Saona Island is a visiting card of the Dominican Republic, it is known for advertising a chocolate bar "Bounty" with the alluring slogan "heavenly delight". Photos and advertising brochures do not deceive: the bright sun, gentle sea breeze, transparent blue water, the shade of spreading palm trees on the snow-white beach ... Such a unique pristine view of nature was preserved thanks to the status of the reserve. Because of this, hotels and resorts on the island cannot be found, all you can count on is a one-day excursion. However, even one day spent here will be remembered for a long time.
Where is Saona Island?
Saona is the largest of the Caribbean islands, located in the La Romana region. The water near the coast is warm, like fresh milk, in contrast to the northern part of the Dominican Republic, washed by the cold currents of the Atlantic Ocean. The coast is mainly covered with rocks of bizarre shapes; there are many caves on the island, which were previously used first as shelter and rituals, and later as shelter by the Indians.
There are legends that pirate treasures are kept in some caves. Despite the status of a nature reserve, there are several fishing villages in which people live. The main income for them comes from fishing, and the additional one is the sale of souvenirs to tourists, of which, according to statistics, about half a million visit the island every year.
Flora and fauna
The entire island of Saona is covered with dense mangroves, reed plantations, coconut palms and coffee trees. Cutting them down is strictly prohibited. In total, there are 539 plant species, beautiful orchids grow in huge numbers, striking in a variety of shapes and colors.
The fauna is presented no less widely: iguanas, large turtles, storks, parrots of bright red and green colors. Nearby there is a sandbank almost eight kilometers long, the depth of which is no more than a meter. The wonderful climate has created a favorable breeding ground for sea stars here. There are so many! All colors and sizes, the most common are red, but orange and purple can be found. You should not touch them with your hands, as poisonous specimens are often found among them. And if they dared to take them out of the water, then no longer than for a few seconds, starfish quickly die in the air.
Excursion cost and description
The distance from the Punta Cana resort to Saona Island is only 20 kilometers and will take about half an hour. During the excursion, there is the opportunity to see dolphins frolicking in the turquoise waves and, if you're lucky, manatees, to admire the views of the forests, which are gradually reclaiming more and more space from the sea.
They disembark from the boat in a shallow pool a hundred meters from the beach, which will not be difficult to reach on your own. Time to lie down on the warm sand, walk along the shore, swim in clean warm water and drink a couple of cocktails is more than enough.
In 2017, the price of a tour to the paradise island of Saona, depending on the operator and the number of services included, starts at $ 99 per adult and $ 55 per child. The VIP offer will cost no less than $ 150 per person. Lunch included.
Usually, before visiting the island, they offer a half-hour snorkeling stop; those who wish are given special masks with snorkels. Even if it has recently been raining and the water is slightly cloudy, you can still see nimble colorful fish and colorful corals.
We recommend looking at the Galapagos Islands.
As a souvenir from the island of Saona, you can bring pink and black shells, paintings by local artists, jewelry. And, of course, you must not forget to take a picture on an unusual palm tree - just like in the advertisement for Bounty.
