Leg 1 · Land
Bávaro → Bayahibe
Out the back of the hotel zone onto Highway DR-104, south through Higüey, down to Bayahibe on the south coast. AC bus or minibus. About 90 minutes.
Departure guide · Bávaro Beach · El Cortecito · Cabeza de Toro
Saona Island,
from Bávaro.
From any of the eighty-plus all-inclusive resorts on Bávaro Beach, the day starts the same way: a driver in your lobby just after sunrise, ninety minutes south to the marina at Bayahibe, then forty-five minutes by sea. The country's most-photographed island, all in a day from the country's biggest hotel zone.
- Distance
- ~75 km
- By road
- 90 min
- Pickup
- ~7:00 AM
A useful clarification
If your hotel calls itself "Punta Cana"
but feels like a resort city — you're in Bávaro.
Punta Cana is a small private community at the southern tip of the corridor. Bávaro is the much larger, public hotel zone immediately to its north — and that's where almost every all-inclusive marketed as "Punta Cana" actually sits. Iberostar, Riu, Barceló, Grand Palladium, Hard Rock, Princess, Bahía Príncipe, Meliá, Catalonia, NH, Now Larimar, Ocean Blue — all Bávaro. If you booked a big Caribbean resort with palms, pools, and a buffet, this is your page.
02 / The route
Bávaro to Saona,
by road then sea.
Two transfers, both included in the booking. Bávaro is mid-corridor on the country's eastern coast — slightly closer to the highway south than Uvero Alto, slightly further than Cap Cana. The drive time is the same either way: about 90 minutes.
Leg 2 · Sea
Bayahibe → Saona Island
Catamaran sailboat (group excursion) or private yacht. Eastward across calm Caribbean to Saona's southern beaches and the Natural Pool. 30–60 minutes.
Why Bayahibe?
Bávaro has no marina — yachts there launch directly from the beach for local trips. But Saona sits inside Cotubanamá National Park, on the south coast, and the only permitted entry point is Bayahibe. Every operator does the road transfer; there is no shortcut.
03 / Hotels we pick up from
Every all-inclusive
on Bávaro Beach.
The Bávaro hotel zone runs roughly eight kilometers along the coast, from Cabeza de Toro in the south to Arena Gorda in the north. Pickups follow the standard corridor route — tell us your hotel name at booking and we'll confirm the exact time the night before.
South · ~7:25 AM
Cabeza de Toro
Bávaro Sur
The southern end, closest to Cap Cana. Quieter, more residential feel.
- · Catalonia Bávaro / Royal Bávaro
- · Be Live Collection Punta Cana
- · NH Punta Cana
- · Now Larimar Punta Cana
- · Bahía Príncipe Grand · Aquamarine
Center · ~7:00 AM
Bávaro Beach
The main strip
The heart of Bávaro — the eight-kilometer line of high-rise resorts most travelers picture when they hear "Punta Cana."
- · Iberostar Bávaro · Selection · Grand
- · Riu Palace Bávaro · Punta Cana · República
- · Barceló Bávaro Beach · Palace
- · Grand Palladium · Bávaro · Palace · Punta Cana
- · Meliá Caribe Beach
- · Princess (Caribe / Bávaro / Tropical)
North · ~6:50 AM
Arena Gorda & Los Corales
Bávaro Norte
The northern stretch toward Macao. Earliest pickup of the Bávaro zone.
- · Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana
- · Ocean Blue & Sand
- · Caribe Club Princess
- · Ocean El Faro
- · Sirenis Punta Cana
Smaller hotels, boutique properties, and short-term rentals in El Cortecito or Los Corales can usually be added by meeting at the lobby of the nearest large resort — tell us at booking and we'll arrange a meeting point.
04 / The journey south
What does the
drive look like?
A short visual tour. The route is the same one every Saona excursion uses, regardless of operator — there is no shortcut, but there isn't much traffic either.
07:00 — 07:30
Out of the lobby
Bávaro lobbies are quiet at sunrise. A driver meets you at the main entrance with a sign or tablet, and the bus starts the corridor route from there.
First leg
AC minibus south
Highway
Through cane country
~09:00
Bayahibe marina
Small fishing village, real working dock, every Saona boat in the country tied up here. Five-minute walk from the parking lot to the boat.
~09:30
Onto the boat
Mid-day
Saona & the Natural Pool
Five to six hours on the water and on the sand. Beach, lunch, the famous offshore sandbar.
05 / Two ways from Bávaro
The shared boat,
or the private one.
Both pick up at your Bávaro hotel. Both drive the same road south. The difference starts when you board.
Premium · Your group only
Private yacht charter
Same Bávaro pickup, same drive south, but the boat at Bayahibe is yours. Captain, crew, catering, your itinerary. Premium pricing — competitive with group tickets once your group is four-plus.
About private yacht charters → Value · Shared boats
Group excursion
From $89 per person, fully inclusive. Hotel pickup, catamaran sailboat to Saona, beach lunch, speedboat back via the Natural Pool, drop-off at your Bávaro hotel. The way most travelers see Saona for the first time.
About the group excursion →06 / Day timeline
A day from Bávaro,
hour by hour.
-
07:00 – 07:30
Bávaro pickup
Driver meets you in your hotel lobby. Have your sunscreen on, swimsuit under your clothes.
-
07:30 – 09:00
Drive south
About 90 minutes on highway through cane country. A short coffee stop near Higüey is typical.
-
09:00 – 09:30
Bayahibe marina
Arrival, briefing, gear stowed. Marina restrooms are basic — go before boarding.
-
09:30 – 11:00
Crossing to Saona
Catamaran (group) or private yacht (charter) east across the Caribbean.
-
11:00 – 14:00
Beach & lunch
Anchor, swim, lunch on the sand. The longest stretch of the day.
-
14:00 – 14:45
The Natural Pool
Speedboat or yacht anchors over the famous offshore sandbar. Starfish below.
-
14:45 – 16:00
Return to Bayahibe
Speedboat back if you came on the catamaran; same yacht back if you chartered.
-
16:00 – 17:30
Drive north
Reverse the morning route. Most travelers sleep this leg.
-
17:30 – 18:30
Bávaro drop-off
Same lobby, same door. Plan dinner reservations for 7:30 or later.
07 / Common questions
From Bávaro
FAQs.
Don't see your question? Either desk handles Bávaro pickups every day.
Wait — am I actually staying in Bávaro?
Probably yes. The vast majority of large all-inclusive resorts marketed as "Punta Cana" — Iberostar, Riu, Barceló, Grand Palladium, Meliá, Hard Rock, Princess, Bahía Príncipe, Catalonia, Now Larimar, Ocean Blue, NH, Be Live — are all on Bávaro Beach, north of the actual Punta Cana community. If your beach has a long line of resorts and a row of coconut palms, you're in Bávaro.
How far is Saona Island from Bávaro?
About 75 kilometers (47 miles) southwest in a straight line. Travel-wise, plan on roughly 90 minutes by road from any Bávaro hotel to the marina at Bayahibe, then 30–60 minutes by boat to Saona Island.
What time is Bávaro pickup?
Between 7:00 and 7:30 AM for most Bávaro hotels. The bus runs the corridor north-to-south, so pickups follow the order Uvero Alto → Macao → northern Bávaro → central Bávaro → Cabeza de Toro → Cap Cana. Your exact time is confirmed by the operator the night before.
Can a yacht pick me up directly from Bávaro Beach?
For non-Saona day trips, often yes — there is no marina in Bávaro, but yacht and catamaran charters routinely launch from the beach itself, with the captain anchoring in the shallows. For Saona specifically, no. Saona Island is on the south coast and the only legal departure port is Bayahibe, an hour south. Every Saona yacht charter — including the premium ones — drives you to Bayahibe and boards there.
Why can't I leave from Bávaro Beach for Saona?
Geography and law. Saona Island sits on the south side of Hispaniola, inside Cotubanamá National Park. The park's boundary requires that visitor traffic enter through the official port at Bayahibe, both for permitting and for ranger oversight. Leaving from Bávaro by sea would also mean a much longer crossing in less protected water.
Which Bávaro hotels are on the pickup route?
All of them, effectively — every all-inclusive on Bávaro Beach, plus the smaller hotels in El Cortecito and Los Corales. Iberostar, Riu, Barceló, Grand Palladium, Meliá Caribe, Hard Rock, Ocean Blue & Sand, Catalonia, NH Punta Cana, Be Live, Now Larimar, Princess (Caribe / Bávaro / Tropical), Bahía Príncipe Grand Bávaro / Aquamarine — all served. Smaller boutique hotels and short-term rentals can usually meet at the lobby of the nearest large resort.
Are there bathroom stops on the drive south?
Yes. Most operators schedule a brief midway stop — usually at a gas-station café around Higüey — for restrooms, coffee, and a snack. The driver announces it on the bus.
What time do I get back to my Bávaro hotel?
Drop-off is normally between 5:30 and 6:30 PM. Bávaro is mid-corridor on the return route, so it falls in the middle of the drop-off loop. Plan dinner reservations for 7:30 PM or later.
Is Saona worth the long drive from Bávaro?
For most travelers, yes. Bávaro's own beach is excellent but it shares the coast with eighty-plus resorts — Saona is empty, palm-fringed, and protected. The Natural Pool sandbar is the photo people travel for. The drive is the price of admission, but it's the same drive every operator does, and the day is consistently rated the highlight of a DR vacation.
08 / Pick your day
Ready to leave
Bávaro for the day?
Private yacht
Door-to-door,
Door-to-door,
your group only.
Group excursion
From $89,
From $89,
Bávaro pickup included.
Keep reading
More on Saona Island
A Private Yacht to Saona
Just your group, your captain, your day. The premium way to see the island.
Read on → 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 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 →