If you ask me which trip I recommend most when someone arrives in Punta Cana for the first time, my answer never changes: Saona Island. I’ve been sending people there for years with Punta Cana in Travel, and when I pick them up at the end of the day I still see the same “I can’t believe this is real” look. So let me walk you through the day, so you know exactly what you’re getting into.

From your hotel to Bayahíbe: how the day starts

Everything starts early, with the bus stopping at your hotel to take you to Bayahíbe, the fishing village where the boats depart. The drive is already part of the show: you’ll pass through Dominicus and see up close the main hotel strip in that area, while the scenery gradually changes from Punta Cana’s Atlantic coast to the calm waters of the Caribbean. I always tell my guests to use that stretch to have a coffee, put on sunscreen and get mentally ready, because afterwards you won’t want to stop.

The Natural Pool, the first surprise

Before setting foot on the island, the boat stops at the Natural Pool, a sandbank in the middle of the sea where the water barely reaches your waist and is so clear you can see your feet as if looking through a window. It’s common to find starfish on the bottom; you can get close to look at them, but please don’t take them out of the water, they get very stressed outside their environment and many die from it. This is, without exaggeration, where the best photos of the day are taken.

Saona Island: we finally touch paradise

After the natural pool we continue toward the island, and that’s when you understand why so many people describe it as one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. Fine white sand, palm trees leaning almost to the water and a sea that changes from turquoise to deep blue as you wade in. You’ll have two to three hours completely free to swim, walk along the shore, nap under a palm tree or simply sit with a drink in your hand and do absolutely nothing. Yes, the open bar is available right there, so don’t worry about carrying drinks.

The food: Dominican flavor, no fuss

At lunchtime you’ll eat buffet-style by the sea: rice, grilled chicken, pork, green salad and tropical fruit for dessert, with water, rum and Coca-Cola included in the price. No plastic airline trays here, this is real food, served in a setting many beach restaurants would envy.

Did you know…?

• Saona Island is part of Cotubanamá National Park, one of the largest protected areas in the country, so every visit helps keep that protection alive.
• The name “Saona” dates from the time of Christopher Columbus, who named it in honor of a friend of his from the Savona region of Italy.
• Its beaches have appeared in ads and international productions thanks to how untouched the landscape looks.

If after reading all this you already feel like living it, message me directly on WhatsApp at +1 (829) 395-7036 and I’ll help you book your spot with Punta Cana in Travel. See you on the boat.