Unforgettable Saona Island: Private Boat & Nature Escape

We had an amazing time with Manny and his guides and drivers. Everything was well organized with attention to details. It was clear they knew the area and loved sharing it with us. it was great to be hosted by locals who take you to their favourite spots. The scenery was stunning, the guiding was excellent and the food was homecooked and hit the spot. We are thinking of coming back to the DR just to see more of this country they clearly love so much.

Absolutely amazing tour! (We did this tour from Punta Cana.) Our guide/boat captain, Kiko, was probably the nicest person we met on our entire DR vacation. He was knowledgeable, extremely eager to please (most of the people we met in the tourism industry seemed to be quite indifferent to the wants/needs of tourists), and so friendly. This Saona Island tour is worth every dollar, starting with when we met Kiko at the dock area and he led us through the crowds of people waiting in the hot sun right to our private, shaded boat. We told him we wanted to focus on snorkeling, and he had us in the water (at a fantastic spot!) within minutes of getting on the boat. He tailored the entire trip to make sure we got as much snorkeling in as possible, and it was incredible. (One of my teenage sons was so impressed that he said it is the best tour he has ever been on. :-)) We saw turtles, rays, huge starfish, barracuda, and so so so much more. The island was quite picturesque. (Keep in mind there's a lot of sargassum seaweed there right now, as all over- didn't bother us at all.) The lunch was delicious and filling. (I don't think they knew what to give us, since we are vegetarians LOL; but the rice & beans, potatoes, salad, and pineapple, plus coffee, were just right). If you want loud music, drinking, partying, then this is not the tour for you; but we loved that Kiko went to great lengths to make sure we were AWAY from all of that, and could enjoy the serenity of the place itself. We greatly appreciated all the effort Kiko (and others I'm sure, behind the scenes) put in to make this tour one of the highlights of our entire DR vacation.

Fantastic! What a wonderful day the four of us had on this excursion. Our tour guide Kiko was friendly, knowledgeable, organized, enthusiastic, well acquainted with where we were going, and ensured we had a great time. The snorkeling was amazing, the water clear and warm, the locations just the best. The boat was great, and included soft cushions, a must for those with sensitive backs, as the boat ride is 30min+ to Saona Island. The local lunch was delicious and plenty for the 4 of us. I would recommend this private trip to anyone looking for something out of the ordinary and off the beaten path.

Spent two days in the Dominican Republic with Manny. He’s as wonderful and professional as they come. Literally the two days I spent with him are the reason I will return to the Dominican Republic. Had such a special time with him, that on our final day I proposed (she said yes)! A day/trip I’ll obviously never forget.

Manny was incredible! Super patience and always has good answers to our questions. The tour is stunning and definitely worth it. Don't be scare because of the car travelling time, is an amazing opportunity to ask questions and get to know more about the entire city. Use the time to take advantage of Manny's brain and you will learn a lot of interesting facts. The captain of the boat was amazing as well, the food was local and cooked by him, such an experience! Definitely go, enjoy the day, the stunning beaches and the opportunity to get to know an incredible place with so much history.

Magnífica experiencia acompañado de Manny. La mejor forma de conocer los lugares fantásticos que se encuentran en la República Dominicana. Recomendable la visita a Mano Juan y conocer a los habitantes de este pequeño pueblo pesquero.