Saona Island, Mano Juan & Canto de la Playa Away from Crowds
Description
This tour offers a more authentic way to discover Saona Island, away from crowded tourist routes. Travelers enjoy a carefully designed itinerary including Mano Juan village, Canto de la Playa, the Natural Pool, and protected natural areas rarely highlighted on standard excursions. With a maximum of 30 travelers, the atmosphere remains comfortable and relaxed while allowing access to quieter beaches and preserved natural spots.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet at our office in the fishing village of Bayahibe, the only departure port to Saona Island. Guests staying in Bayahibe village are within walking distance. After a short welcome and briefing, board a comfortable boat and begin your Caribbean adventure directly from the coast, without long road transfers.
Discover Mano Juan, the only village on Saona Island, known for its colorful houses and peaceful local atmosphere. Travelers will explore this authentic fishermen’s village, visit the turtle nursery, enjoy lunch served on the beach, and have free time to relax and swim in the calm waters of Mano Juan. Baby turtles can sometimes be seen depending on the season.
Continue by boat to Canto de la Playa, one of the most beautiful beaches on Saona Island, far from crowded tourist areas. Here travelers enjoy free time for swimming, snorkeling, and relaxing in crystal-clear turquoise waters surrounded by untouched nature.
Navigate through Cotubanamá National Park, a protected area known for its rich marine biodiversity. The route crosses the Catuano Channel, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea, then continues through mangroves where red mangrove trees grow in seawater. This preserved environment often offers opportunities to spot adult sea turtles and, occasionally, rays.
Finish the excursion at the famous Natural Pool, a shallow turquoise sandbank in the Caribbean Sea where travelers can relax in waist-deep water, enjoy a drink, and admire giant starfish in a unique tropical setting. Return to the port of Bayahibe with beautiful memories.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Important: Please select the correct option when booking (you will be asked to choose your option during checkout). If you require hotel pickup, please select the transport option corresponding to your area (e.g. "Tour with transport from Punta Cana"). If you prefer to make your own way to our departure point in Bayahibe, please select "Tour with meeting point at the departure point". We will contact you after your booking is confirmed to provide the exact meeting time and location.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(165)
Fantastic excursion to Saona Island with Mariposa Tours from Bayahibe. A guarantee with this tour operator!!!!
Beautiful visit to Saona Island with a stop at the fishing village, with an attached walk and visit to the turtle conservation center and then to the most beautiful beaches on the island. Kind staff, fantastic places and so much, so much fun. In short, a day in paradise
Guides were amazing! Knowledgeable, friendly, and super accommodating. The literary is a little boring and repetitive. If you’re an experienced snorkeler or diver the snorkeling stop is kind of a joke- there’s not a lot of fish- but the beach is gorg. We wanted to experience the pristine beaches where there was no seaweed so that mission was accomplished for sure - it just could have been a half day. The lunch was fantastic and again- hospitality was top notch. My son and I had a great time.
After having done 4 excursions with this agency, the quality is there! Thank you infinitely to the whole team, you are exceptional! Captain, Junior, Manuel, Christian, José thank you! And a big favorite for Gregory the omnipresent good atmosphere. Our trip will be unforgettable and that is thanks to you.
We booked this trip having read the good reviews, and I'm glad we did! The crew and guide, Christian, we all fantastic! Very friendly, welcoming, attentive and knowledgeable. The group is smaller than many (another thing we were after having ready just how many people fit on the typical catermaran tours) which not only gives a more personal experience, but also gave us more space on the boat and room to move around. We got to see baby turtle hatchlings, wild turtles swimming, starfish and many other animals. It was a truely memorable day and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Dominican Attitude to anyone looking for a trip to Saona Island. Thank you for a special day
Me and my family had a great day with Christian and staff. They made sure we safe and comfortable all day. We loved the experience. Lots of different things to see. The culture at Mano Juan was interesting to see. The small group was perfect for us, we got everything we wanted out of this excursion, a little history of the area, Pineapple Pina coladas, fresh coconuts, lobster, culture, untouched scenery and great photos taken but the fun Vicky! Thank you for a great day.
A fantastic day from start to finish. Canto de la Playa was absolutely beautiful and we were lucky enough to have it almost to ourselves. Swimming and snorkelling there was a real highlight. We were even lucky enough to spot turtles swimming in the water later in the day, which was such a special experience. The whole day was really well organised and packed a lot in without ever feeling rushed. Christian and Gregory were brilliant hosts! They were funny, welcoming and full of energy. The whole crew made everyone feel like family from the moment we stepped on board and created such a great atmosphere with plenty of laughs, music and dancing throughout the day. A really memorable experience and one of the best days of our holiday. Highly recommend!
Rest up! Eat a light breakfast it's a bit before lunch. Bring a towel, sunglasses, watershoes. Water can be choppy so recommend dramamine if you get motion sickness easily.
Warm welcome from a dynamic and professional French-speaking team; top-notch excursion. Go for it! 🤩
Top-notch French-speaking team at all levels. Small group excursion, earlier than those of other companies, visiting different sites (we arrived first at Mano Juan). An island just for us for a good while before the crowd from other boats arrived. Then a stop at another beach (where we were also alone) and at the natural pool. Warm crew that made the day even more fabulous.
