The photographs don’t do it justice, although they come very close to reality. A sparkling gem of an island located off the Caribbean coastline of the town of La Romana, Saona Island is a part of the Cotubanamá National Park that's a wonderland of beaches, hidden caves, subtropical forests, and mangroves. If you have ever drooled over the locations filmed in the movies such as The Blue Lagoon, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Curse of the Black Pearl, this is it.
La Romana, considered to be the gateway to nearby plush Caribbean resorts, is a tourist mecca of luxury hotels and private beach retreats for the rich and famous where water sports dominate, coral reefs are perfect for snorkeling, and on closeby Catalina Island, the ship wreck of the infamous 17th Century pirate, Captain William Kidd, who became legendary in English literature, wallows under the surface.
Saona Island is one of those islands similar to the Similan and Surin Islands in Thailand, where during the day, tourist hordes descend on boating day trips, arriving mid-morning and departing mid-afternoon. For a taste of the real serenity and magical vibe of Saona Island, it's necessary to stay overnight. Accommodation is totally restricted, so you will pay far more than on the mainland for a simple, clean room with no air conditioning and cold showers in one of the quaint small guesthouses. You will find a few more upmarket options on Airbnb that come with an exorbitant price.
To get to Saona Island from either the cities of La Romana or nearby Punta Cana, you will have to first get to the port of Bayahibe from which all the day trips depart, unless you have arranged a tour that involves picking you up from your hotel. Once on the island, it's an easy task to run away from the maddening crowds and persistent beach hawkers to a less crowded beach by endearing yourself and paying one of the locals who owns a boat. If you have a healthy bank balance, there are plenty of luxury private charters that will have you blissfully bound for this idyllic island on your terms alone. For those watching their holiday dollars, plenty of boat operators offer different tours to Saona Island from half-day to full-day excursions. It's possible to visit Saona Island by yourself if you are spreading your wings in solo mode. There is one public boat per day that leaves the Port of Bayahibe.
On the island, there's only one small village, Mano Juan, with a tiny population of approximately 500 people; apart from the armed forces stationed at Catuano. Mano Juan is a picturesque fishing village sitting near Flamingo Lagoon, cloaked in pretty buildings of various beachy colors, souvenir shops, and a few guest houses and restaurants. There's also a turtle sanctuary to explore. Palms on white sand beaches gently dance to the tune of whispering salty breezes, and stunning coral reefs light up the seafloor, especially at Palmilla Beach. Never-ending stretches of shallow waters are home to Red Cushion Sea starfish that have a vibrant orange or reddish color. To the west of this quaint village, tourists are stunned by the Cave of Cotubanamá, cloaked in pre-Columbian rock art.
Surrounding the island, the waters are crystal clear in hues of turquoise. It's easy to spend the day chilling out on the powdery fine white sand, worshipping the sun, or wallowing in the water. There are numerous spots to put on your flippers and snorkel to venture under the glassy surface, especially at the jungle beach of Canto de la Playa, where coral beds are the playground for numerous species of marine life, from green and loggerhead turtles to vivid parrotfish and angelfish. If diving is your thing, there is a whole world to explore of underwater caves. The most famous locals are the flamingos elegantly walking on their toes amidst the shoals as they feed on tiny crustaceans. At the same time, large frigate birds soar overhead with outspread massive wings. Iguanas play hide and seek amongst the rocks and trees, and brilliant butterflies flit in rainbows of color.
The entire island is surrounded by idyllic beaches with Playa Don Joe and Playa El Toro exceptional for their cozy nooks far from the tourist hordes.
Gail Palethorpe, a self proclaimed Australian gypsy, is a freelance writer, photographer and eternal traveller. Check out her website Gail Palethorpe Photography and her Shutterstock profile.
