I have done two trips to Saona. While I loved the first excursion and it was enough to get me to go back, a bit of research led me to an even better one!
I have pictures of both days posted at
kaki333's photos and albums on webshots
The first trip was using a speedboat and catamaran and was run with through a tour bought at an AI. We left Bayahibe at 10:30 a.m. and returned to Bayahibe at 4:30 p.m. Those pictures are at
Saona Island, Dominican Republic in beaches photos on webshots
The second trip was bought through Seavis in Bayahibe. We left Bayahibe at 8:30 a.m. and hit all of the stops of the day before or after the major tour companies so were alone at each spot (but one). This tour was a bit custom-made for me and cost $10 more than the Saona-Catalinita tour sold from their website at
Island Excursions from Bayahibe, Dom.Rep. to Saona, Catalina and Catalinita Pictures from that day are posted at
Snorkeling at Catalinita and the Piscina Natural, Dominican Republic in caribbean photos on webshots
The catamaran tour which stops at the Piscina Natural and a short stop at a deep water snorkel site off the tip of Bayahibe doesn't offer all that much for snorkeling and if you went on this tour expecting a big day of snorkeling you could be sorely disappointed. A great day, but snorkeling isn't the focus.
I am looking at spending some time next spring at Villa Iguana in Bayahibe. They offer a room for all needs from a penthouse suite with private pool all the way down to a room with a only a fan.
Villa Iguana rooms accommondation and diving in Bayahibe nationalparc Dom.Rep. The hosts at the Villa are also very knowledgeable about local fishermen and residents and have recommended a contact to me if I wanted the use of a boat. You can e-mail them from their site and ask for that info too.
I agree with the comment about weekday vs. weekend. There are 1000 passengers a day being processed to the islands out of the Bayahibe bay. Each and every day. AIs book starting whatever day of the week their contract with the tour operator is. I have booked for travel on a Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. In 2007 I travel on Mondays and Fridays. They don't turn over a whole hotel on Saturday, though it remains the busiest day.
Kaki