Saona Island: The Facts
Deep history on white sand
Taino people fished these shores for centuries before Europe arrived, leaving cave art and artifacts across the park. Columbus's second voyage sighted the island in 1494 and named it after the Italian city of Savona. Centuries of pirates, fishermen and coconut farmers followed before conservation arrived in 1975 with the national park designation.
Park protection by the numbers
The island's 110 square kilometers anchor Cotubanama National Park, which also protects the mainland coast and Catalina Island. Rules with teeth: no construction beyond Mano Juan, no overnight tourism, entrance fees per visitor, licensed operators only and rangers who enforce starfish handling fines. The postcard survives because the rules do.
Mano Juan, population 300
The island's single village houses roughly 300 residents in painted wooden casitas along one sandy street: fishing families, park staff, comedor cooks and the volunteers who run the sea turtle hatchery. Electricity comes from generators and solar, supplies come by lancha, children cross to mainland secondary school by boat.
Wildlife worth the name
Cushion sea stars carpet the natural pool sandbank. Hawksbill and green turtles nest on the quieter beaches, protected by the village hatchery. Frigatebirds, pelicans and herons work the shallows, rhinoceros iguanas and solenodons hold the interior, and the surrounding reefs host the parrotfish clouds that keep the sand white.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Saona Island?
Columbus's 1494 expedition named it after Savona in Italy, reputedly honoring the navigator Michele da Cuneo of that city. The Taino inhabitants who long preceded the name knew it as Adamanay.
How many people live on Saona Island?
Around 300, all in Mano Juan village: fishing families, park personnel and tourism workers. No hotels exist, visitors leave by late afternoon.
Is Saona Island protected?
Fully: it anchors Cotubanama National Park, designated in 1975. Construction, overnight stays and wildlife handling are prohibited, and access runs exclusively through licensed operators from Bayahibe.