Saona Island with Private Transfer and Personal Service
Pick your date
Highlighted days have spots open. Grey days are sold out or not running.
September 2026
Loading live availability
Who is going?
Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
Select a highlighted day to see live departure times and the exact price for your group.
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
3.9/5
Based on 20 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Saona Island with Private Transfer and Personal Service worth booking?
Saona Island with Private Transfer and Personal Service is a 8-hour experience in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, from $59 per person. It scores 54 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.9/5 rating across 20 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 54 / 100
- Rating
- 3.9/5 (20)
- Duration
- 8 hours
- From
- $59 per person
Save time on vacation! Saona Island is very popular but, because of that, customers have to face many pick ups and drop offs from the different hotels, spending several hours on the bus. With this tour we offer you the c
What you get
About this experience
Save time on vacation! Saona Island is very popular but, because of that, customers have to face many pick ups and drop offs from the different hotels, spending several hours on the bus. With this tour we offer you the chance to avoid this problem. In fact you're gonna reach Bayahibe (where the boats leave to Saona) in a private van, just for your group helping you saving at least 2-3 hours compared with the regular tour with the advantage of a late pick up (8:00am) and a early drop off (around 5:00pm).
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 20 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Small groups
7 mentionsThe group size is repeatedly described as intimate rather than packed.
The guide
6 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Food and drink
5 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Photo opportunities
3 mentionsThe views and photo stops come up again and again.
Pace and timing
2 mentionsSeveral reviewers found the schedule tight or the day long.
Traveler reviews
20 verified traveler reviews for Saona Island with Private Transfer and Personal Service. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Seamless, Stress-Free Excursion with Exceptional Service
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Amazing Experience – Highly Recommend! My wife Amy and I had an amazing experience during our vacation in Punta Cana, and a huge part of that was thanks to Alexandra. From the moment we booked, Alexandra communicated clearly and consistently. She coordinated our pickup perfectly with Luis, our driver, who took us from the far east side of the island to the marina on the south end. Everything was smooth and stress-free. At the marina, Alexandra met us and stayed with us the entire time while we waited to board the catamaran for our cruise to an isolated island. Since most people spoke Spanish and I struggled with communication, her support was invaluable. She explained each step of the experience, kept us informed of the timeline, helped us get drinks, and made sure we were comfortable throughout the day. Alexandra was professional, attentive, and incredibly kind. She even took several photos of us and sent them directly to us afterward, which we truly appreciated. She made us feel comfortable and welcomed in a foreign place where communication could have been difficult. This excursion was a highlight of our trip, and we will absolutely book again and reach out to Alexandra in the future. Highly recommended!
Response from the operator: Wow what a beatiful feedback! We are so glad you had a good time at Saona and happy to know that our staff was helpful and attentive. thank you! Claudio
via Tripadvisor
Personal Awesome Experience
This was a spectacular tour. We cant say enough good about the tour and especially our personal guide Alexandra. If you have a chance to book this tour, ask for her. You will not be disappointed. We will be returning to Punta Cana in February. We will definitely do this tour again.
Response from the operator: Hi Brian, we're happy to know that you enjoyed the trip to Saona Island and our staff made a good job! If you're coming back to Punta Cana soon, feel free to get in touch! best, Claudio
via Viator
Great Excursion but lots of travel/transfers
SAONA ISLAND CLASSIC TOUR IN SPEEDBOAT & CATAMARAN: Great tour all together. Highly recommend the private transfer to save time. Alexandra our private guide was amazing and very helpful all through the day. 5 stars for her and our driver. Four stars overall is due to the extremely long day and mostly travel of this tour. It was almost a two hour drive each way from our resort to the port. The boat rides were nice but also long, especially the Catermaran. We only had about two hours on the island including lunch. All of the staff did a great job, but this long trip and multiple legs may not be for everyone. If you have any mobility issues I would highly discourage. Otherwise a good time if you want to see the Dom. Rep. countryside, local port and get out on the water and enjoy boat rides. Overall a fun time, but a little exhausting.
Response from the operator: Hi Jeremy, thank you for your feedback. Yes Saona is a long day trip of aroud 11 hours. With a private transfer you get to cut 1.5-2 hours and save some time, but it's still a whole day off-resort. For these reasons we usually don't recommend it to families with babies or elder people. saludos, Claudio
via Tripadvisor
Terrible experience - not recommended
Having read how much of a must see attraction Saona island is, it was a no brainer to book this tour. Unfortunately the entire day and overall experience was extremely disappointing. Firstly, I paid for private transportation to remove the usual hassle of driving to multiple hotels and to make the trip easier for my girlfriend and I. To begin with the transportation was apparently unable to gain access to our hotel which I find highly unusual considering we were staying in one of the most well known resorts in Punta Cana. However I can let that slide as it was only a 10 min walk to the entrance of our resort from the main reception area. Upon getting into the transportation and making our way to the port, the driver proceeded to stop 3 or 4 times to pick up other members of staff and it felt that I’d instead just paid for the staff bus rather than ‘private transportation’. Upon arriving to the port, very little instruction was given and we were just stood or sat around waiting for almost 2 hrs before finally the boat that was taking us to the island arrived. The journey to the island itself was fun and we enjoyed the provided drinks and overall atmosphere so kudos to those involved on the boat aspect for making that happen. Upon arriving to the island, considering the time is roughly 13:00, we are told to be back and meet at the beach for 15:00 to leave the island. Food was provided but not particularly appetising and there was little to do on the island aside from sit on sun loungers. I was under the impression considering the trip mentions a tour guide that we would be taken around the island somewhat but that was not the case. After spending some time relaxing in the sunshine, we made our way back to the main area for the return journey but watching all the other big groups leave, we were waiting for almost 2 hours again for the boat to come and collect us. Once on the boat, we were taken back via the natural swimming pool which is just a shallow section of water off a beach - nothing interesting. The drive back was quick and our driver was prompt - a relief after an extremely long day of disappointment after disappointment. Overall I was extremely disappointed with the pretty much every aspect of this trip. The page on viator mentions that the photographers are not associated with the tour but they hound you all day to take pictures and there was no ‘tour guide’ aspect of things at all. The timings and sitting around waiting but not knowing what is happening was also not great. The island itself is beautiful and so is the beach but the whole trip is extremely touristy - easily hundreds if not thousands of other people arrive to the island with other tour operators - hardly an enjoyable experience. The beach where our resort is located in Punta Cana looks 99% the same as Saona island. With almost 12 hrs away for what was 2 hrs of time on the beach, I find it very hard to recommend this. What should have been an enjoyable day out visiting a beautiful piece of the world was turned sour by poor management and planning. Overall - don’t waste your money with this trip and save it for something else.
Response from the operator: Hi Jack, thank you for sharing your feedback and I'm sorry to hear you didn't enjoy it. For experience Saona Island is a tour that customers love or hate, can be "absolute fabulous" or "a big disappointment"... it all depends on the customer expectations I guess. Saona is the most popular tour in the whole country and tourists from any part of the country (not only Punta Cana) go to visit it every day. It's very crowded and March is one of the busiest months so I'm pretty sure that the many delays you talked about were due to the many people doing the tour the same day you did it. When there are large crowds operations usually don't go smoothly and unfortunately there are delays during the tour. I'll investigate better the part you talked about the driver picking up different members of staff because except the guide (which you said was not even in the tour) no other person should be allowed in the vehicle. take care, Claudio
via Viator
Not worth the extra money
Do not pay the extra money for this trip. I was told the private trip was worth the extra money because the groups were smaller and the transportation was private. The other people on our trip paid $67 each, we paid $200 each. The only difference was we got picked up and were the only ones in the bus. Yes a bus, not even a car. We also picked up 2 employees on the way there. Once we got to the boat there were still 50 people on our trip. I was lead to believe there would only be 20-25. Lesson learned and now you know as well. I did not see any small group private tours the whole time we were at the island, it just sounds good when advertising. On the other hand, the island itself is beautiful, however had I researched more I would have also noticed it was a 1hr 45 minute drive to where the boats are. We were at breathless.
Response from the operator: Hi there, we're sorry for the misundestanding and not sure who you spoke with when you said "I was told the private trip was worth the extra money because the groups were smaller and the transportation was private".... yes the transportation (GROUND) is private but this tour is not semiprivate or for small groups and no where in the description and in the inclusions is written something like that. This tour is exactly the same than the classic shared tour with the only difference that instaed of passing through 10-15 hotels in the morning for the pick ups and the same at the return for the drops off, you have a private van/minbus only for you so you don't have to waist time on the bus. From Breathless the pick for the shared tour is usually at 6:15am. You had it at 8:30am. Drop off usually after 7:00pm, you had it at 5:30pm. That's the reson customers booked this tour. Here in Punta Cana all the touristic services are provided by vans/minibus/bus... not cars. Also I hardyl believe that from the area of Uvero Alto (where Breathless is located) you can get the Saona tour for 67usd. Kind regards, Claudio
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Booked in 30 days
- 7
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 54
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Saona Island with Private Transfer and Personal Service: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Punta Cana.
How much does Saona Island with Private Transfer and Personal Service cost?
+
Prices start at $59 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 Saona Island with Private Transfer and Personal Service take?
+
Plan for about 8 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 Saona Island with Private Transfer and Personal Service worth it?
+
It holds an Outty Ranking of 54 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.9/5 across 20 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 Saona Island with Private Transfer and Personal Service?
+
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 Saona Island with Private Transfer and Personal Service suitable for kids and families?
+
Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Saona Island with Private Transfer and Personal Service?
+
Around 7 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?
+
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 8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Saona Island with Private Transfer and Personal Service start and how do I get there?
+
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?
+
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, Punta Cana Buggy or ATV Tour with Macao Beach, Cave and Tastings, Off Road Buggy Adventure. 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?
+
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?
+
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?
+
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.
Ready to lock in your spot?
Pick a date, choose your group, and see the exact price for Saona Island with Private Transfer and Personal Service.
Pick your date
