Saona Island or Isla Saona

Saona Island or Isla Saona

I still remember the first time that I was in the Saona Island, I was in my second or third quatramester in the university (over there the school year is divided into four parts), and my teacher say that we going to have an excursion to Saona, in that moment everybody was jumping like kids in the middle of salon, including me, I was so excited. when finally the day came, a very nice bus was waiting for us, and all of us of course were ready to go and have one of the mos excited experience ever.

When we get to the borders, I see all those little boats ready to take us across to the other side of the water. I remember that I had my hands out of the boat feeling the water in my fingers all the way long, was wonderful, we were like ten at each boat and that was motivating us to made competition with the other boats telling to the driver, go fast we have to win getting there first, yes exactly like kids.

When we get down to land, my eyes was absolutely surprised, what beautiful beach, how many palms trees and what soft white sands, everything was so perfect, was really like to get into a paradise. I had so many pictures for this incredible experience. After that, I don't remember how many time I come back to the Saona, and every time is like the first one, just wonderful.

About Saona Island

Collaborations - Tour Guided Colonial Tour and Travel.

The Saona is a tropical island located a short distance from the mainland on the south-east tip of the Dominican Republic, near La Romana Province. It is a government protected nature reserve and a popular destination for tourists from all over the Dominican Republic, thousands of people arrive in fleets of catamarans and small motorboats every day. The Island is famous for the natural beauty of its beaches, and has been used on many occasions by film-makers and advertisers looking for a stereotypical 'desert island' setting for their film or product. It is promoted amongst European visitors as the setting for the famous Bounty chocolate bar adverts. The seas around the Island are rich in wildlife, with many species of birds and tropical marine fish, and there are large areas where natural sandbars offshore bring the depth to just a few feet. These are once again popular with the tourist trade, with small boats stopping hundreds of meters off the beach and disgorging tourists into the waist-deep shallows where they snorkel, drink and check out the fields of starfish indigenous to the region.

History of Saona Island

The Island Saona was baptized "Saona" by Christopher Columbus, who discovered it in may 1494 on his way to the Americas. The name was meant to honor the commune of Savona, where Columbus lived at the time. Columbus named Michele da Cuneo, his friend and a savonese himself, first governor of the island. Saona Island and the modern city Savona, in Italy, still have twinning relationships; the small power plant in Saona Island is a gift of Savona.

The Visit to Saona Island

This is a excursion you have to do when staying in Punta Cana, La Romana, Bayahibe, Boca Chica, Juan Dolio or Santo Domingo.

The tour include:

- Transportation picking you up and driving you back to the hotel.

- Catamaran (water transportation).

- Buffet lunch and drinks.

- Volleyball, meringue and salsa dancing

- The tour ran from 9 am - 5 pm, and the trip to the island is about an hour and a half via the scenic route.

This tour can include other optional sub-excursions like:

- Bus for Altos de Chavon, a perfect recreation of a 15th century Mediterranean village. Enjoy a relaxing to visit the impressive amphitheater, small church, art galleries, boutiques and a great view of Rio de Chavon.

- On the way back, they stop at the "natural pool". This is an area of the sea that is very shallow and warm (waist deep). They stop to allow you to swim, and take pictures of the star fish (lots of them around). We call this natural pool, the star fish bank.

Spend the morning taking in the natural beauty is of this national park with its pristine white beaches and the marvelous clear Caribbean waters.

This is the chance of a lifetime experience. It is a very nice tour, especially prepared for you!!!