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WannaBoats Team In the Dominican Republic, there are many islands, islets, and adjacent cays, all of which are part of the island’s paradisiacal beauty. Sometimes, the only way to reach these islands is by boat. We’d like to share and recommend a few islands that you shouldn’t miss during your Caribbean vacation.
1. Saona Island
Ranking number one on our list of the best islands in the Dominican Republic is Saona Island, located near La Romana, Bayahibe, and Dominicus, within the East National Park. Its popularity is well-deserved due to its incredible natural beauty and status as a protected park. It boasts postcard-worthy landscapes with endless beaches lined with coconut trees and surrounded by turquoise water. Visiting Saona is a must to experience paradise on the island.
On the way to Saona, you’ll find a natural pool at Palmilla Beach, located just 400 meters from Saona’s coast. The water is less than one meter deep, making it perfect for enjoying with little ones and for immersing yourself in the extraordinary marine biodiversity. The island has two small fishing villages with very few inhabitants, Mano Juan and Catuano.
Go to Saona by Boat
2. Catalina Island
Off the coast of La Romana, near Casa de Campo, lies Catalina Island, a beautiful uninhabited tropical island, renowned for hosting some of the best diving spots in the Dominican Republic, and even the Caribbean. It features a spectacular geological formation known as The Wall, which, with depths exceeding 100 meters and various terraced levels, provides a habitat for an immense variety of corals and marine species. Additionally, it is home to Captain Kidd’s sunken ship, where divers can experience spectacular dives alongside real pirate history.
Getting to Catalina Island by Boat
3. Catalinita Island
Located next to Saona Island, this small island is part of the East National Park. Completely uninhabited, it has a wilder and more untouched appearance in comparison to other Dominican islands, with coconut groves, towering cliffs, and lush mangroves that serve as a habitat for diverse bird colonies.
The island’s main attraction is its shallow coral reefs, making it a paradise for diving enthusiasts. Although it has beaches, they are relatively small and characterized by lambí shells scattered along the sand.
4. Cayo Levantado
Also known as Bacardi Island, this small cay is located in the Bay of Samaná, in the northeastern Dominican Republic. It’s one of the country’s most popular tourist cays, famous for its paradise-like white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, surrounded by coconut palms and tropical humid forests.
Like most destinations on the Samaná Peninsula, Cayo Levantado has the unique appeal of being a whale-watching spot from January to March when humpback whales come to the peninsula to breed and give birth. While there is a hotel on the island, most visitors take day trips via boat.
5. Cayo de los Pájaros (Bird Cay)
Located in Los Haitises National Park, in the northeast area of the country, this small rocky formation covered with forests and palm trees sits in Samaná Bay and is known as a refuge for hundreds of birds, including tropical sea species like the red-billed tropicbird and brown booby.
Boats on excursions to the island usually don’t land, staying just a few meters away to avoid disturbing the birds. The surrounding area is characterized by the park’s impressive mogotes, which reach up to 40 meters high and are covered by lush tropical forests.
