Saona Crusoe VIP

Canto de la Playa & Mano Juan - Eco-Adventure

A guided tour to the far end of Saona Island

The Saona Island tour is available for guests of the Bayahibe, Dominicus, La Romana and Punta Cana hotels and resorts. 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. Our expedition is all about nature; with the feeling of a real adventure tour. We operate our own motorboat and have our own unique "barbecue museum" in the small and vibrant village of Mano Juan (along the south coast of Saona Island). A quality excursion and personal attention are guaranteed. All of our tours are led by multi-lingual and knowledgeable guides. We leave early (ahead of the crowds) and come back late for a very full day! Click here to open the slide show.

---

Videos:

 

Itinerary:

We meet in our Visitors center on the beach of Bayahibe from where we board the motorboat and the adventure begins. After leaving Bayahibe we proceed along the coastline of the Parque Nacional del Este (National Park of the East) until we get to the rocks of Penón, once home to the aboriginal Tainos. When lucky, we see iguanas in their rocky playground which can be 3 feet long.

Leaving bayahibe Rocks of Penon History dominican republic

On the way to the Catuano Channel 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.

Piscina Natural

The starfish

Relax in piscina natural

The boat then goes along and through the Mangroves into the channel that separates Saona Island and the mainland. The mangroves are the nursery of the ocean through the protection and food they provide. We will see a lot of baby fish, more starfish and, on occasion, nurse sharks and big stingrays in a very serene environment. You will be able to observe frigate birds and pelicans nesting in the mangroves and soaring overhead.

The mangroves

Frigate birds

Mangrove channel

Next stop is Mano Juan, the picturesque fishing village on Saona Island with 300 inhabitants; no cars and only solar electricity. You have time to explore the village or swim from the beautiful beach.

Mano Juan the fisherman village on Saona

Mano Juan, Saona: pictoresque village

Mano Juan: the traditional Dominican Republic

One of our guides takes you on an Island walking tour and shows you how the people live with very limited resources. We also visit the sea turtle project, where 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). Please bring some change, you can buy unique souvenirs in the village and if you want you can get a massage under the palm trees on the beach.

We enjoy a barbecue on the beach or in our private museum (!), with freshly grilled fish and meat, salads, rice, French bread and beverages, including wine. You can order a lobster of 1 lbs (optional, additional charge applies), which will be freshly grilled also.

The last stop is the highlight of the excursion: the untouched Caribbean beach "Canto de la Playa". This stop is 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 deep, making it ideal for beginning snorkelers. Since this is the most remote corner of Isla Saona you have the chance to see some remarkable sea life (sea horses, puffer fish, trumpetfish, 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 colourful 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 in our visitors center in Bayahibe and you'll have the chance to meet some of our closest friends!!