You can visit both places in one day!
We advise starting the day with a visit to Saona. Then your individual excursion begins with a trip from Punta Cana to Bayahibe Beach.
Here you can always easily rent a boat or speedboat, this action will not take much time, as the guys earning on transferring tourists to the island are constantly looking for clients (from $35). It takes approximately 40 minutes to sail from Bayahibe Beach to Saona.
Saona is also called “Bounty Island”, and by the way, the famous advertisement for the eponymous chocolate was shot right here. This amazing island is renowned for its mangrove forests, colorful coral reefs, and picturesque beaches. Near the Los Flamencos lagoon is the charming fishing village of Mano Juan, where you can enjoy the view of village houses and visit a turtle nursery. On the west of the island is the Cotubanamá cave, where ancient rock drawings have been preserved, created even before Columbus's arrival.
Saona is also called “Bounty Island”, and by the way, the famous advertisement for the eponymous chocolate was shot right here. This amazing island is renowned for its mangrove forests, colorful coral reefs, and picturesque beaches. Near the Los Flamencos lagoon is the charming fishing village of Mano Juan, where you can enjoy the view of village houses and visit a turtle nursery. On the west of the island is the Cotubanamá cave, where ancient rock drawings have been preserved, created even before Columbus's arrival.
After heavenly Saona, we head to Altos de Chavón. This is a very interesting and unusual attraction, which is an exact replica of a 16th-century Spanish village. Also, this amazing place is known as the city of artists and craftsmen (entrance fee $25). Its construction was overseen by Italian designer Roberto Copa and Dominican architect José Antonio Caro from 1976 to 1992. The complex is located on the banks of the Chavón River within the well-known resort of Casa de Campo. In Altos de Chavón, there are workshops of various artistic disciplines, an art gallery where you can view works by famous Dominican and world artists, an archaeological museum introducing the history of the region, and an amphitheater for 5000 spectators.
- Travel time from Bávaro/Punta Cana ~ 1 hour to Bayahibe Beach
- Toll road cost – 160 pesos
- Recommended visiting time – morning/day
We advise you to visit:
▪ Altos de Chavón Amphitheater – an impressive construction in the Greek style. Since its opening in 1982, many world stars, such as Sting, Elton John, Andrea Bocelli, Marc Anthony, Julio Iglesias have performed on this stage.
▪ Regional Archaeological Museum – it features an amazing collection of pre-Columbian artifacts that shed light on the early history of the Dominican Republic. It has more than 3000 exhibits in its collections. Some of them have been displayed at international exhibitions in various parts of the world, such as Museo del Barrio in New York, Petit Palais in Paris, and at an exhibition commemorating the V centenary of the discovery of America, in Seville, Spain.
The highways in the Dominican Republic are in excellent condition, partly because most of the country's main highways are toll roads. We advise keeping cash in pesos on hand to pay the tolls. The sun is intense in the country, so it’s advisable to always use: sunscreen with 50-percent protection and headgear. Also, remember that you are on a tropical island, towels, swimsuits, and flip-flops will never be superfluous.
Be sure to write to us and get a free guide to the most interesting places in the Dominican Republic!
Points on the map:
▪ Bayahibe Beach - Bayahibe Beach
▪ Altos de Chavón – Altos de Chavón