Punta Cana sits at the edge of the Caribbean’s most spectacular island chain — and most visitors never leave the resort to see it. The travelers who do, who choose to spend even one day on the water taking an excursion in Punta Cana to the islands offshore, come home with a completely different trip. This guide covers the two best island excursions available from Punta Cana: Saona Island (Isla Saona) and Catalina Island (Isla Catalina). We’ll tell you what each one offers, how they differ, why you should ideally do both, and exactly how to book them.

Saona Island: The Beach Paradise

Saona Island — Isla Saona — is the most famous island in the Dominican Republic, and with good reason. It is a protected island inside Cotubaía National Park, accessible only by boat, and it looks like the backdrop of a travel magazine photograph come to life. White sand so fine it squeaks. Water so clear and turquoise you can see the bottom 20 feet down. And — the detail everyone remembers — a shallow, waist-deep sandbar in the open Caribbean where wild starfish live by the hundreds.

The Saona Island excursion from Punta Cana is the most popular day trip in the Dominican Republic. Here is what a typical day looks like:

7:00–8:00 AM — Air-conditioned hotel pickup from Punta Cana or Bávaro.
8:30–9:00 AM — Board the catamaran at the marina. Open bar begins: rum, beer, soft drinks. Dominican music.
10:00 AM — Natural Starfish Pool. Knee-deep crystal water, wild starfish carpeting the bottom.
11:30 AM–3:00 PM — Saona Island. Dominican buffet lunch on the beach. Snorkeling, swimming, free time.
3:00–5:30 PM — Speedboat return. Hotel transfer.

Total time door-to-door: approximately 10 hours. Price: Adults $75 USD · Children 4–12 $37.50 USD · Under 4 free. All-inclusive — hotel pickup, catamaran, open bar, snorkel gear, beach lunch, return. Nothing extra to pay.

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Catalina Island: The Underwater World

If Saona Island is about the beach, Catalina Island — Isla Catalina — is about what lies beneath the surface. Located off the coast near La Romana (about 90 minutes from Punta Cana), Catalina is smaller and less crowded than Saona, but it has earned a devoted following among divers and snorkelers for one reason: the Wall.

The Wall is a dramatic coral formation that drops steeply from 10 feet to over 100 feet of water within a short swim from shore. Along it live nurse sharks, eagle rays, turtles, lionfish, and an extraordinary density of Caribbean tropical fish. The coral itself is among the most intact in the Dominican Republic, partly because Catalina is inside a protected marine area. For anyone who has ever wanted to feel like they are flying over an alien landscape, the Wall is the closest thing available from a Caribbean day trip.

The Catalina Island excursion runs on a similar format to the Saona tour: bus to La Romana marina, boat to the island, snorkeling at the Wall, beach lunch, return. The snorkel is better at Catalina. The beach is better at Saona. Both are exceptional by any objective standard.

Saona vs. Catalina: Which Excursion in Punta Cana Is Right for You?

This is the question we get asked most often. The honest answer is: if you have time for one, choose Saona Island — the combination of the natural starfish pool, the catamaran party atmosphere, and the beach itself makes it the single most memorable excursion in Punta Cana for most travelers. If you have time for two, do Catalina Island on a separate day for the underwater experience. The two tours complement each other rather than overlap — one is an above-water paradise, the other is a below-water one.

How to Plan Both Tours: The Ideal Punta Cana Island-Hopping Schedule

If you have 5–7 days in Punta Cana, the ideal schedule is Day 2 for Saona Island and Day 4 for Catalina Island. This gives you one recovery day between the two excursions (Day 3 at the resort), which is actually useful — both tours are full days that leave you happily exhausted.

If you have fewer than 5 days, Saona is the non-negotiable priority. Book it for your first or second full day before spots fill up, especially in high season (December–April) when the Saona Island catamaran tours sell out several days in advance.

What to Bring on Either Excursion

Both excursions follow the same packing logic: swimsuit worn under your clothes, reef-safe sunscreen (important — both islands are in protected marine areas), quick-dry towel, sunglasses, hat, waterproof phone case, water shoes or flip-flops you can swim in, and a small amount of cash (USD or DOP) for tips and souvenirs. Snorkel gear is provided on both tours. Everything else is included.

Frequently Asked Questions: Excursions in Punta Cana

Which is the #1 excursion in Punta Cana?
Consistently, the Saona Island tour is rated the #1 day excursion in Punta Cana on TripAdvisor, Google, Viator, and GetYourGuide. No other excursion matches the combination of the starfish pool, the catamaran, the beach, and the all-inclusive price point.

How much do excursions in Punta Cana cost?
The Saona Island excursion costs $75 for adults and $37.50 for children 4–12 (under 4 free) when booked directly with us. Resort tour desks charge significantly more for the same experience. Book direct to pay the operator price.

Are excursions safe for children?
Yes. Both Saona Island and Catalina Island excursions are family-friendly. The starfish pool on Saona is knee-deep and calm. Life vests are provided in all sizes. Our guides have run these tours with thousands of families.

How far in advance should I book?
For Saona Island, we recommend booking at least 2–3 days in advance in shoulder season and 5–7 days in advance in high season (December–April). Message us on WhatsApp and we will confirm availability immediately.

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