup at 6:45 AM · back by ~6:30 PM
• Speedboat + catamaran combo (no boring one-way)
• Bilingual crew (EN/ES)

Itinerary

1. 6:45 AM

   Lobby pickup at RIU Palace Punta Cana

   A/C van meets you at the RIU Palace Punta Cana main entrance in Arena Gorda. about 2h highway drive to Bayahíbe — no resort back-road loops.

2. ~9:30 AM

   Bayahíbe marina check-in

   Quick check-in at the dock, life jacket and snorkel gear handed out, group briefing in EN/ES.

3. ~10:00 AM

   Speedboat to the natural pool

   25-min speedboat across the Catuano channel to Palmilla — knee-deep turquoise pool in the middle of the sea, 45 min to snorkel and look for starfish.

4. ~11:30 AM

   Catamaran to Saona · open bar

   Transfer onto the catamaran. Bar opens (rum, Presidente, cocktails), music on, 1-hour cruise to Saona Island.

5. ~1:00 PM

   Saona beach + Dominican lunch

   2 hours on the white-sand beach. Lunch buffet: grilled chicken & fish, rice & beans, salads, fresh fruit. Loungers and shade.

6. ~6:30 PM

   Drop-off at RIU Palace Punta Cana

   Return catamaran to Bayahíbe, A/C van back to the RIU Palace Punta Cana lobby — in time for sunset cocktails or dinner.

Questions