Is There a Ferry to Saona Island?
Why no ferry exists
Ferries need terminals, schedules and volume, and Cotubanama National Park permits none of that infrastructure on a protected island with 300 residents. What evolved instead is a licensed excursion fleet that moves thousands of visitors daily with hotel pickup included, plus the village supply lanchas that have served Mano Juan for generations.
The tour boat, the de facto ferry
For most travelers the excursion is the transport: $64 to $95 buys the crossing both ways wrapped in lunch, open bar and the natural pool stop. Viewed purely as passage, it is competitively priced against any two way boat ride in the region, the excursion extras come along free in effect.
The local lancha option
Bayahibe's working dock runs informal boats to Mano Juan, leaving mornings when full: 25 to 40 dollars round trip negotiated with the captain, park fee separate, Spanish helpful, return hour agreed in advance and taken seriously. You land at the village rather than the tour beaches, an honest trade detailed in the independent visit approach.
Private boats on your schedule
Chartered speedboats and catamarans from $660 per boat run whenever you like: sunrise crossings, late returns, custom stops. Split among six or more travelers, the private option costs group tour money while functioning as your personal ferry, captain included.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the boat to Saona Island?
Tour boats: $64 to $95 round trip with lunch, bar and pool stop included. Local lanchas to Mano Juan: about $25 to $40 negotiated dockside plus the park fee. Private charters: from $660 per boat.
Can I buy just a boat ticket to Saona without a tour?
Informally yes, on the village lanchas from Bayahibe dock, mornings, cash, Spanish helpful. No counters or schedules exist: you negotiate with captains directly and agree the return time.
How long is the boat crossing to Saona?
25 minutes by speedboat or lancha, about 90 minutes under catamaran sail, from Bayahibe. All access funnels through that village dock inside the national park.