Saona, the Dominican Republic's largest island

On board, the atmosphere is Dominican, with merengue, bachata, dancers and Brugal rum! You're sure to see flying fish and, if you're lucky, dolphins. On the way there or back, the boat stops at the 'pool', a puddle on a sandbank where rum is served, and where you can dive for giant starfish (be careful not to touch them, thanks for them).

What are we going to do there? Go for a swim! The programme includes lounging on the beach, swimming in heavenly waters and snorkelling (masks, flippers and snorkels are provided by the excursion boat). Picnics and dancing to the sounds of merengue and bachata punctuate your day on this Caribbean island, home to just one village.

Saona really does look like a pirate island, like in Tintin and the Treasure of Rackham the Red or the Pirate of the Caribbean saga, with its colourful macaws, tropical vegetation and pristine beaches with translucent water. All that's left is to find the treasure!

Canto de la Playa is the island's most beautiful beach. It is well worth the effort, a 1-hour walk to the east of the only village of Saona, on the south coast, knowing that the boats will drop you off on the north coast...

Saona was first inhabited by the Tainos, the first inhabitants of the island of Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic). The first family to live on the island of Saona was a Taino tribe called Cotubanamá, who were driven out of Bayahibe by the Spanish in 1494. Saona was then called the island of Adamanay, literally "island of refuge", and it's easy to see why.

Later, when an Italian from Savona in northern Italy saw the island, he exclaimed: "Mama mia que Bella Savona", in homage to his home town. The island was renamed Savona. But the pronunciation of the v is not very strong in the Spanish language, so the name Saona soon took hold.

Mano Juan, the only village on the island of Saona, is lined with colourful wooden cottages painted with the island's typical whitewash. 500 inhabitants live here all year round. Internet and telephone services have only been available since 2019! Mano Juan is also home to the largest protected sea turtle nesting area in the Dominican Republic.

⭐ Saona lodge

There's not much on offer on the island of Saona, as you'd expect, but Mano Juan, the only village, is home to some lovely little addresses, including Saona Lodge, a 9-room bed and breakfast. You sleep in a charming, rustic wooden hut covered in cane. In the evening, you can watch a superb sunset. In the morning, we wake to the crowing of the rooster and enjoy the paradise beach all to ourselves!