BEST La Romana shore excursions by Seavis according to CruiseCritic and TripAdvisor.

If you are looking for a different excursion without crowded beaches, this is the right one for you. We bring you to the places of interest away from the thousands of tourists that populate the catamaran beaches of Saona Island every day. Small Groups, no mass-tourism, personal attention the excursion is all about nature; with the feeling of a real adventure tour. We'll visit the three most remote beaches of Saona. The fast speedboat allows us to go further then any other excursion. We'll visit the small and vibrant village of Mano Juan (along the south coast of Saona Island) and we conclude the day at the paradise beach "Canto de la Playa". You will feel alone in paradise. The maximum number of paricipants per group is 26, personal attention and quality guiding are guaranteed. All of our tours are led by English speaking, specially trained guides.

Zipping along the coastline in the fast -but safe- speedboat
After leaving Bayahibe we proceed along the coastline of the National Park of the East until we get to the rocks of Penon, once home to the aboriginal Tainos. When lucky, we see iguanas in their rocky playground, which can be 3 feet long. Sometimes we get dolphins around the boat near Penon.

Nowhere in the world you can stand knee-deep in the middle of the ocean while seeing huge starfish
On the way to the Saona Island we stop at the "Piscina Natural", the famous natural swimming pool. This large sand bank is well known for the indigenous starfish, which really do live there! We are the first boat to arrive in the Piscina so you feel alone in the middle of the ocean and can see the starfish in their natural habitat among the grasses. The water is shallow -even far from the shore it will never be more than waist deep- and the colors of the water are incredible turquoise and blue.

The mangroves are a protected area within the National Park: good conservation
Coast line National Park Frigate birds Mangroves channel After this refreshing stop we follow the coast line and we pass the Mangroves on our way to the channel that separates Saona Island and the mainland. The mangrove forests are the nursery of the ocean through the protection and food they provide. The government has recognized the importance of this area and since September 2013 it is closed for all boat traffic. We will go along side the mangroves.

Catuano: snorkeling and relaxing on our first dream beach on Saona
Catuano Beach - A Dream like Beach with white sand and large palm trees an old pier for snorkeling. We arrive at Catuano Beach, our first beach and SeavisTours' concession beach. A beautiful beach lined with palm trees and gifted with crystal clear water and pure white sand. The beach has beach chairs ... for those who want can join the snorkel tour at "the Piers”, an old pier, destroyed by a hurricane. The remaining concrete pillars are teaming with fish and a heaven for snorkelers. We have snorkel equipment available.

A traditional Dominican Barbecue lunch awaits you
Catuano - a former strong hold of the Taino Indians - Barbeque lunch on the beach, we will enjoy a traditional Dominican buffet lunch, with grilled chicken, pork chops and an array of salads, pastas and fruits. You can enjoy the beach, swim or stroll along the little artisan - souvenir shops.

Mano Juan: a tiny village for a journey back in time
Mano Juan the picturesque fisherman village on Saona, is our next stop. The picturesque fishing village on Saona Island with 300 inhabitants; no cars and only solar electricity. This is our second beach stop. You have time to explore the village or swim in the beautiful beach.

Village tour: how to live happy without electricity, cars and modern amenities
Mano Juan: local life in a small pictoresque village on Saona, traditional Island life where one of our guides takes you on a village tour and shows you how the people live with very limited resources. Please bring some change, you can buy unique souvenirs in the village.

SeavisTour's Sea Turtle project - showcase of how real conservation can work without huge NGO's
We also visit the sea turtle project in Mano Juan. SeavisTours is the sole sponsor of this project and the purpose is to increase the survival of sea turtle hatchlings from nests found on the beaches of Saona Island. When lucky you can hold baby turtles from 2-3 days old (there is no guarantee that there are small turtles, we can't force mother nature). More information about the project and about sea turtles can be found here.

The most beautiful beach of Saona Island: Canto de la Playa - the sand is really white
The last stop is the highlight of the excursion: the untouched Caribbean beach " Canto de la Playa" (our third beach). This beach has it all: all white sand and crystal clear water in its most beautiful colors. You will have the entire afternoon for relaxing on the beach, swimming and snorkeling in the coral gardens. The bay is protected by the reef barrier and the water is no more than 5 feet / 1.5 meter deep, making it ideal for beginning snorkelers.

Snorkeling and relaxing in paradise
Snorkeling from the beach Canto de la Playa located on the most southern tip of Saona. Since this is the most remote corner of Saona Island you have the chance to see some remarkable sea life (sea horses, puffer fish, trumpet fish, turtles, cuttlefish, butterfly fish, flounder, tangs and stingrays to mention but a few!). The healthy coral gardens of Canto de la Playa are a work of art by Mother Nature: formed by the currents to create unusual and very colorful sculptures. Experienced snorkelers and confident swimmers can also try the area beyond the reef barrier where the fish are bigger. The number of participants on this tour is limited to 26 persons to keep the flair of "Canto de la Playa".

In the late afternoon, the boat returns to Bayahibe, a 45 minute thrill-ride away! We'll return to our visitors center in Bayahibe.

IMPORTANT: The taxi fares from the cruise port to Bayahibe (25 minutes) and back will be arranged by "TAXI CASA DE CAMPO". This is an independent company. As soon as you leave the ship, you'll see the coordinator of the taxi association with a sign "TAXI CASA DE CAMPO". Please note that on the port grounds some of the staff may (pretend to) doesn't know "Seavis" or the transfer code. Ask for "TAXI CASA DE CAMPO" while on the port grounds and you will be guided to the parking of this taxi company or click on this ground map for exact location.

TRANSFER CODE: Use the transfer code BAYAHIBE ISSAMAR. Please remember this code and give it to the taxi driver (no taxi driver responds to SeavisTours). This is how you will be taken to the right excursion.

The costs for the round trip taxi fare is US$ 15.00 per person and payable in cash directly to the taxi driver on the way back to the port. We'll make sure the taxis are on time for the return fare, so you don't miss the ship.