Saona Island Island

Saona Island is a coral island off the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic in La Romana Province and is part of Cotubanamá National Park. The island is renowned for long beaches, shallow turquoise coastal waters and tropical scenery.

Coastal ecosystems include sandy beaches, mangroves and reef-associated shallow seas that support marine life and are popular for snorkeling and beach tourism. Visitor infrastructure is concentrated at a few landing areas and small settlements; most tourism is day-trip based.

Saona is incorporated into national park protections aimed at conserving coastal and marine habitats while accommodating regulated tourism. Historically the island has been used by local fishing communities and as a protected natural area.

Geographically the island lies off the southeastern tip of Hispaniola close to the entrance to the Caribbean Sea; the nearest mainland ports are in La Romana and Bayahibe.

• Protection: Part of the Parque Nacional del Este (Cotubanamá National Park), the island is managed for conservation while being a major destination for boat excursions from La Romana.
• Visitor access: Most visitors arrive on day trips; the island has a small local fishing population and limited tourist facilities concentrated near landing points.

What to See#

• Beaches: Long sandy beaches and coastal lagoons on the windward sides that attract beach tourism and day-trip visitors from La Romana and Bayahibe.
• Marine habitats: Seagrass beds, reef edges and shallow coastal waters that are habitats for fish and sea turtles and that support small-scale fishing.

Saona Island is reached by boat from the southeastern Dominican coast: daily speedboats and ferries depart from Bayahibe and from La Romana’s tourist ports. Bayahibe is the most common departure point and is a short drive from La Romana; boat crossings typically take under an hour depending on vessel type.

• Depart from Bayahibe for the shortest, most frequent boat connections to Saona; boats from Bayahibe are the main public departure point and avoid long road transfers from farther east.
• Book trips that specify small-group or private launches and avoid the mid-day window when large excursion fleets converge on the popular Palmas and Mano Juan beaches.
• Remember Saona sits inside Cotubanamá National Park-expect a park fee and stick to marked areas to protect turtle-nesting beaches and coral reefs.