How do you get to Catalina Island from Punta Cana?

From Punta Cana, take the road to Bayahibe or La Romana and continue by boat. Bayahibe is 43.0 miles or 69.2 km from PUJ airport by road. The tourism ministry gives roughly 1 hour from Punta Cana to Bayahibe. Trips with a dive shop take a full day. That covers the boat and the island stops.

Can you snorkel at Catalina Island?

Yes, you can snorkel above the Catalina Wall's shallow reef. Its top sits near 16 ft. Dressel Divers offers two guided snorkel sessions on separate reefs with gear included. Divers and snorkelers can share its boat, then split for their underwater activities.

How deep is the Catalina Wall?

The Catalina Wall drops past 130 ft on the island's east side. The reef top is near 16 ft. The coral-covered section at 40 to 60 ft gives divers plenty to explore. A guide matches the dive depth to each diver's certification.

How much does it cost to visit Catalina Island?

Entry to the natural monument is RD$250 per person. Casa de Campo's catamaran costs $48 per adult or $30 per child up to age 12. The catamaran requires a reservation and at least four people. Your booking needs to show the hotel transfer and entry inclusion.

Do cruise ships stop at Catalina Island?

Yes, cruise passengers use part of Catalina's beach and come ashore by boat. Catalina Sugar Beach is planned from November for cruise passengers and Casa de Campo guests. MSC guests have exclusive use there while their ship is anchored. If you're visiting independently, your operator needs to specify which beach you can use.

Is Catalina Island the same as Catalinita?

No, Catalinita is another islet northeast of Saona. It lies in Parque Nacional Cotubanamá. Isla Catalina sits off La Romana and has the Catalina Wall and the Aquarium. Your itinerary needs to name Isla Catalina if those are the reefs you want.

Things to do in Punta Cana › Places › Catalina Island

Catalina Island

entry RD$250/person · La Romana boats

Updated October 30, 2026 boat schedules from Casa de Campo; beach access from MSC

Catalina Island is a protected island off La Romana in the Dominican Republic. The Catalina Wall and the Aquarium draw divers. You can snorkel above the Wall's shallow reef or spend time on white sand. Punta Cana dive shops offer full-day trips with road transfers to the boat. None of our selected tours goes to Catalina. If you're staying outside Casa de Campo, ask whether you can book its beach catamaran.

Driftwood on the beach at Catalina Island, boats offshore

The island

Catalina: the island and its dive sites

The island	a protected natural monument off La Romana. Its coral rock covers 3.7 square miles (9.6 square kilometers) and rises to 60 ft. You visit by boat from the mainland.
The boats	boats leave from Bayahibe and La Romana. The sea leg on Grand Bay of the Sea's dive trips typically takes 20 to 30 minutes. The road transfer comes before the crossing.
Snorkeling and diving	the Wall drops beyond 130 ft on the island's east side. Its shallow reef top suits snorkeling. The Aquarium is the other main dive site, with reef fish among the coral.
On the island	white-sand beaches and a pier. Sugar Beach's upgraded facilities are planned from November. Ask which beach and facilities your excursion includes.
Entry	entry costs RD$250 per person for the natural monument. Dominican and foreign visitors pay the same tariff. Your boat price is a separate cost; ask whether it includes the entry ticket.
Tours	none of our selected tours goes to Catalina. Punta Cana dive shops offer full days with a road transfer. Grand Bay of the Sea's pickup is around 7 a.m.

Snorkel or dive

Snorkel the Wall The shallow reef top is near 16 ft. You can see the coral from the surface. This suits your day if you want reef time and a beach stop.
Dive both sites The Wall gives you a steep coral slope; the Aquarium offers a shallower reef. The Wall has coral to explore at 40 to 60 ft. Your dive depth depends on your certification.
A beach catamaran Casa de Campo's catamaran costs $48 per adult or $30 per child up to age 12. It leaves at 10 a.m.; the return boat leaves Catalina at 1:45 p.m. Four people minimum: you need a reservation, plus access arrangements if you're staying elsewhere.

Before you go

Catalina trips run year-round. December through April is the peak season around La Romana and Bayahibe. Ask which beach your excursion uses when cruise ships call. Bring pesos for the RD$250 entry ticket per person if your trip doesn't include it. Foam containers and single-use plastics aren't allowed.

Map

Where Catalina is

Isla Catalina: 18.3589° N, 69.0081° W Directions in Google Maps Apple Maps OpenStreetMap

How to get there

From Punta Cana hotels From PUJ airport, Bayahibe is 43.0 miles or 69.2 km by road. Casa de Campo's marina is 47.0 miles or 75.7 km away. Hotel pickup times depend on where you're staying.
From La Romana Casa de Campo's $48 adult fare includes taxes, with departure at 10 a.m. The return boat leaves Catalina at 1:45 p.m. Arrive 15 minutes early; agree on the meeting point and access if you're staying elsewhere.
From Bayahibe Catalina excursions leave from Bayahibe's pier. Dressel Divers uses its own dive center's pier, so your meeting point depends on the trip. Its day includes a boat cruise on the Chavón River and lunch beside the river.
With a tour Punta Cana dive shops sell Catalina as a full day. Grand Bay of the Sea combines two dives or snorkeling with beach time and lunch. Dressel's dives cost extra: its two dives need separate payment or a dive package.

On the island

Catalina's beaches and coast

Beach waves

Waves reach the white sand at Catalina's beach. Calm water is part of the island's appeal, though swimming depends on conditions that day. A beach stop doesn't tell you how smooth the boat ride will be.

The palm-lined coast

Palms line the shore beside Catalina's white sand. Part of this coast serves cruise excursions, so your landing beach matters when you book. A cruise stop can change which facilities you can use.

Boats offshore

Driftwood rests on the beach with boats offshore. The return departure sets the time available for a beach stop. Keep that departure time in mind when you head along the sand.

Tours

Other boat trips from Punta Cana

Snorkeling and scuba diving 6 tours · from $89

The snorkeling and scuba list compares trips elsewhere around Punta Cana. It doesn't include Catalina, so that island needs a separate booking with a dive shop.

Saona Island tours 9 tours · from $79

The Saona list covers another island reached from Bayahibe. You can compare those beach days if a Catalina reef stop isn't your main aim.

Catamaran and party boat tours 14 tours · from $46

The catamaran list covers Punta Cana sailing and party boats. Those trips don't take you to Catalina; the Casa de Campo catamaran is a separate arrangement.

Know before you go

Entry ticket

RD$250 per person is the entry fee for the natural monument. Dominican and foreign visitors pay the same fee. It doesn't buy your boat journey. Read the booking's inclusions before adding this fee to a boat price.

No single-use plastic

Foam and single-use plastics are banned in the natural monument. Your beach picnic falls under that rule too. Pack reusable containers and a refillable bottle before leaving your hotel. A boat's lunch inclusion doesn't remove the restriction on what you bring.

Cruise beach

Catalina Sugar Beach is planned to open from November. MSC guests have exclusive use while an MSC ship is anchored there. The upgrades include a buffet pavilion and cabanas for rent. Your day-trip booking shouldn't assume access to that beach or its facilities.

Captain Kidd's wreck

Captain Kidd's wreck lies in less than 10 ft of water. It's roughly 70 ft from shore. The Quedagh Merchant site is an underwater preserve; you mustn't remove anything. Boats can't anchor over it, so a visit needs to respect the protected site.

The boat ride

Grand Bay of the Sea's dive-site crossings typically take 20 to 30 minutes. That's only the boat leg. You still need the road trip from Punta Cana and time for boarding. Leave the whole day free when you book from your hotel.

Catalinita is different

Catalinita is a separate islet northeast of Saona. It lies inside Parque Nacional Cotubanamá. You can't use the names interchangeably when choosing a boat trip. A booking for Catalinita doesn't establish a stop at Catalina's Wall.

Good to know