Saona Island is known for some of the most beautiful and unspoiled beach areas in the Dominican Republic and can only be accessed by boat. Your private tour will give you the opportunity to go off the beaten path and open a world of untouched beauty that is unmatched. Take a boat and sail the Caribbean Sea to Isla Saona and soak up one of the DR’s most beautiful islands where this unspoiled paradise is a protected nature reserve and part of a national park. The government of the Dominican Republic protects and secures natural resources and sees to the preservation of the island. The island is popular because it has some of the most stunning and breath-taking white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters.

Interact with the residents and learn of their daily life on this island where time moves at a very slow, relaxed pace. The town of Mano Juan is a small village where you can view the customs and the culture of the locals and gain a new perspective of the world.

Visit the turtle sanctuary and observe the conservation project that is happening there. Hawksbill turtles and indeed all marine turtles are nearing extinction in the Dominican Republic, but thanks to projects carried out here, the numbers of these beautiful creatures are slowly increasing. The project keeps track of all the nests using a GPS. If a nest is situated in a high-risk zone where it might get stepped on or stolen by poachers, the Sea Turtle Conservation Project will step in and carefully remove the nest. The eggs are then incubated into cooler boxes and taken to the project until they hatch.

After the visit to the sanctuary, walk down to the local restaurant area where an authentic, delicious lunch of fresh, local seafood fare will await to tempt your taste buds.

A leisurely boat ride will take you back to your starting point and allow you to reflect on what will no doubt be one of the most amazing days you will spend while on your cruise when you port in La Romana.

History points to sugar as a mainstay of the Dominican economy as the nation’s largest employer and the main source of export earnings. In the late 1980s, the Dominican Republic was the world’s fourth-largest producer of sugarcane. The first sugarcane plantations were introduced in the Dominican Republic by Spanish colonizers in the beginning of the 16th-century. As a result, thousands of workers have remained in the territory serving as a labor force in the sugarcane fields.

The Dominican Sugar Industry, “DSI,” has always been a pioneer in the agricultural space and continues to lead the way in terms of state-of-the-art technology and best practices. As it navigates an increasingly complex global trade, regulatory, and sustainability framework, the industry continues to adapt to new opportunities and challenges. Learn all about sugar cane production, from the planting to the harvesting, and be immersed in the lifestyle of the sugar plantation workers. See how the sugarcane is cut by hand with sharp machetes by skilled workers. Observe the traditional Roman weighing machine. Taste the sugar from the field, and see the traditional and picturesque carriages pulled by oxen.

Sugar is not the only byproduct of sugarcane, as molasses and rum are byproducts as well. Born in the Caribbean, rum isn’t just a drink in the Dominican Republic, it’s also a way of life. The roots of rum go deep in the land known for pristine beaches and white sand, as the region’s very first distillation of the spirit took place all the way back in the 1620s when it was discovered that molasses, a byproduct of sugar refining on sugarcane plantations could be fermented into alcohol.

Dive into an afro-descendant community with your local, English-speaking guide, and learn the social structure and religion related to African and European beliefs. Enjoy traditional music played with local instruments of the vibrant and contagious Gaga rhythm.

As you make your way back to La Romana City, see the traditional town and enjoy a light lunch featuring the local, delicious Dominican food. Once you have finished, you will be returned to the pier area and your ship.