Island hopping · ISLAND TOURS WITH LUNCH IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
The 12 best island tours with lunch in the Dominican Republic you can book today, with the per-head price, how long the day runs and how many landings you get. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
Spend a full day reaching Saona Island by speedboat and returning by party catamaran. You’ll swim in a starfish-filled natural pool, eat Dominican food, and relax on a postcard beach. Guides such as Christian, Alex, and Eduardo are known for keeping the day lively and organized.
“Tour guide was so helpful and instructions were very clear”
Travel from Punta Cana to Saona Island with guide Manuel or another group guide, stopping at Palmilla’s shallow natural pool before lunch and beach time. A speedboat gets you there, while a lively catamaran usually brings you back. Expect a shared group, rum drinks, and a long day.
“Its was amazing had lots of fun the tour guys were 10/10 would deff recommend to anyone looking to party and have fun!”
Travel from Punta Cana to Saona Island by speedboat, pause in Playa Palmilla’s shallow natural pool, enjoy lunch and beach time, then return by catamaran. Guides such as Manuel and Nicholas keep the day lively, but shared transfers, crowded boats, and extra charges require patience.
“The bus to the loading dock was fine. The party boat was fun! Two stops. The first is at a beach to view star fish and enjoy the chest high clear water! The second is at a different beach which the main part of the excursion. That beach was nice! The speed boat was fun! Snorkeling was fun! Make sure to bring your own snorkeling set just in case.”
Travel from Punta Cana to Bayahibe, then sail toward Saona Island with a Spanish or English-speaking guide. You will stop at a shallow natural pool, enjoy a Dominican buffet and open bar, and spend about three hours on the island. Guide Alex has received special praise for his friendly service.
“From the moment we boarded the catamaran, the experience was top-tier. The staff were attentive, and the drinks were flowing. The scenery was unreal—turquoise water and palm-lined beaches. The lunch was flavorful and fresh. This tour gives you a bit of everything!”
Spend about 10.5 hours traveling from Punta Cana to Bayahibe and Saona Island. You’ll swim at Playa Palmilla’s natural pool, enjoy three hours on the island, eat a Dominican-style buffet, and return by party catamaran or speedboat. The tour is shared and can include up to 60 people.
“Saona island was amazing. Nothing like I’ve ever seen before. However when I booked this excursion I was told it would be just our group and it was NOT.”
Spend a full day traveling from Punta Cana or Bayahibe to Saona Island, with a swim at a starfish-filled natural pool, a local buffet, beach time, and a two-and-a-half-hour catamaran ride with music and an open bar. Guide Mama Diari helps in English, Spanish, and French.
“Très bonne ambiance. Et avec la guide Mama Diari qui était top ! Elle fait même l’effort de traduire en français pour ceux le moins a l’aise avec l’espagnol ou l’anglais. Petit bémol pour l’arrivée tardive sur l’île, en toute fin de service pour le déjeuner. Résultat : presque plus rien à manger (plus de viande du tout) alors que la prestation est incluse. D’où le 4 (au lieu d’un 5/5)”
Spend 11 hours reaching Saona Island from your hotel by van, speedboat, and catamaran. You will stop at a starfish-filled natural pool, enjoy about three hours on the island, and have buffet lunch, snacks, beer, rum, and soft drinks included. Exact pickup time is confirmed the day before.
“No vale la pena Es demasiado tiempo de transporte; adicional a ello el personal es muy poco, por no decir NADA atento; debes llevar bastante dinero extra porque todo mundo te pide propinas, no solo al final del tour; es decir, iniciamos en catamaran donde el personal pidió propina y te ponen un gorro que nunca te lo dicen antes, pero te lo venden en 5 dólares por persona; al bajar a la isla a comer también te piden propina por ello, después abordamos lancha rápida e igual te vuelven a pedir propina; si fueran amables no me extrañaría, pero no lo son y quieren que los turistas les demos;…”
From Punta Cana, ride to Bayahibe, sail toward Saona Island, eat a Dominican buffet, swim at a white-sand beach, and stop at a shallow natural pool. The day lasts 10 hours and includes hotel transport, drinks, and guides in four languages.
“+piękne widoki -katamaran tylko w jedną stronę (powrót) - stary autobus, ale ujdzie, podróż z Bavaro nie jest długa - zła komunikacja miejsca odbioru - w aplikacji zaznaczona recepcja hotelu, dopytywałam o to, bo słyszałam, że z naszego hotelu (Catalonia) czasami odbierają z oddalonego szlabanu wjazdowego, czekaliśmy w lobby, tak jak było oznaczone i tak jak poprzednia wycieczka z tym organizatorem nas odbierała, o tym że autobus czeka przy szlabanie dowiedzieliśmy się w momencie odbioru (z dzieckiem idzie się 15min) - czekaliśmy długo na motorówkę, full ludzi na brzegu, nie ma gdzie usiąść, a my z dzieckiem - motorówka w kierunku Saony załadowana po brzegi, czytając w opisie zachętę, by…”
You’ll travel by air-conditioned bus from Punta Cana to Bayahibe, then cruise by catamaran to Catalina Island. The day includes guided snorkeling at Catalina Wall, a Dominican buffet, unlimited drinks, and beach time. Expect a long 12-hour outing, with much of the day spent in transit.
“Pésima organización, la tripulación llevaba a su familia dándole prioridad, comida racionada, muy mala transportación.”
Sail from Bayahíbe toward Saona Island with a catamaran ride, buffet lunch, open drinks, and 2.5 hours on a white-sand beach. Guide Casilindo has led some departures. The day ends with a 30-minute stop at a shallow natural pool known for starfish.
“Nos citaron a las 9:15 y salimos 1 hora después, estuvimos esperando bajo el sol mientras tanto. En la actividad dice que verás las estrellas de mar lo cual, no sucedió. La actividad la reservamos por ese motivo sin embargo, cuando le pregunté a Casilindo (nuestro guía) me dijo “uy eso ya fue. Súbete ya” No fue barra libre pues decidieron cerrar la barra. Poco tiempo en la playa y la comida muy regular. Pese a esto la pasamos bien y nos divertimos!”
Spend a full day reaching Saona Island from Punta Cana by catamaran or speedboat. You will visit a starfish-filled natural pool, eat a Dominican buffet, and enjoy beer, rum, soft drinks, and water. Hotel pickup is included, with guides in English, Spanish, and French.
Spend nine hours traveling from Punta Cana to Saona Island by catamaran and speedboat. You’ll swim at a shallow natural pool, relax on white sand, eat a Dominican buffet lunch, and use an open bar. English, French, and Spanish guides are available, with pickup from many Punta Cana and Bavaro hotels.
“I liked most the natural pool experience. It was stunning! The least thing I liked was killing 2 roaches on the bus that picked us up from the hotel. There communication has to improve! No communication whatsoever of what we’re doing, they stopped for gas and had us change buses and we just sat for over a half hour not knowing what was going on. We could have went to the restroom, got something to drink if they had communicated it.”
By hull, by landing, by how long you want to be out.
