01 / Privacy
Your group, no one else's
The boat doesn't pick up other guests at the next hotel. Photos without strangers in the background.
Private charter · Cotubanamá National Park
A private yacht
to Saona Island.
When you're done sharing the Caribbean with three hundred strangers on a catamaran, this is what happens next: a captain, a crew, and a boat that's yours for the day. Door-to-door from your hotel. The island, on your terms.
- Group size
- 2–30+
- Day length
- 8–10 hr
- Crew
- 2–4
02 / The premise
Why book the boat
instead of a seat?
The group excursion is fine for what it is. A private charter is a different day entirely — same destination, opposite experience. Four reasons people who can choose, choose this one.
02 / Flexibility
Your itinerary
Stay longer at the beach you love. Skip the stops you don't. Swap Saona for Catalina if the captain says the snorkeling is better that day.
03 / Comfort
Real catering
An icebox of cold drinks. Cushions, shade, music. Room to actually sit down and eat without elbowing anyone for a chair.
04 / Service
Crew that works for you
A captain who knows the back coves. Two to four crew handling everything — fuel, paperwork, snorkel gear, lunch. You decide whether to swim now or after the next drink.
03 / The day
A private day
on Saona, in pictures.
A loose framework, not a fixed schedule. Pick what you want to keep. Most charters run nine to ten hours from hotel pickup to hotel drop-off.
08:00
Hotel pickup
Your driver meets you at the lobby. Roughly ninety minutes south to the marina at Bayahibe — the only port that legally serves Saona Island. Coffee, sunrise, occasional cattle.
09:30
Bayahibe marina
Welcome aboard, gear stowed, captain's briefing. Sunscreen on. The first beer of the day, if you want it. Most charter clients are on the water before the group tour boats leave the dock.
10:00
The crossing
About forty-five minutes east to Saona's palm-fringed southern coast. Watch for flying fish and, in season, dolphins. The sundeck is yours.
10:45
First beach
Anchor in shallow turquoise water. Swim, snorkel, walk. Most charters take the quieter beaches the group tours skip — captain's call, based on which way the wind is blowing.
12:30
Lunch on board
Served on board or laid out on the sand — your call. Caribbean fare: grilled fish or chicken, rice, salad, fruit. Premium spirits, plenty of cold drinks. Eaten with the boat as your dining room.
14:00
The Natural Pool
Anchored directly over the famous sandbar a kilometer offshore. Standing waist-deep in the open Caribbean. Starfish below. Stay as long as you want — there's no schedule pulling you on.
16:30 – 18:00
Sunset return
Sunset at sea is optional — many groups linger an extra hour. Worth it if the sky cooperates. Then the same vehicle back to your hotel lobby. Salt-skinned, sun-warmed, asleep before dinner.
04 / What's included
What's included in
a private charter?
A private charter is genuinely all-inclusive. Most operators bundle the items below into the per-boat price; ask if you want to confirm anything specific.
- Door-to-door transfer (round-trip, AC vehicle)
- Private vessel — your group only, no shared passengers
- Captain, mate & hostess (typically 2–4 crew)
- Caribbean lunch — grilled protein, sides, fruit
- Open bar — beer, rum, soft drinks, water, juice
- Snorkel masks, fins & life jackets
- Towels, shaded seating, Bluetooth sound system
- Marina fees & Cotubanamá National Park entry
- All taxes & gratuities (clarify with operator)
- Optional add-ons: paddleboards, photo crew, sunset return
05 / Vessels
Which vessel suits
your group?
Three broad classes serve the Bayahibe–Saona route. The captain will recommend a specific boat once we know your group size, comfort priorities, and budget.
Class A
Sport catamaran
2–12 guests · from ~$1,800
The most popular choice for couples and small groups. Twin-hulled, fast, low to the water — easy to swim from, stable in a breeze. The right answer if you want private without paying for cabin space you won't use.
Class B
Motor yacht
8–20 guests · ~$2,800–$4,500
More cabin space, more shade, a sundeck on top. Comfortable for full-day charters and larger families. Air-conditioned interior for the crossing if anyone needs a break from the sun.
Class C
Luxury yacht
20+ guests · $5,000–$12,000+
For larger families, milestone celebrations, and small corporate groups. Multiple decks, full crew, jacuzzi or plunge pool on some vessels, full chef-led catering on the largest.
06 / Cost
How much does a private yacht to Saona cost?
A private yacht charter to Saona Island typically runs USD $1,800 to $4,500 for a full day, all-inclusive of crew, food, drinks, transfers, and park fees. The lower end covers a sport catamaran for a couple or a small family. The middle of the range is a comfortable motor yacht for eight to fourteen guests. Larger or luxury vessels for twenty-plus run $5,000 to $12,000+.
Pricing is per boat, not per person — which makes private charters competitive with group excursions once you're four or more travelers. A family of six on a sport catamaran often pays the same total as six group-tour seats and gets a completely different day.
Couple / 2–4
$1.8k–$2.4k
Sport catamaran
Family / 6–14
$2.8k–$4.5k
Motor yacht
Group / 20+
$5k–$12k+
Luxury yacht
See the full Saona pricing breakdown — group vs private, hidden costs, and the break-even math →
07 / Who books
Who books a private yacht to Saona?
Couples
Honeymoons, anniversaries, late-in-life proposals. The day fills up two cameras and ends in the best dinner of the trip.
Families
Parents tired of corralling kids on a tourist boat. Kids tired of waiting in line. The pace works for everyone.
Special occasions
Milestone birthdays, group reunions, bachelor and bachelorette parties. Bring music, a cake, and as much rum as you can carry.
Small corporate
Incentive trips, off-sites, exec retreats. A single private vessel is easier (and often cheaper) than booking out twenty seats on a group tour.
08 / Common questions
Private yacht
FAQs.
Don't see your question? Call or message the Private Yacht Desk — they answer this stuff every day.
How much does a private yacht charter to Saona Island cost?
Most private charters fall between USD $1,800 and $4,500 for a full day, all-inclusive of crew, food, drinks, transfers, and park fees. Sport catamarans for two to twelve guests sit at the lower end; motor yachts for eight to twenty in the middle; larger luxury vessels for twenty-plus run $5,000 and up. Pricing is per boat, not per person — once your group is four or more, a private charter is often competitive with the same number of group-tour seats.
How many people can a private yacht to Saona hold?
Most charter vessels in the area carry between two and thirty guests. Sport catamarans sleep eight to twelve comfortably for a day trip; motor yachts hold ten to twenty; luxury yachts and mega-yachts run twenty-five and up. The captain will recommend a class based on your group size, comfort priorities, and budget.
Can we customize the itinerary?
Yes — that's the entire point of chartering privately. The standard route stops at Saona's southern beaches, the Natural Pool, and (optionally) Mano Juan village or a second cove. You can stay longer at any stop, skip any stop, swap in Catalina Island instead of Saona, or add a sunset return. Tell the captain at the briefing.
What's the difference between a sport catamaran and a motor yacht?
A sport catamaran is a sailboat-style vessel with two hulls — fast, stable, low to the water, easy to swim from. A motor yacht is engine-powered with more cabin space, more shade, and usually a sundeck. Catamarans cost less; motor yachts are more comfortable for longer days and larger groups. Both reach Saona in roughly the same time.
Can we visit Catalina Island instead of, or in addition to, Saona?
Yes. Catalina Island is closer to the Bayahibe marina and is excellent for snorkeling. A private charter can swap Catalina for Saona, or combine both in a long day. Catalina Island is recommended for snorkelers; Saona for beach lovers.
Is the Natural Pool always included?
Yes, on every Saona itinerary. The Natural Pool ("Piscina Natural") is the famous sandbar a kilometer offshore where the seafloor rises to your waist. The captain anchors directly over it. Most groups stay 30–45 minutes; you can stay longer.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Caribbean weather is mostly predictable in the morning. If the sea is genuinely unsafe, the captain will reschedule the charter for another day or refund — exact policy depends on the operator. Light rain almost never cancels a trip; tropical mornings and clear afternoons are the norm.
How far in advance should I book a private yacht?
For December–April, book at least one to two weeks ahead — the best vessels go first. May–November is more flexible, but a few days' notice is still recommended. Holiday weeks (Christmas, New Year, Easter, late February) book a month or more in advance.
Are children welcome on a private yacht?
Yes — private charters are actually the easiest way to bring kids. You set the pace, the boat is your group only, life jackets are provided in all sizes, and lunch is timed to your kids, not a tour schedule. Many families say it's the highlight of their DR trip.
09 / Plan your day
Ready to plan
your charter?
Tell us your dates, your group size, and what kind of day you have in mind. We'll come back with vessel options and a quote within a few hours.
Keep reading
Keep exploring Saona
The Saona Island Excursion
Sailboat over, speedboat back, lunch on the island. The classic Caribbean day trip.
Read on → The Natural Pool
The sandbar a kilometer from shore where you stand waist-deep in the open Caribbean.
Read on →
Saona from Punta Cana
70 km south, 90 minutes by road, then 45 minutes by sea — all in one day from any Punta Cana resort.
Read on →
Saona from Bávaro
Pickup at any Bávaro Beach all-inclusive — the country's biggest hotel zone — for the day to Saona Island.
Read on →
Saona from Cap Cana
The premium way to do the day from the corridor's luxury enclave — picked up at Eden Roc, Secrets, Hyatt Zilara, and the rest.
Read on →
Saona vs Catalina Island
Two islands, twenty kilometers apart, very different days. Which one is right for your trip.
Read on →
Mano Juan Village
The only inhabited corner of Saona — a fishing village of pastel houses and a sea-turtle conservation center.
Read on →
Cotubanamá National Park
The protected southeastern peninsula — mangroves, dry forest, Taíno caves, and the chief whose name it carries.
Read on →
How Much Does Saona Cost?
Group excursions from $89 per person, private yachts from $1,800 per boat. The full pricing breakdown.
Read on →