About Saona Island

Saona Island is the soul and heart of the Dominican Republic, the diamond of the Caribbean. Here the water shimmers with all shades of azure! Palm trees invite you to relax in their shade, and your feet just sink into the soft white sand….

Saona Island is the most popular tourist destination in the Dominican Republic. It is here that thousands of tourists go on vacation every day. And operators and private guides offer hundreds of excursion programs.

About Saona Island: history

Saona was discovered by Christopher Columbus during his second expedition on September 14, 1494. According to other information, the island was discovered in May of the same year.

In 2019, the Dominican Republic celebrated the 525th anniversary of the opening of Saona.

The island is the most popular tourist attraction in the Dominican Republic, so its history is often distorted.

There are several theories on how Saona got its name. According to one of them, Christopher Columbus named the island in honor of his friend Michele de Cuneo. Who was originally from the city of Savona (Italy).

It was Michele de Cuneo who first saw the island from the ship of Columbus and pointed it out to the navigator. As a result, he got his location. After that, de Cuneo even became the first governor of Saona.

By the way, Saona and Savona still maintain friendly diplomatic relations. And a small power plant operating on the island is a gift from Savona.

However, there is another legend regarding the name. It says that Saona is named after the beautiful daughter of one of the marquises who traveled with Columbus – Bella Savonesa.

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Saona on the map
Firstly, the area of the island is 112 sq km. Secondly, it occupies space – 12 km long and 5 km wide.

Meanwhile, the distance from the coast of the Dominican Republic to Saona is 800 meters.

The island is washed by the Caribbean Sea. The maximum depth in the area of the island is 100 m.

In general, the area of the Caribbean Sea is about 2750 thousand square kilometers, and the volume of water is 6745 thousand cubic kilometers. The average depth of the sea is 2429 m, and the greatest depth is 7090 m.

The surface of the island is predominantly flat and flat. With the exception of the rock Punta Balaju – 40 m high.

Saona Island today
Many guides call Saona a deserted island. Meanwhile, the fishing village of Mano Juan is actually located here. Similarly, the buildings are located on the beach of Catuano (the first one that tourists see). However, this is not a centralized settlement, but a place of service for representatives of the navy.

Building on the territory of the island is prohibited, so all inc hotels are not found here.

At the same time, a huge number of endemic plant species are concentrated in a small area of the island. In the Kotubanama National Park, which includes Saona, 539 species of native flora grow. And, what is remarkable, they are not found anywhere else in the world!

The island is also home to a rare species of green parrots, which is on the verge of extinction. 112 species of birds live here, including 8 endemic ones.

It is noteworthy that turtles lay eggs along the coast of the island from about May to October (watch the video with the small turtles of Saona Island).

By the way, the island has dense vegetation – mangrove groves, almost impenetrable jungles, swampy areas … First of all, a huge number of coconut palms, bananas, and papaya grow here … In addition, there is mahogany and cedar.

It is interesting that about 120 species of fish, 10 species of corals, and 124 species of mollusks live near the island.

In coastal areas, you can see manatees, dolphins, flying fish, and stingrays…. And, for example, shallows with starfish have even become the hallmark of the island.

Dominican Republic stars
By the way, this very sandbar with starfish is one of the largest natural pools in the world. The depth is only about a meter.

Every excursion to Saona Island includes a stop for starfish snorkeling off the coast of Saona. However, only experienced companies know about special places where there is a lot of starfish and not other tourists.

Note that a law has been passed in the Dominican Republic designed to preserve the starfish population. It is no longer possible to get these marine inhabitants out of the water. But you can take beautiful photos with the stars and enjoy unforgettable snorkeling. You can photograph stars, for example, by holding them underwater.

(The photo selection also contains pictures taken before the adoption of the law on the stars. After the adoption of the law on the stars in the Dominican Republic – we ask all guests not to get the stars out of the water)

PHOTO TOUR TO SAONA ISLAND

Bounty Island. Endless white beaches, and a lot of coconut palms. Unbelievable colors of the Caribbean Sea, you will touch starfish.. relax, fruits, and delicious seafood. it’s a private all-day tour just for you.

Included: