Sonoa Island

Can anyone share their experiences with going to Sonoa Island from Punta Cana? How long a trip is it to get there? Is it worth the trip? How is the snorkeling? We are re-visiting the Paradisus resort and want to go next time, in April.
Thanks.

Hi Joseph

We took the trip to Saona Island from Bayahibe and it wasn't a long trip at all (the boat ride was fast and lots of fun). The island is beautiful (take your camera and lots of film). We didn't snorkel (not many did). We just wandered around the island and enjoyed laying in the sun. There are lots of souvenirs to buy, and they provide lunch and drinks. On the way back we stopped at the "natural pool". The water is shallow and warm, and there are plenty of star fish. Well worth the price ($50 US).

You MUST go there - it is paradise.

The boat ride is nice, the food for lunch was terrible, the bus ride from the hotel to the point of the boat departure was long, about 2 hours) hot, bumpie and better not taken. The drinks on the boat and the island are rum & coke or rum or coke. There is a charge for snorkling gear. That is why no one snorkles there.

Just about everybody I've talked to said the trip was a waste of time. Lots of time is spent getting there and back (many hours), only to arrive at a beach no better than the beach at Punta Cana where they started, and with far less ammenities nearby. Also, I've been told it is infested with mosquitoes.

I've never made the trip myself, but I tend to concur with the above just based on logic. If the beach isn't especially nicer, and you don't particulary want to go an excursion just to go on an excursion, this trip doesn't make much sense. It is however one of the most popular excursions in Punta Cana. That doesn't say much though, because almost everybody who elects to go has never been on this particular excursion before.

Hola We took an SCUBA excursion from the Iberostar Punta Cana Hotel the bus ride was about I hour and 45 minutes....it was nice to see the "real" Dom Rep instead of just the resort. At Bayahibe, we had a 20 minute boat ride to our diving spot which was great; then a catered lunch on the island; great food and very clean empty private beach and then to our second dive spot. It was a WONDERFUL excursion; there where others along with us who just snorkled. I think it was about $85 USD for a 2 tank dive . I twas a real nice day!

I'm glad it was fun, and I'd likely have a real nice day no matter where I am, but please convince me about this excursion.

The beach at Punta Cana is a spectacular beach. What did this excursion offer that justifies a 3.5-4 hour round trip travel time, aside from the opportunity to see the "real" DR by leaving the resort (which a 45 minute trip to Higuey would do)?

Honestly, I've driven across the south coast from center to eastern tip, and from the south center to the north center at Puerto Plata and with the exception of some beautiful mountains and vistas between Santiago and Puerto Plata, there isn't a whole lot to see just cruising by on the highway, and I'd think even less so from a bus.

Been there twice whilst we were staying at Casa del Mar so we were already in Bayahibe and it seemed daft not to go. The first time Hurricane George had ripped through the place and obviously devastated it. My impression is what you are left with is a really beautiful beach but that is all. The speedboat ride the first time was horrendous (and I have since seen a review on the web that agrees with me). I was stupid enough to sit at the front of the boat and the sea was exceptionally rough that day. The man operating the boat obviously thinks faster is better and we were literally being thrown off the seat into the air and smacking down hard on the wooden bench as we hit each wave. I can't understand how someone hasn't broken their back.

We are going to Punta Cana for the first time in May and we wouldn't do the long journey from there.

The journey I would do, however, is to go back to Cayo Levantado but for some reason this island isn't offered on trips from Punta Cana or the south coast. I can't understand this. If someone knows of day trips there from Punta Cana (that do not involve planes) I'd love to know.

Thank you all so much for the detailed and "Graphic" information.
Sorry about mispelling Saona originally. Think we'll skip it.