Dominican Republic – A Trip to Saona Island

First we go to a cigar farm. We learn how cigars are made, stored, and bought. They can be bought here cheaper than here. The Dominican Republic is among the top in the range of premium smoking products. They are very well processed and tobacco cultivation has a long tradition here. After a tour of the farm, we head straight to the harbor at the village of Bayhabe, where we embark and sail to the island itself. As we arrive at the beach we can see the turquoise colors of the sea, they are even nicer than the images we know from the Internet or postcards. So we make kitschy photos for our album. The beach is ready for us, who wants, can buy a fresh crawfish here and have it grilled. The price is around $ 20 depending on the weight and tastes great.

We spend about two hours here, we can look into the local village where the inhabitants live. The houses look very poor, they are made of sheet metal. We have a chance to look inside, the equipment is also somewhat modest, but the locals also seem satisfied with this equipment. The construction of hotels is prohibited here, which is one of the main reasons why this small island still retains its form of paradise. On the island live about 60 species of rare birds and thrive about 500 species of plants. Some birds can be observed while walking through the palm grove.

Another part of our cruise is directed to a shallow lagoon, where we catch large red starfish from the sea and take pictures. We continue around the mangrove who is interested can snorkel near the corals. The last stop is on a secluded beautiful beach where there are no tourists. And so, one moment feels like a castaway. The Caribbean Sea has truly incredible colors and we just need to look at the surface and enjoy this splendor. There are only palm trees and white sand around. Not surprisingly, several films or commercials were filmed here.

At the end of the trip we have to sit with the locals in one of the port pubs, where there is a cheerful atmosphere. We can even buy freshly caught squid here. We recommend visiting this small piece of paradise to all adventurers and people who love nature and fun.

GPS: 18°09'11.9"N 68°40'30.5"W

Text a foto: Veronika Kocmanová