Day trips from Punta Cana: how the transport actually works

The phrase “excursion from Punta Cana” hides a detail that is rarely mentioned at the point of sale: most of them do not start in Punta Cana. They start at a jetty in Bayahíbe, in a village in La Altagracia or on a hill in El Seibo — and there is an hour or two of road first, which is as much part of the day as the excursion itself.

Saona island: it leaves from Bayahíbe

The country's best-selling excursion does not leave from Punta Cana: the catamarans and speedboats go from Bayahíbe harbour, inside Parque Nacional del Este. From the Bávaro hotels that is an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half along the Carretera del Coral. Which is why the pick-ups are so early: the boat does not wait.

Altos de Chavón and La Romana

Altos de Chavón, the stone village above the Chavón river, sits inside Casa de Campo in La Romana. It pairs well with the cruise port and with the marina itself. Times are similar to Bayahíbe, a little longer.

Montaña Redonda and Miches

The Montaña Redonda lookout, with its hammocks and swings over the valley, is near Miches to the north-west. It is a long half-day from the hotel zone and usually gets combined with Miches beach or the lagoon.

Shared or private

The transport bundled into many excursions is shared, which means a round of pick-ups before yours. If your hotel is the first stop you will leave very early and wait in the vehicle; if it is the last, you will leave late and arrive with nothing to spare. With a private vehicle the pick-up time is yours and the car goes direct.

• One or two people: shared is almost always cheaper.
• Four or more: the per-vehicle fare divides, and the gap narrows sharply.
• With small children or limited mobility, private avoids the long waits.
• If the plan has a fixed time — a boat, a booking — private protects that time.

Frequently asked questions

Can you wait for us during the excursion?

Yes. Long waits are quoted separately from the point-to-point fare; send us the day's plan and we will give you a fixed price.

Do you sell the Saona excursion?

No. We are private transport: we take you to Bayahíbe and bring you back. The boat and the island you book with whichever operator you prefer.

What time should we leave for a morning boat?

It depends on your hotel. Tell us the boarding time and we work backwards with margin; it is the same method we use for departing flights.

Are the tolls included?

Yes, on every route, including the Carretera del Coral toward Bayahíbe and La Romana.