Saona Island: Catamaran vs Speedboat
Every Saona tour hits the same island, sandbar, and beach lunch — but the boat you choose shapes whether you're on a floating party with 60 strangers or racing across open water in 40 minutes. Catamaran tours are slower, louder, and built around the open bar on the way back. Speedboat-focused trips (or speedboat-only charters) cut travel time in half and feel less like a cruise ship excursion. The island itself doesn't change, but the ride absolutely does.
Catamaran
The catamaran is the classic Saona experience — wide deck, open bar, merengue blasting on the ride home. Most tours pair it with a speedboat on the way out to save time, then slow it down for the return leg when everyone's ready to drink and dance. You're sharing the boat with 40–70 people, which means the vibe is social (or chaotic, depending on your tolerance). The sandbar stop is crowded, lunch is buffet-style, and the whole thing runs like clockwork because they do it twice a day, every day.
Why you'll love it
- Cheapest option — standard tours run $58–85 per person, hard to beat for a full-day island trip
- Open bar on the return leg — rum, beer, and soft drinks once you're back on the catamaran
- Reliable logistics — pickup, timing, and boat departures are dialed in for resort guests
- The slow ride back lets you relax, socialize, or nap off the sun instead of bouncing across chop
- Most tours pair catamaran with speedboat out, so you still cut travel time on the morning leg
Worth knowing
- You're one of dozens — the sandbar and beach stops get packed, especially mid-morning
- Buffet lunch is edible but forgettable — rice, chicken, fish, plantains, repeat
- Zero flexibility on timing or route — you're on the operator's schedule, not yours
- The party vibe can wear thin if you're not in the mood for loud music and group drinking
- Boarding and pickup can feel like a cattle call, especially at the main departure points
Best for: First-timers who want the full Saona experience without paying for privacy, groups who like the social energy of a party boat, and anyone trying to keep the cost under $100 per person. If you're traveling solo or as a couple and don't mind sharing the deck, this is the move.
Speedboat
The speedboat cuts the 90-minute catamaran crawl down to 40–50 minutes of hard throttle and salt spray. Some tours use speedboats both ways; others pair it with a catamaran return (so you get speed out, party back). Private speedboat charters let you skip the crowds entirely — you control the route, the timing, and whether you stop at the sandbar or head straight to a quiet beach. The ride is louder, wetter, and way faster, which matters if you'd rather spend time on the island than on the water.
Why you'll love it
- Cuts travel time in half — 40–50 minutes instead of 90, so you get more beach hours
- Feels like an actual adventure instead of a booze cruise — wind, spray, open throttle
- Private charters ($440–1,500 total) let you set your own schedule and skip the crowds
- Less time sitting means less sunburn, seasickness, or boredom on the water
- You can combine Saona with other stops (Palmilla, Catalina) if you charter privately
Worth knowing
- The ride is rough — if you're prone to seasickness or back pain, the speedboat will test you
- Private charters are expensive unless you're splitting across 6+ people
- Shared speedboat tours still hit the same crowded sandbar as the catamarans
- No shade, no open bar, no dancing on deck — it's pure transport, not entertainment
- Weather cancellations hit harder on speedboats; choppy seas mean you're stuck on land or switched to catamaran
Best for: Anyone who values time on the island over time on the boat, groups of 4+ who can split a private charter and want zero crowds, and travelers who'd rather skip the floating party in favor of getting there fast and leaving when they want.
The verdict
If you're doing Saona on a budget or traveling solo, the catamaran combo tour (speedboat out, catamaran back) is the obvious pick — you still cut morning travel time, and the open bar makes the return leg worth it. If you're in a group of 4–8 and can split a private speedboat charter, do that instead; the cost per person drops to $75–150, and you get the island to yourselves. The exception: if you get seasick easily or have back issues, stick with the catamaran both ways. The speedboat ride is genuinely rough, and 40 minutes of pounding across chop will ruin your day faster than any crowd will. Most visitors split the difference — speedboat out for efficiency, catamaran back for the party — and that's honestly the right call unless you're either very budget-conscious or very crowd-averse.
Either way
- Book directly with operators like Unforgettable Tours or Legendary Tours instead of your resort desk — same trip, often $20–30 cheaper per person
- The natural pool sandbar is stunning but mobbed between 10 a.m. and noon; if you're on a private charter, hit it early or skip it entirely for quieter beaches
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a dry bag for your phone, and a towel — most tours provide snorkel gear and life jackets, but not much else
- If you're prone to seasickness, take Dramamine 30 minutes before boarding the speedboat, sit in the middle of the boat, and keep your eyes on the horizon
- Lunch on Saona is always a buffet and always underwhelming; eat a real breakfast before you go and treat the island meal as fuel, not a highlight
The picks, up close
