Sophie-May Williams
Published November 29, 2025 1:00pm
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Of the Dominican Republic’s 50 or so islands, this is the one we’d give our left leg to visit (Picture: Getty Images)
It’s officially winter in the UK, which means we’ve got about six months before we can even think about defrosting.
However, this isn’t the case in other parts of the world, where warmer climes are guaranteed year-round.
One of these places is, of course, the Caribbean — specifically the Dominican Republic, which is currently basking in highs of 26°C.
Home to cloud forests, unique wildlife and the highest point in the Caribbean, interest is surging in this ecologically rich destination in the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation.
The Dominican Republic has greenlit an additional 800 flights to accommodate a sudden influx of visitors diverted from Jamaica and other islands, as the region gears up for peak tourist season.
The Dominican Republic has welcomed more than 8 million international visitors from January to October.
The number of tourists who arrived there last month rose to more than 672,000, compared with more than 575,600 in September. And officials say they expect that number to surge this month.
While the all-inclusive resorts of Punta Cana will always attract the lion’s share (that airport processed 2.4 million passengers last year), parts of this stunningly diverse country remain comparatively untouched.
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Of the Dominican Republic’s 50 or so islands and islets, the one we’d give our left leg to visit is Saona, a tropical postcard of palm trees, sparkling turquoise water and lunar-like beaches.
Travel blogger Naureen Chippa describes it as one of those places that seem too perfect to be real.
Here’s everything you need to know, from the best things to do to how to get there.
Things to do on Saona Island
First things first, a little backstory. You might recognise Saona Island from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
In 2003, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) made land on its pristine shores.
But unlike The Beach’s Maya Bay in Thailand, a fellow Hollywood star that was forced to close for a recovery period due to overtourism, this place has remained in miraculously immaculate condition.
Saona Island lies off the southeastern tip of the Dominican Republic (Picture: Metro)
This is because Saona Island, or as the locals call it, Isla Saona, has protected status: it is part of Cotubanamá National Park, which guards it, by law, from extensive development.
That means Saona’s pristine beaches – its main selling point – have stayed that way.
The best things to do here revolve around the coast:
- Cruise the open sea on a catamaran (Get Your Guide does return speedboat trips for £62pp, which includes a buffet BBQ lunch, an open bar of beer, rum, and soft drinks)
- Swim with wild starfish in Las Piscinas Naturales
- Snorkel at Canto de la Playa
- Explore Mano Juan, a colourful fishing village (the ‘capital’)
- Visit the mangroves
- Drink local coconut water
- Eat a traditional Dominican lunch on Playa los Abanicos.
Food and drink on Saona Island
There are only a handful of restaurants on Saona Island, all in Mano Juan. But what the island lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality.
Dominican cuisine is a blend of Spanish, African, and Taíno influences, characterised by hearty meals and ingredients such as rice, beans, plantains, and, of course, seafood.
@zoehonsingermy must dos in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic! #puntacana #dominicanrepublic🇩🇴 #DR #vacation #travel #saonaisland #tropical #paradise #beach
♬ original sound – HUGEL
Restaurant Saona Paradise boasts 5 stars on TripAdvisor and serves authentic Dominican dishes right on the beach.
A previous diner called the fried and steamed fish ‘delicious.’
Playa Tao Beach Club and Restaurant has a tiki-style bar, where you can indulge in fresh, local cocktails like piña coladas made in fresh pineapples.
How to get there and where to stay
You can access Saona from almost anywhere in the Dominican Republic, but the shortest and most popular day trips come from Punta Cana, La Romana, and Bayahibe.
Unfortunately, you can’t stay overnight on Saona Island. It’s only accessible via boat and on a day trip, but after all, that’s part of the charm.
There are no hotels, resorts, or public campsites for good reason: to protect its delicate ecosystem.
If you’re looking for showstopper beaches, this is the place to go (Picture: Getty Images)
To get there in the first place, you’ll need to fly to Punta Cana.
On Monday, January 26, we found a flight from London Gatwick with Air Europa and World2Fly for £231, with a stopover in Madrid. The journey takes around 14 hours.
From the airport, the best thing to do is to hop on a shuttle to the town of Bayahibe, which takes 40 minutes. This will cost anywhere from £45 to £150, according to Rome2Rio.
After that, you’ll need to find a way to navigate the high seas, and this is where things get tricky. There is no public ferry, so you must either join a group tour, or book a private boat.
According to travellers on TripAdvisor, if you have accommodation in Bayahibe, talk with the person providing the room, and they should assist you in getting there.
When’s the best time to visit the Dominican Republic?
Dry season in the Dominican Republic runs from December to April. Expect low rainfall and warm temperatures, with highs of 26°C.
May to November is the shoulder season, which means lower prices and fewer crowds. Temperatures average around 27°C.
It’s best to avoid the wet season from June to November, as this is prime hurricane territory.
What do travellers say about Saona Island?
Lisa Moman, who works in travel, visited Saona in May and is still reeling from the experience.
@kellymssoliveiraIf you only have the money to splurge on one excursion in the Dominican Republic let it be the day trip to Saona Island! #saonaisland #dominicanrepublic #traveldominica #travelvlog #dominicantravel #thingstodoindominicanrepublic #traveltips #travelblogger
♬ original sound – KELLY OLIVEIRA 🌸
She told us that the beaches are truly out of this world, with ‘soft warm sand’ and ‘sparkling ocean’ that looked like a painting.
‘The water at Saona Island doesn’t just sparkle — it actually glows,’ she said.
Lisa also raved about the lagoon, known as the Natural Pool of Palmilla.
She said the shallow, waist-deep area in the sea was almost as warm as a bath, and glimmered with shades of turquoise and jade.
As for the food, she said it was fresh and delicious: ‘Nothing processed, just that fresh-from-the-market taste.’
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‘I couldn’t say enough about a dish called Aztec Tomato Soup.’
Lisa Cox, who works in PR, also visited Soana Island while on holiday in the Dominican Republic last year.
She said her favourite thing to do was to grab a piña colada in a pineapple and drink it on a nearly deserted beach.
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Dominican Republic: at a glance
Capital: Santo Domingo
Languages: Spanish and Dominican Spanish
Population: 11 million
International dial code: +1
Currency: Dominican Peso
Time zone: GMT-4
Visa: British citizens travelling to the Dominican Republic on holiday do not need a visa
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