Isla Saona and Isla Catalina are two of the most popular excursions when staying in Punta Cana. It’s easy to say that both are the most beautiful islands in the Dominican Republic as well. When staying in Punta Cana, there are tons of group tours to book, but what should you do if you are looking for a private excursion to Isla Saona or Isla Catalina? Especially when looking for a little extra, a private tour – sometimes for less than 100 USD per person (see the table with the cheapest private tours below) – can be an amazing deal compared to sharing a catamaran with 70 other people. Find out in this article what other advantages you have on Saona Island and Catalina Island when booking a private tour.
- At a glance: the best private tour
- Saona Island vs. Catalina Island
- What is Isla Saona?
- What is Isla Catalina?
- Advantages of private tours to Isla Saona and Isla Catalina?
- Selected private excursions to Isla Saona
- Private excursions to Isla Catalina
- What is the best option for a private excursion: the difference between Isla Saona and Isla Catalina?
This article is exclusively about private tours to Isla Saona and Isla Catalina. If you are interested in group tours and regular excursions, please check this article for Saona Island and this one for Catalina Island.
There is also a dedicated blog post here about how to visit Saona Island without all the crowds.
Are you interested in further Punta Cana tours? If so, check out our comprehensive Punta Cana Excursion Guide with the most exciting 40+ activities for your vacation.
Completeley UPDATED by your Punta Cana expert Chris: August 2025
At a glance: the best private tour
As always here at Punta Cana Travel Blog, I am trying to provide the most important information in a very compact way, based on first-hand experiences, adding my personal recommendations. Therefore, I always encourage you to read the entire blog post as it contains a lot of insider advice you won’t find anywhere else.
Still, if you don’t have time to read everything, here are my top recommendations for you when looking for a private excursion to Saona Island or to Catalina Island:
- Best private tour to Saona Island from Punta Cana: Saona Private Tour from Punta Cana*
- Best private tour to Saona Island from Bayahibe (La Romana area):’ Private Premium Catamaran to Saona*
- Best private tour to Catalina Island (optional transfers from Punta Cana): Luxury Catamaran to Catalina Island*
Saona Island vs. Catalina Island
A lot of people looking for a great day out of the resort are lumping Saona together with Catalina, even though both islands are very different.
Here is a quick breakdown about the difference of Isla Saona and Isla Catalina so that you know what to expect:
| Saona Island | Catalina Island | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | within Cotubanamá National Park, approx. 15 miles away from Bayahibe | 5 miles away from La Romana port |
| Tours | Dozens of day trips every day | Limited tours |
| Boat Trip | Mostly a combination of speed boats and catamarans, even though this can vary for private tours | Mostly catamarans and yachts |
| Beaches | More than 10 beaches; some of the most beautiful beaches in the Dominican Republic, fine sand, turqouise ocean, calm waters | 2 beaches, good main beach, calm waters |
| Vibe | Paradise Island, spectacular scenery | Colourful houses on the island, but no varying scenery |
| Things to See | Mano Juan, Turtle Sanctuary, Natural Swimming Pool, Mangroves, Beaches, Starfish (please don’t touch them at all!) and more | Natural Reef, Beach, a few houses on the island |
| Snorkeling | Below average, hardly any spots which are worth snorkeling | Good snorkeling at two different spots along a reef |
| Private excursion cost | Starting from 420 USD* | Private Yacht starting from 1400 USD* |
Most important thing to book before your trip – what most people forget: health insurance for the Dominican Republic – get prices here*
(gets you covered in case of illness, accidents or necessary medical treatments)
Both islands have their advantages. Isla Saona offers more spectacular scenery and picture-perfect views, Isla Catalina is quieter and has better snorkeling. Isla Catalina further scores with its catamaran cruise, as you can enjoy it both ways as opposed to the combined speed boat-/catamaran ride to Isla Saona.
However, this is different for private tours, which is why I would lean more towards Isla Saona if I had to choose where to go on a private excursion from Punta Cana with my friends or family. Isla Saona offers more things-to-see and more spectacular spots. The crowds don’t matter that much if you have your own tour anyway as you can pick the uncrowded spots. Just if snorkeling is important for you or if you have already been to Isla Saona, Isla Catalina might be the better pick for you.
For more information about both islands, check out my comprehensive Isla Catalina and Isla Saona guide.
What is Isla Saona?
Isla Saona (or in English Saona Island) is the most popular tourist destination for day-trips in the Dominican Republic. It is an island in the southeast of the country, dotted with palm-fringed beaches (some of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic) and surrounded by incredibly blue turquoise waters. It is part of the National Park Cotubanamá (formerly called Parque Nacional del Este).
Isla Saona gets visited every day by thousands of tourists. Despite those hordes, it is a beautiful place (I couldn’t believe it before I was there for the first time). When arriving at this picture-perfect island with its stunning coastline, you will feel like you are in paradise. Just check out some of the photos here or in my comprehensive guide about Isla Saona.
Most of the Saona Island excursions have a set amount of stops. You will see the natural swimming pool with some starfish, have (sometimes) a quick mediocre snorkeling stop (please note that Isla Saona is not a snorkeling excursion – check out this post if you are looking for better snorkeling options), cruise along the coastline of the national park with an ocean catamaran and have a speed boat ride the other way back. In between all of this, you’ll enjoy a simple but tasty Dominican lunch and, of course, a lot of rum.
If this sounds perfect to you, then check out the best (affordable) Saona Island tour offers here* or continue reading my Isla Saona Guide.
The best Saona Island private tours
If you feel that the itinerary described in the previous section might limit your expectations or it is not as much fun as it could be, you should check the tables below as I have summarized the best Saona private tours for you in this comprehensive overview.
(mobile users: please turn your device to landscape mode to enjoy the best view of this table)
| The best Saona Island private tours | Review Score | Boat type | Group size | Pick-up | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Premium Catamaran to Saona Island* | 5.0/5.0 | catamaran | up to 15 people | at an extra charge (included from Bayahibe) |  |
| Saona Private Tour from Punta Cana* | 4.94/5.0 | speed boat | up to 15 people | from Punta Cana | |
| Saona private tour with personal guide* | 4.93/5.0 | speed boat | up to 15 people | from Punta Cana | |
| Private Saona Tour to Mano Juan, Canto de la Playa, Turtle Sanctuary & more top sights* | 4.85/5.0 | speed boat | up to 25 people | from Bayahibe (transfer optional) | Make sure to book with promo code PCTB10 to get 10% discount on this tour |
The cheapest private boats to Saona Island
Are you a small group or maybe even just a couple looking in getting away from the huge groups and the crowded Saona excursions? In this case, have a look at the cheapest Saona Island private tours which are more affordable than you might think as they already start at 420 USD per group, which is a real bargain considering that you have the crew and boat all on your own. If you book this trip for 6 people, you would end up paying only 70 USD which is less than most group tours.
For further information, check out the following table with the cheapest private tours to Saona Island.
(mobile users: please turn your device to landscape mode to enjoy the best view of this table)
| The cheapest private boats to Saona Island | Price range (subject to change) | Lunch/Drinks included | Group size | Pick-up | check prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affordable Saona private tour for couples or families* | from 450 USD (without transfers) from 613 USD (with transfers) | no | up to 6 people | no/yes | |
| Affordable Saona private tour for small groups* | from 490 USD (without transfers) from 690 USD (with transfers) | no | up to 12 people | no/yes | |
| Affordable Saona private tour for medium-sized groups* | from 600 USD (without transfers) from 963 USD (with transfers) | no | up to 26 people | no/yes | |
| Affordable Saona private tour for large groups* | from 1200 USD (without transfers) from 1685 USD (with transfers) | no | up to 40 people | no/yes | |
What is Isla Catalina?
Before we are delving into the private excursions to Isla Saona (and Isla Catalina), let’s have a look first at Isla Catalina, which can easily be regarded as the little sister of Isla Saona. Smaller in size, less popular, fewer visitors and to a certain amount also not as (incredibly) beautiful as Isla Saona – that’s Catalina Island, just 15 miles away from Saona Island.
However, this shouldn’t mean that a visit to Isla Catalina is not worth-to-go – by no means. A catamaran trip to the island is one of the most attractive excursions you can do while vacationing in Punta Cana. The cruise to the island epitomizes the genuine Caribbean holiday feeling. Furthermore, Isla Catalina offers one of the best snorkeling opportunities in the Southeast of the Dominican Republic. And last but not least, the island and the beach of Catalina are beautiful in their very own way.
Tours to Isla Catalina are offering a relaxed cruise and have a snorkeling stop included. You can also enjoy plenty of time at the beach and a local Dominican lunch. Check out here the best tours to Catalina Island* or continue reading my Isla Catalina guide.
The best Catalina Island private tours
There are not as many private tours available for Isla Catalina as for Isla Saona, hence a comprehensive list with different tours and providers doesn’t make that much sense. However, you can check out this premium tour here with a highly-rated tour operator*, which is among the best private tours you can get.
Advantages of private tours to Isla Saona and Isla Catalina?
Private tours are not cheap, especially when boat rides or catamaran cruises are included. You have to pay the full boat and the entire crew, doesn’t matter how many persons are in your group. However, tours are sometimes cheaper than you might think, hence it is worth having a closer look at Catalina Island and Saona Island private tours.
A private tour to Isla Saona or Isla Catalina comes with many advantages. Some of them are:
- You’ll have much smaller groups – just the people from your traveling party. Some of the ordinary group tours to Isla Saona are packed with up to 70 people per boat.
- You can define the itinerary. As there are just your people on the boat, you can decide how long you want to stay or if you want to skip a stop completely.
- You don’t have any strangers on the boat. You can roam around freely and create the vibe you want.
- As mentioned, there is quite an amount of people visiting Isla Saona (and to a lesser extent Isla Catalina as well). With a private tour, you can have a more exclusive experience.
- The staff is just there for you. Whatever request you have, you get their full attention and chances are high that it gets fulfilled.
- Even the particular beach you visit always depends on the company you book with, but chances are that you visit a less crowded part of the island.
- For lunch, you don’t have to line up with 30 or more unknown people. Lunch will be prepared just for your group, which means there is no queue at the buffet.
- In case of any problem, you can always seek immediate help from the staff or with the organizer. Usually, on those big group tours, there is not much that can be done if you are not satisfied.
- If you are traveling with a large family or a group of friends, the prices of a private tour can be even more affordable than if booked individually. In the section below I am recommending you the best private excursions with competitive pricing.
Those are just a few of the advantages when booking a private excursion to Saona Island and Catalina Island.
In case you want to try this particular exclusive experience, check out the offers in the widgets further below in this article. Especially when traveling with a large family or small group, the prices are absolutely affordable.
Selected private excursions to Isla Saona
Affordable private Saona Island tours for families and small groups (up to 6 people)
One of the cheapest and most recommended tours is this Private Saona Island Cruise for up to 6 people*. It brings you to the most beautiful places of Isla Saona with a private speed boat. With the current price of 420 US (subject to change), it is just 70 US per person – an unbeatable bargain.
Lunch and alcoholic drinks are not included, but you can also bring your own if you do not want to buy them. I recommend you to discuss the details with your host/organizer after booking and before the tour. You can choose an option with or withour transfer from Punta Cana.
In case you’re looking for some other Saona Island private tours – among them some with food, drinks and transfers included – there are plenty of options for groups of up to 6 people. Check out the following widget with some alternative tours.
Private yachts and boats to Saona Island (up to 12-15 people)
If a speed boat is too small for you and you prefer a private yacht to visit Isla Saona, you can check out this private yacht tour for up to 10 people*. The yacht features a kitchen, a covered seating area and sufficient space outside to lounge and to enjoy the sun.
Transfer and lunch are optional, hence I recommend to make proper arrangements with the organizer of the tour before so that they exactly know what you wish for your private excursion to Saona Island.
Each boat to Saona Island is different. In case the proposed option is not to your liking, there are plenty of other yachts you can charter. Check out the following options for some additional Isla Saona private tours for up to 10, 12 or sometimes even 12 people.
Private Catamaran to Isla Saona (up to 15 people)
This is by far the most elegant private tour to Isla Saona – a full cruising-style catamaran exclusively for your group*. Hop on board, sail along the Caribbean Sea, feel the ocean breeze and sip on an ice-cold beer or a delicious Cuba Libre. All of this is included in your private catamaran excursion to Saona Island for up to 15 people (just lunch and the national park fee is extra in case you’d like to book it). Furthermore, you get a customized itinerary and the full personal attention from a company rated No. 1 on Tripadvisor for the last 5 years including 2025 (out of 76 water sports and excursion companies in Bayahibe). That’s not surprising if you see the photos of this exclusive catamaran, which will bring you straight to paradise! And even the price seems steep at first glance, if you break it down to 15 people, it is just a bit more than 100 US per person – a real bargain for a private full-day catamaran cruise!
Saona Island private tours for 16 guests and more
If you don’t find the right offer among those private tours and you are looking for other excursions to Isla Saona, feel free to send me an email to puntacanatravelblog (at) gmail (dot) com. Especially when you are traveling with 16 people or more, I am happy to get you in touch with the best companies or give you personal recommendations on your tour.
Private excursions to Isla Catalina
As indicated at the beginning of this article, Isla Catalina is less visited than Isla Saona – that’s also why there are fewer companies for private tours.
The best private excursion I can recommend for Isla Catalina is this private boat tour*. It is suitable for up to 15 people and comes with a price tag of 1500 USD, lunch and drinks are included. That’s just 100 USD per person for a private tour if you go with 15 people, which is much cheaper than most Isla Saona private tours.
You will start your tour in La Romana and stop at the most famous snorkeling spot in the area, where you can see colorful fish and a tropical reef. At the island, you have plenty of time to enjoy your private lunch, the beautiful beach and refreshing drinks – alcoholic and non-alcoholic. In the afternoon, you head back to your starting point.
If this option doesn’t suit you, you can check out the following private excursions to Isla Catalina.
What is the best option for a private excursion: the difference between Isla Saona and Isla Catalina?
Those are some of the options you have if you are staying in Punta Cana and are looking for a private yacht or catamaran excursion to one of the islands along the Southeast coast of the Dominican Republic.
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CHRIS
Author, Travel Coach & Industry Professional (Bachelor’s degree in tourism)Hey, I am Chris, a born and raised German, travel-addictive and Caribbean soul, who has been living in the Dominican Republic for 6 years. I’d love to be your Punta Cana expert, as I have stayed at more than 45 all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana and the country, visited more than 70 beaches, explored more than 40 waterfalls and have seen basically all the attractions Punta Cana has to offer. I have also studied tourism for 3 years and worked in the tourism industry my entire life, which is why I am not only giving you recommendations and tips as a traveler but also the best secrets and travel hacks as an industry professional.
Do you need more information? Read more at my About Me Page, send me a travel coaching request or Contact Me here.
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