Canto de la Playa

Canto de la Playa is the beach people go looking for when they have seen photos of Isla Saona without the crowds. It is on the island's south-east coast, beyond the village of Mano Juan, inside the protected Parque Nacional del Este. The shoreline here is a long ribbon of fine white sand backed by dense palms, and the water shades from almost clear at the edge to bright turquoise and then deep blue over the drop-off.

Because it is farther from the mainland than the main tour beaches on the western side of Isla Saona, fewer boats come here. That is changing as more operators sell "Canto de la Playa" tours, so it is quieter rather than empty. A typical itinerary gives you a couple of hours on the sand, often with a simple lunch set up by the tour company, then a stop at Mano Juan and the natural pool sandbar on the way back.

The water is generally calm, but this side of the island is more exposed than the western tour beaches, and on windy days you can get small waves and a bit of current. Swim near your group and keep an eye on the boat crew's instructions. There is little natural shelter from the sun at midday apart from the palms, and no facilities of its own beyond what your tour brings: no restaurants, shops or restrooms. Bring water, reef-safe sunscreen and a hat.

You can only reach Canto de la Playa by boat. Tours leave from the pier in Bayahíbe, and from Punta Cana with a road transfer to the coast first. Speedboats are the norm because of the distance, so the crossing can be bumpy; if you get seasick, ask whether the operator uses a larger boat. Some sources describe a walking path from Mano Juan, but most visitors arrive straight on the sand. Prices are usually a little higher than a standard Saona tour; check our Saona day trip guide for current ranges.

Who it suits: couples, photographers and anyone who wants the Saona scenery with more space around them. Who it does not: travelers who want a full bar and a buffet tent, small children who will struggle with a long speedboat ride, and anyone on a tight budget. The best months are December to April, when the sea is usually calmest. Sargassum can reach this exposed coast in heavy years, mainly between late spring and early autumn, and nobody rakes it here.