Excursión de Día Completo a Isla Saona desde Punta Cana

Horrible! Not enough characters to explain how horrible. I am a travel agent traveling with clients. This tour was an embarrassment. I am considering reimbursing my clients out of my pocket as this is below my standards.

I was really disappointed by the excursion to Saona Island. The day is mainly composed of transport: bus + boat for hours, with very little real time on site. Once we get to Isla Saona, we eat quickly, and just 30 minutes later... we have to leave already. There’s practically no time to enjoy the beach or the setting. We spend more time getting around than enjoying the island, which makes the experience frustrating and not at all relaxing. 👉 At that price, I expected a real relaxing day, not a transport marathon. I do not recommend this excursion.

If we had known it would have taken so long to get there with all the stops along the way, we wouldn't have gone. Let me explain. Firstly, we chose our pick up location and turned out we weren't being picked up at our lobby. I got a call since we were still not found and we were supposed to walk half a kilometre to the main gate of all the resorts. 8h05am rough start. Then we drove to a place where all the tourist buses go and we literally felt like human trafficking where people were moved from one bus to another and back and forth, us included. That took at least 45 minutes to switch people around, very aggravating. After the "trades" we left and drove for a long time taking a detour to stop at a little shopping strip where the guides apparently must stop as per agreed upon to have the tourist buy souvenirs if they wish. That stop was supposed to be 15 minutes but was actually closer to 40 minutes. My family of 5 just stayed on the bus as we were so annoyed with all the stops. Took off again and drove to the destination parking lot at last. This whole morning trip took 2.5 hours total just to get to finally parking. Then we walked half a kilometer to arrive to the beach. They had all the groups pose for a welcome photo, which they said was going to be free later, and we boarded the catamaran. No welcome drinks, snacks nothing. After almost 3 hours, our kids were starving! It took another full hour just to get to the gorgeous swimming area at 12h05pm. THIS PLACE was the highlight of our day, it looked like the Maldives. We stayed there for 30 minutes. They served us warm rum and coke, whatever, we were so thirsty. Took off again and took another 45 minutes to arrive at the island where we were served very basic cold foods, ok chicken and pork. Again warm rum and coke only option, kids had water. The beach there was ok, lots of sharp rocks at the bottom, bring your water shoes! After 2 hours we left. Took over 90 minutes to return to the main beach. Then walked the half kilometer again to the buses. Once on the bus, we seriously just wanted to go!!! But this sales guy comes on and offers us this bottle of alcohol for $20 with all our group photos were stuck on! Free photo, sure. Buy the $20 bottle and you get your photo! We were so offended we didn't even want to look at it. That took another 20 minutes for his sales pitch. Then we waited another 20 minutes just because, we asked why we weren't leaving and never got an answer. Finally left the lot. After only 15 minutes driving we stopped at a gas station so people could get a snack and drink. Supposed to be a quick stop. Took another 30 bloody minutes! I personally was boiling in my seat, we just want to go. Another hour later, we finally got dropped off at our main gates, walked half a kilometer to our lobby. We were exhausted. The 30 minutes at the beautiful swimming area, although VERY breath taking, wasn't worth all the travels. 12 hours door to door.

Make sure to you rest the night before and have some breakfast, yes it take time to your destination but is all worth it. Love the experience and the people.

Disorganized transportation to get to dock, long waits to board boat. There is Only rum and Coca Cola (no other alcoholic beverages on board nor do they have water to drink (bring your own), kids on board try to sell you cheap ass bandanas to make extra money, they keep on asking for tips, the amount of tourists at the shallow water area is ridiculous, Saona island is not long enough to enjoy (only 30 mins and they rush you off the island), the wait for the lunches are way too long and disorganized, the transport back to land is on a speed boat. Overall, catamaran ride was nice, the island was super beautiful but everything else was just horrible. Honestly they over charge, if you request English they don’t speak English well enough to communicate properly. It’s a really bad tour. If you want to go, go but please don’t have high expectations at all just go with the flow, and expect all what I mentioned above. I enjoyed part of it, but was patient with the rest of the b.s. and took the good out of the bad.

Superrr good we had super amazing very attentive and good people The best island is passed auper on the excursion

The guides Roberto and John Wich are excellent people, a good tour. You are picked up from your hotel......

Everything was perfect! Very relaxing to swim at 2 different places! Get in line for buffet quick tho!

This excursion was fantastic. The island was beautiful except for the rocks in the ocean which no one talks about. The bus ride going to the boat made a pit spot and made us swap buses. Once there we got on a small boat to then get on the catamaran. Once on it, we were served rum and soft drinks. There was music playing and we danced. We were able to mi e around the boat with ease. On the island we swam and there was a buffet. I didn’t care much for the food but it was ok. There are bathrooms and chairs to sit in. Then we went to the natural pool in the middle of the ocean where we were able to swim and enjoy the rest of the day. I would advise you to have breakfast if possible as it is a long day and they don’t serve you food until the afternoon. At the end of the day you go back to the buses on a speed boat. Everyone was so friendly and it was just a fantastic day. The buses had AC so that helped with the long day in the sun.

The transportation very disorganized, the trip included snorkeling but they didn’t give us that, also the food below average. The island is pretty but very crowded not much to do.