The Natural Pool at Saona Island
Saona's natural pool is a waist-deep sandbar in open water where boats stop for 30 to 50 minutes: what it is like, the starfish rules, who stays longest.
The natural pool at Saona is a sandbar in open water off the coast, where the sea is only waist-deep and starfish sit on the sand; every tour stops there, usually for 30 to 50 minutes. Several listings call it the Palmilla natural pool. The Saona Island Catamaran, Lunch & Open Bar day from Punta Cana builds an extended stop there into its timetable, from $59 a person (checked October 2026).
What it is like
The boats anchor over the sand, you step off and stand in clear, warm water up to your waist, a long way from any beach. One October guest on another Saona day put the water at 29 degrees. On several tours drinks are served in the water, rum included, and the private speedboat brings its own bar. It is also where you see how many boats go to Saona: at the busy hour the sandbar is ringed with catamarans and speedboats.
The starfish
They are the reason for the stop, and they are protected. The listing for this catamaran day states that it is strictly forbidden to take starfish out of the water and lists touching marine life as not allowed; Dominican Attitude Excursions tells its guests not to touch them at all. A starfish lifted into the air for a photo is harmed by it, so look and photograph them where they lie. A guest this August who first did the trip 20 years ago found the starfish area much less clear than it was then, which is a fair argument for the rule.
How long each tour stays
- JAC Tours Punta Cana’s Catamaran to Saona Island with Food & Open Bar: 40 minutes.
- Caribbean Route’s Catamaran Boat to Saona Island with Buffet Lunch: 30 minutes in its inclusions, 40 in its itinerary.
- Quetzal Excursions’ small-group luxury catamaran: 45 minutes, with snorkel gear.
- The private catamaran: 50 minutes.
- The private speedboat: two stops of 40 minutes, one early and one on the way home.
- La EX Tours’ day from Santo Domingo: 30 minutes.
Before you step in
Wear water shoes, because one listing warns of rocks on the seabed in places, and use a biodegradable sunscreen, which the private catamaran asks for. The water is shallow, but it is open sea: stay near the boat if you are not a confident swimmer. Dominican Attitude Excursions does not take children under three on its speedboat day, and none of these boats takes pregnant travellers.
Pick the most time in the pool:
Saona Island Catamaran, Lunch & Open Bar
Catamaran from Bayahibe, a long stop at the Palmilla pool, lunch and an open bar.
Check dates →VIP Private Speedboat to Saona
Your own speedboat and bar, at the pool early and again on the way home.
See the private tour →Small Group Luxury Catamaran
45 minutes at the pool with snorkel gear, in a small group.
See the catamaran →Prices and review counts as listed on GetYourGuide in October 2026, not a quote.
Check dates and book
Extra Time at the Natural Pool
This catamaran day from Punta Cana makes an extended stop at the Palmilla natural pool, then spends about three hours on Saona with a Caribbean buffet and a national open bar. Rated 4.5 from 10 reviews, from $59 a person as of October 2026, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check Catamaran Dates