Starfish Natural Pool Stop

Overview

This full day out from Punta Cana pairs two very different boat rides around Saona Island. You get picked up at your hotel, ride a coach to the Bayahibe coast, then cross to the island by speedboat with a stop at a shallow natural pool where starfish live. Roughly three and a half hours of free time on the beach follow, with an all-you-can-eat Dominican lunch served on the sand. The trip back is by catamaran, with music, dancing and an open bar of domestic drinks.

The whole loop runs about 8 hours door to door, and guides work in Spanish, English, Portuguese and Italian. The return leg is set up as a party on a spacious catamaran rather than a quiet nature cruise, which suits travellers who want a lively atmosphere and do not mind a long transfer each way. Reviews repeatedly praise the boat crews, the water clarity and the island itself, while the most common complaint is transport timing on the coach legs.

Bring a swimsuit, a change of clothes, sunglasses, a hat, biodegradable sunscreen and insect repellent. Water shoes help in spots where the seabed is rocky, and cash is useful for souvenirs or the photo and video packages sold on board. Note that the trip involves travel on open water and is not suitable for pregnant women or people with severe mobility issues.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickupPickup from your accommodation in Punta Cana, with drop-off back at the end of the day.
2. Coach to BayahibeA bus or coach transfer of 1.5 hours to the Bayahibe coastline.
3. Bayahibe briefingA 10-minute stop with a walk and a safety briefing before boarding.
4. Natural pool stopA 40-minute stop at the natural pool for swimming, photos and a guided look at the starfish.
5. Saona IslandAround 3.5 hours on the island with free time, beach time, lunch, shopping and scenic views.
6. Return catamaranThe ride back to Bayahibe is by catamaran with music and an open bar of domestic drinks.
7. Coach backA 10-minute stop in Bayahibe, then a 1.5-hour coach ride to Punta Cana.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the listing and from traveller reviews are worth knowing before booking.

• Long transfers. The coach ride each way takes 1.5 hours, and one reviewer described the journey as long, calling it a very long day overall. Budget most of the day for the whole outing and plan nothing time-critical for the evening.
• What to wear. Pack a swimsuit, a change of clothes, sunglasses and a hat. Water shoes are recommended because some areas have rocks on the seabed. Sunscreen and insect repellent should be biodegradable.
• Lively return leg. The catamaran back is set up as a party, with local music, dancing and an open bar. One reviewer found it noisy, so anyone wanting a quiet cruise back should temper expectations.
• Food and drink. Lunch is an all-you-can-eat Dominican spread served on the beach, and reviewers mention good food and plenty of rum. Premium piña coladas served in fresh pineapples cost extra, as do souvenir photos and video packages, so bring cash if you want them.
• Beach time. The listing allows roughly 3 hours on the island, and one reviewer said there was plenty of time, while another felt the beach time itself was short and could be longer. Set expectations somewhere in between and use the time deliberately.
• Starfish are wild. The natural pool stop is meant for seeing starfish, but one reviewer reported not getting to swim with them. Sightings depend on the day, so treat it as a chance rather than a guarantee.

Common issues. The recurring criticism in reviews and the listing's own summary is transport logistics: pickups and drop-offs can feel disorganised, and one reviewer described a driver getting lost looking for other passengers' hotels. The day is long, with 1.5 hours of coach travel each way on top of the boat legs. The catamaran return is loud, which some travellers disliked. The tour is not suitable for pregnant women or people with severe mobility issues, and baby carriages and coolers are not allowed. Souvenir photos, video packages and premium piña coladas cost extra. From March 1 to June 1, lobster is unavailable in any upgraded option because of the conservation season.

Common Questions