Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana

Outty Ranking 48 2.3 · 3 traveler reviews6.5 hoursFrom $65
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Outty Ranking

48/100

Worth a Look. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

2.3/5

Based on 3 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana worth booking?

Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana is a 6.5-hour experience in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from $65 per person. It scores 48 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 2.3/5 rating across 3 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
48 / 100
Rating
2.3/5 (3)
Duration
6.5 hours
From
$65 per person

Enjoy stunning snorkeling areas. We take you to a protected area where you can explore reefs full of marine life and colorful corals. Snorkeling equipment is included and staff will be there to assist you if this is your first time. We pick you up directly from your hotel in Punta Cana in modern air-conditioned vehicles. Enjoy a scenic journey to the port of La Romana, where you will board a comfortable and safe boat to sail to Catalina Island. The team will accompany you throughout the tour, ensuring a worry-free experience from start to finish.

What you get

    About this experience

    Enjoy stunning snorkeling areas. We take you to a protected area where you can explore reefs full of marine life and colorful corals. Snorkeling equipment is included and staff will be there to assist you if this is your first time. We pick you up directly from your hotel in Punta Cana in modern air-conditioned vehicles. Enjoy a scenic journey to the port of La Romana, where you will board a comfortable and safe boat to sail to Catalina Island. The team will accompany you throughout the tour, ensuring a worry-free experience from start to finish.

    What's included

    Included

    • Lunch
    • Carbonated beverages
    • Bottled water
    • Alcoholic beverages
    • Snacks
    • Use of snorkeling equipment
    • In-vehicle air conditioning

    What you'll see and do

    1. Punta Cana

      All our passengers are picked up in an air-conditioned transport, Airbnb has pick-up points close to their location. We pick up in all the hotels and areas of Punta Cana. At the end we head towards the Roman.

      60 minutes here

    2. In the Hunting and Fishing Club of the roman we proceed to embark all the clients by catamaran, to leave for the island virgin catalina.

      20 minutes here

    3. Catalina Island

      When arriving on the island, guests can enjoy snorkeling like no other, Catalina Island contains the most beautiful coral reefs in the Caribbean, as well as free time to enjoy on the island and a Dominican lunch included.

      240 minutes here

    4. Punta Cana

      Then we will take an air-conditioned bus back to Punta Cana

      60 minutes here

    Where it starts and ends

    Hotel pickup

    Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 30 minutes before departure.

    Options you can book

    • SIMPLE CATALINA

      REGULAR FOOD Pickup included

    • CATALINA & 1 HOUR DIVING

      DIVING WITH A TRAINER DOMINICAN LUNCH CATAMARAN Diving equipment Pickup included

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    de, en, it, fr, es
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 30 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    PUNTACA TOURS

    Know before you go

    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
    • Specialized infant seats are available
    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

    Photos

    Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana, photo 2Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana, photo 3Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana, photo 4Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana, photo 5Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana, photo 6Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana, photo 7

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 3 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    Food and drink

    3 mentions

    The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

    Pace and timing

    2 mentions

    Several reviewers found the schedule tight or the day long.

    The guide

    1 mention

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Traveler reviews

    3 verified traveler reviews for Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    1
    4 star
    0
    3 star
    0
    2 star
    0
    1 star
    2
    Sort
    ANDREW_W · August 2026

    Just dont book this

    Much less an experience, more of an ordeal. I booked the 6.5 hour Catalina Island tour which turns out is not 6.5 hours at all. I was picked up at 7:30 am as planned. Picked up one other couple before we stopped at a services to change coach onto one with people going on the same trip. We were then dropped of in La Romana where we stood and waited for some unknown reason that was never explained. We finally boarded the boat to Catalina Island and after a short but enjoyable ride we arrived around 4 hours after i left my hotel. We stayed on the beach for 3 hours including lunch. Lunch was nice enough. Catalina island was lovely, the beach was everything you expect and imagine when you say Caribbean and the sea equally so. However 3 hours was too long, probably 2 is enough. At 2:30 we got back on the boat to go snorkeling. I was looking forward to this. However we only went snorkeling for 20 minutes. I know this because i videoed my experience and that video is 19 minutes. I don't know where we went snorkeling. The best kept secret of Punta Cana is so well kept even the fish don't know about it. I would post my video if i could but it's very much like one of those awful clickbait dashcam videos where you are waiting for something to happen and it doesn't and you question why you watched it and your life choices. After this we were straight back to land. I was back on the coach just after 4 pm. Then a magical mystery tour started. It began with a random and unnecessarily long stop at a shop to sell tat to tourists. We then went around the houses before i finally got back to my hotel just after 7:30pm, a full 12 hours after I set off on this 6.5 hour trip. It made the Odyssey look like a walk in the park. If the 6.5 hours advertised referred to time on the boat and the island, it was actually only about 5 hours. If it refers to the whole day, someone needs to learn to tell the time. 6.5 hours is actually the time l spent on the coach. A coach tour of the island is a more accurate description of this trip. I have seen more of the island than I ever expected but not intentionally. If you have made it this far you may be interested to know Bavaro has an IKEA. I found it on the mystery tour home. It is a better way of wasting 12 hours rather than this experience.

    Response from the operator: Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry the experience did not meet your expectations. We would, however, like to clarify that several aspects described do not accurately represent the tour as it is operated. The advertised activity duration should not be confused with the total transportation time from each individual hotel, which can vary depending on location, traffic and scheduled pickups. Transfers and coordination points are part of the logistics required to bring guests from different areas to the departure point. The Catalina experience includes beach time, lunch, boat transportation and a snorkeling stop, with timing subject to operational and sea conditions. Any commercial stop is not intended to replace or reduce the scheduled activity. We are pleased that you found Catalina Island beautiful and enjoyed the lunch, and we regret that the overall experience did not meet your expectations. Your comments have been shared with our operations team for review.

    via Viator

    nuryvg · January 2026

    Nice excursion

    My experience was very good, we took a nice speedboat ride and stopped for snorkeling, then we continued to Catalina islands where we spent a nice day sunbathing, crystal clear waters and enjoyed a delicious local lunch. On the return we were taken by boat back to the river jetty where the driver waited for us a very friendly and patient gentleman who thanked him for his tour. Great pro. Thanks for everything. Nice excursion I give you a great greeting Nuria A whole tenner.

    Response from the operator: ¡Muchísimas gracias por tu excelente valoración, Nuria! ¡Todo un diez para nosotros también tenerte como cliente! Nos alegra muchísimo saber que disfrutaste de cada etapa de la excursión: desde la adrenalina de la lancha rápida y el snorkel, hasta la tranquilidad y las aguas cristalinas de Isla Catalina. Nos hace especial ilusión que menciones el almuerzo local; siempre nos esmeramos para que sea un reflejo de nuestra gastronomía. Le transmitiremos tus palabras de agradecimiento a nuestro chófer. Nos enorgullece contar con profesionales tan amables y pacientes que cuidan cada detalle del trayecto hasta el último minuto. Saber que te sentiste bien atendida de principio a fin es nuestra mayor recompensa. Fue un verdadero placer acompañarte en este día. ¡Esperamos volver a verte pronto en una próxima aventura! Un gran saludo de parte de todo el equipo

    via Tripadvisor (translated)

    Ravi D · January 2026

    Don’t waste a day of your holiday going

    Went with Viator, pick up at 7am from punta Cana then 3 hours on a old coach, then rushed on to a overcrowded dive boat, stopped for supposedly 45 min snorkelling but because there was scuba divers on it was 1.5 hours, then arrived at the island at 1pm and rushed to a table for lunch which was not nice and terrible drinks. Left island at 3pm and was basically hounded to buy lobster, coconuts and pineapples for the 2hours we were there. The beach at our resort was just as nice and it was just a waste of a day and money.

    Response from the operator: Dear Ravi, Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We sincerely apologize that your excursion to Catalina Island did not meet your expectations. We understand how precious vacation time is, and we are truly sorry that you felt yours was not well spent. We have taken note of your comments regarding the transport duration and the condition of the coach. We are currently reviewing our logistics to ensure more comfortable and efficient transfers for our guests. Additionally, we regret the delay caused by the combined diving and snorkeling groups; we are working on better scheduling to ensure everyone has ample time to enjoy the island without feeling rushed. Regarding the food service and the persistence of local vendors, your observations are invaluable. They help us push for higher quality standards and a more relaxing environment on the beach for our visitors. We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss your experience further and see how we can make things right. Please feel free to reach out to us directly.

    via Tripadvisor

    Good to know

    Duration
    6.5 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Price range
    $65 to $130
    Hotel pickup
    Included for all travelers
    Booked in 30 days
    1
    Verdict
    Worth a Look

    Who runs this experience

    Operated by PUNTACA TOURS, who run 10 experiences we rank across 5 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 52.3.

    See everything PUNTACA TOURS runs

    Why this scores 48

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)47
    Review evidence (18% weight)19
    Booking momentum (14% weight)11
    Value for money (12% weight)100
    Listing quality (10% weight)78
    Local standing (8% weight)13
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Punta Cana.

    How much does Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana cost?

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    Prices start at $65 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Punta Cana usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana take?

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    Plan for about 6.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Punta Cana is not rushed.

    Is Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana worth it?

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    It holds an Outty Ranking of 48 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (2.3/5 across 3 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Punta Cana, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana?

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    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana suitable for kids and families?

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    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 6.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana?

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    Around 1 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Punta Cana can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

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    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Punta Cana and add a light layer if any part of the 6.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana start and how do I get there?

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    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Punta Cana within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Punta Cana?

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    On Outty we rank every Punta Cana experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Punta Cana Zipline - 8 lines and a suspenseful hanging bridge, Buggy Excursion to Macau Beach and Natural Cave, Small Group Buggy Tour to Water Cave and Macao Beach. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Punta Cana?

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    Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Punta Cana?

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    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

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    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

    What is included in Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana?

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    Included: Lunch; Carbonated beverages; Bottled water; Alcoholic beverages; and Snacks. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

    Does Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana include hotel pickup?

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    Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 164 listed pickup locations in and around Punta Cana. Be ready about 30 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.

    What languages is Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana offered in?

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    It is offered in German, English, Italian, French and Spanish. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.

    Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana?

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    Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.

    Is Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana wheelchair or stroller accessible?

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    The operator notes: Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap; Specialized infant seats are available; and Not recommended for pregnant travelers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.

    What happens to Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana if the weather is bad?

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    It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Punta Cana. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

    What do travelers say about Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana?

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    Across 3 reviews averaging 2.3 out of 5, recurring themes include food and drink, the guide. The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers. One thing to know: Several reviewers found the schedule tight or the day long.

    What booking options are available for Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana?

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    There are 2 options to choose from, including SIMPLE CATALINA, CATALINA & 1 HOUR DIVING. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.

    Ready to lock in your spot?

    Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for Catalina Island : The best kept secret of Punta Cana.

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