Booking choice: The small-group Saona tour, from $165 per person. Check dates Tour details
Most Saona tours stop at a natural pool, a shallow sandbar far from shore where you can stand in clear water in the middle of the sea. Tours call it the Palmilla or Las Palmillas pool.
It is also where the starfish live, and where the island's protected-area rules matter most.
The quick answer
The natural pool is a shallow sandbar near Palmilla where boats anchor and guests stand in clear water to look for starfish. The small-group tour ends its day there; the big-group day stops for about 30 minutes on the way out; the catamaran makes it the last stop. Look at the starfish, but do not lift them out of the water.
Where is the Saona natural pool?
On a sandbar near Palmilla, off the Saona coast inside Cotubanama National Park.
The listings name it Palmilla or Las Palmillas. The official tourism board describes a wide, shallow turquoise pool facing the beach, with starfish resting on the sea floor. You can stand in it, and boats anchor around the edge.
Will I see starfish?
Usually, yes, though not in guaranteed numbers.
Guests on several tours mention starfish at the pool; one small-group guest saw two at the sandbar. The snorkel gear included on the small-group tour helps you spot marine life in the shallows.
Want the starfish at the end of a quieter day? The small-group tour finishes at Palmilla.
Check dates for the small-group Saona tourCan you touch or hold the starfish?
No: look and photograph them in the water, and leave them where they are.
Saona is part of a national park, and visitor guidance is clear that the starfish are for observation only, not for lifting or collecting. One Bayahibe-tour guest noted approvingly that the starfish were protected and visitors could only look.
How long do tours stay at the pool?
It varies: about 30 minutes on the big-group day, and up to an hour on some catamaran itineraries.
The big-group listing includes a 30-minute stop at the biggest natural pool. The catamaran itinerary lists an hour at Palmilla, and the speedboat tour 40 minutes at the natural pool.
Want longer in the water? The catamaran ends with the Las Palmillas pool.
Explore the catamaran from Bayahibe Tour detailsWhat about the sea turtles?
Saona is the country's most important sea-turtle nesting site, and the village of Mano Juan runs a conservation project.
The small-group tour stops at Mano Juan for breakfast and a visit to the turtle conservation area; guests describe seeing how the team protects the eggs and hatchlings. On the beaches, stay off marked nests.
What should I wear at the pool?
A swimsuit, plus a hat and sunscreen: you will stand in bright sun with little shade.
Water shoes help on the sand. See what to bring to Saona for the full list.
Which tour gives the best natural pool visit?
The small-group tour for quiet and the catamaran for the most time in the water.
On the big-group day the pool is a lively stop with music and drinks from the boats, which some guests love. If you want calm, avoid the busiest late-morning slot.
Calm water and fewer people: check dates for the small-group tour.
Check dates for the small-group Saona tourFrequently asked questions
Is the natural pool deep?
No. It is a shallow sandbar where most adults can stand; non-swimmers should stay near the boat and ask the crew.
Are there starfish all year?
Starfish live on the sandbar year round, but numbers vary from day to day, and no tour can promise how many you will see.
Do all Saona tours stop at the natural pool?
All the full-day tours we list include it, under the names natural pool, Palmilla or Las Palmillas.
Can I visit the turtle project?
Yes, on the small-group tour, which stops at Mano Juan's turtle conservation area. The big-group day goes to the natural pool and a main beach instead.
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Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Small-Group Saona Island Full Day Tour
- Bus from Punta Cana to the port of Bayahibe and back; speedboat for the whole day
- Breakfast and a Dominican buffet lunch on the beach
- Alcoholic drinks, soft drinks and bottled water
Saona Catamaran Day from Bayahibe
- Pickup from Bayahibe and Dominicus hotels only
- Transfers from Punta Cana, La Romana or Santo Domingo cost extra
- Lunch on board, snacks, unlimited beer, rum and soft drinks
Saona Speedboat Tour with Lunch
Up to 30 guests, park fees, lunch and drinks
