So, you finally made it. You checked into Ocean Blue and Sand. The bags are sitting in the room. You have a cold drink in your hand. The massive pools look incredibly inviting. It’s a great resort. But let’s be totally honest with each other. You did not endure a long flight just to sit by a hotel pool for seven days straight. The real Dominican Republic? The stuff that makes you want to move here? It lives out on the water.
We take the headache out of the process. Our team picks you up right at the Ocean Blue and Sand lobby. No haggling with local taxis. No confusing maps. Just a quick ride straight to the marina. Are you ready to trade the crowded resort buffet for vibrant coral drop-offs? Let’s break down the ultimate excursions you need to book.
What Excursions Does Ocean Blue and Sand Offer?
Guests staying at Ocean Blue and Sand have direct access to dozens of off-property aquatic tours. Options range from high-adrenaline deep-sea fishing charters and private catamaran sails to full-day snorkeling trips at Saona Island. Most local tour operators provide complimentary round-trip shuttle service right from the main hotel lobby.
Walk through the hotel lobby, and you will see dozens of vendor desks. Skip them. Booking through those middlemen usually means getting shoved onto massive, overcrowded buses. We take a completely different approach. Booking direct with local maritime operators gets you better boats. It gets you smaller crowds. Most importantly, it gives you control.
You dictate the energy. Want to blast Reggaeton and drink spiced rum at ten in the morning? Done. Prefer to float silently over a coral reef without fifty strangers bumping into your fins? Easy. The Bavaro coast has something for every type of traveler.
Why choose independent water charters over hotel vendors?
- Direct Lobby Pickup: We coordinate seamlessly with the Ocean Blue and Sand security team.
- Zero Middlemen: You talk to the people actually running the boat.
- Custom Pacing: Spend more time looking at fish and less time waiting for people to board.
- Upgraded Gear: No foggy, scratched-up snorkeling masks. We use the good stuff.
Top 10 Things to Do Outside the Resort (Boat Tours & Island Trips)
Leaving the property changes the entire dynamic of your vacation. If you find yourself searching for things to do in Punta Cana outside of resort, aquatic trips absolutely must take priority. Land tours are hot and dusty. The ocean is where this island truly shows off. Here is our breakdown of the best water-based escapes leaving directly from your lobby.
1. The Ultimate Saona Island Day Trip (With Lunch)
Saona is the poster child for Caribbean perfection. Think flour-soft white sand. Leaning palm trees. Water so aggressively turquoise it looks photoshopped. It requires a full-day commitment, but it remains absolutely mandatory. Jump onto a shared Saona Island catamaran tour if you crave that classic tropical party vibe. Expect heavy pours of rum and merengue echoing over the waves.
Traveling with a big group? A private Saona Island catamaran charter changes everything. No waiting around for stragglers. You hit the famous Natural Pool on your schedule. We find the giant starfish. Afterward, we eat grilled chicken and fresh fish right on the sand. Bring strong sunscreen. The sun out here cooks. Fun fact regarding the area: the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism strictly regulates this national park. That means zero giant concrete hotels ruining the shoreline.
2. Private Catamaran Adventure in Bavaro
Sometimes you just refuse to share. A private catamaran Bavaro tour serves as the ultimate way to own the ocean for an afternoon. Hosting a bachelor party? Managing a giant family trip? You run the show entirely.
You control the playlist. Our crew handles the ice-cold Presidente beers. We cruise past the massive resorts and drop anchor at specific reef spots the big double-decker party boats cannot physically reach. After swimming alongside neon parrotfish, we idle at a waist-deep sandbar. The crew literally floats a bar out to you in the water. Try beating that kind of service.
3. Shared Party Boat & Snorkeling Experience
Ready to get incredibly loud? The shared party boat makes zero apologies. It does not pretend to be a quiet, reflective nature tour. It delivers pure, high-octane fun. The bass hits hard. The bartender keeps the Mama Juana flowing. You surround yourself with people ready to cut loose.
But we still put you in the ocean. Our first major stop is a massive, living coral reef. Even if you have never worn a snorkel in your life, our guides get you geared up and floating comfortably over the fish. Once everyone climbs back aboard, the music cranks back up. We head straight to the natural pool so you can dance waist-deep in the Caribbean Sea.
4. Catalina Island All-Inclusive Snorkel Day
Saona gets all the heavy hype for its beaches, but Catalina stands as the undisputed king of snorkeling. The water clarity here hits differently. Visibility is insane on a sunny day. You will drop off the side of the boat right over ‘The Wall’. It is a crazy underwater cliff where the coral just plummets straight down into the deep blue.
Grabbing a spot on a shared Catalina Island snorkeling tour gets you access to top-tier masks and fins. Look out for stingrays sliding across the sandy bottom. Watch for spotted moray eels poking out of the rocky crevices. Afterward, we crash hard on Catalina’s private beach. A massive Dominican lunch waits for you under the palm trees.
5. Deep Sea Fishing Charter
The Atlantic shelf drops off insanely fast just a few miles from the shoreline. That geographical quirk means huge, aggressive pelagic fish hunt dangerously close to the beach. Booking a deep sea fishing Punta Cana tour puts you right inside the strike zone.
We target Mahi-Mahi. Wahoo. Yellowfin Tuna. Maybe even a massive Blue Marlin if the season aligns perfectly. You need absolutely zero fishing experience. The captain and first mate rig the complex lines and set the bait spread. When a reel starts screaming, the crew straps you into the fighting chair. Your arms will burn. The adrenaline rush? Massive.
6. Sunset Catamaran Cruise
The blistering midday heat isn’t for everyone. Wait until four in the afternoon. The harsh wind dies down. The ocean flattens out, looking like pure glass. A private catamaran sunset cruise Punta Cana completely flips the script from a wild daytime party to pure, unadulterated chill.
The sky turns neon orange, hot pink, and deep purple. We serve light, fresh snacks while you stretch out on the front bow netting. It is incredibly quiet. You just hear the hulls cutting through the water. Honestly, if you want a romantic evening away from the chaotic resort dining rooms, this is your smartest move.
7. Premium Shared Catamaran Tour
Want to mingle but absolutely hate overcrowded boat decks? The shared catamaran Punta Cana Bavaro tour hits the perfect sweet spot. We aggressively cap the passenger list.
No throwing elbows just to find a spot in the shade. No waiting ten frustrating minutes for a single drink. You get top-shelf bottles, heavy appetizers, and an actual place to sit down. It acts as the classic Bavaro booze cruise, but heavily upgraded for comfort. You still snorkel the reef. You still hit the sandbar. You just do it with a lot more class.
8. Private Yacht to Saona Island
Let’s talk serious luxury. The private yacht to Saona Island tour is a 56-foot flex. Ice-cold air conditioning in the cabins. Massive sun pads on the bow. A towering flybridge that makes you feel like you own the entire ocean.
We cruise at speeds the bulky catamarans simply cannot touch. You beat the heavy tourist rush to the beach. Drink cold champagne while the crew makes fresh, citrusy ceviche right in the galley. This is not just a boat ride. It is a massive lifestyle upgrade and a core vacation memory.
9. Saona Sea & Wildlife Adventure
Not every single trip needs to be a floating nightclub. The shared Saona Island sea & wildlife tour purposely dials back the volume. We focus intensely on the raw ecology of the Cotubanama National Park.
We creep the boat slowly through the dense mangrove channels. You will likely spot wild sea turtles coming up for a quick breath of air. The guides actually know the biology of the area and point out rare birds hiding in the canopy. You still get plenty of beach time, but you walk away knowing a little something about the island’s wild side.
10. Adults-Only Coastal Cruise
Leave the kids at the resort kids’ club. Seriously. If you are specifically searching for things to do in Punta Cana for adults, an adults-only charter is non-negotiable.
No crying babies. No toddlers splashing you while you try to tan on the deck. You only deal with grown-ups, stiff drinks, and a low-key house music playlist. Talk to other couples. Ignore your phone entirely. The crew handles every single detail while you actually relax.
Logistics: Airport Transfers & Hotel Pickups
Ocean Blue and Sand sits roughly 16 miles (26 kilometers) away from Punta Cana International Airport. Depending on local traffic, the drive takes around 25 to 30 minutes straight down the Boulevard TurÃstico del Este highway. You can easily grab taxis, private SUVs, or shared vans right at the arrival curb.
Getting from the Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) to your room is a breeze. But what about getting to the marina for your boat tour?
Do not sweat it. We bypass the local taxi haggling entirely. Our air-conditioned vans pull right past the security gate and stop at the main lobby of Ocean Blue and Sand. We text you the exact pickup time the day before. You walk out, jump in, and we drive you straight to your boat. The drive usually takes less than fifteen minutes. When the tour ends, we drop you right back at the front doors. No hidden transport fees.
Why Trust Local Punta Cana Experts?
Stop booking tours through massive, faceless websites based in California or Europe. They do not know these waters. We live here. We run the Bavaro coast every single day.
We know exactly which reefs get murky after a quick rainstorm. We track the ocean swells by the hour. Safety is not just corporate talk for us; it is the entire job. Our captains have serious maritime hours under their belts. Our boats get meticulously maintained every week. We want you to feel incredibly safe so you can completely let go and enjoy the Dominican hospitality without a single worry.
Ready to Hit the Water?
Ocean Blue and Sand operates as a fantastic home base. But the stories you will actually tell back home? Those happen with salt on your skin and a boat engine roaring behind you.
Catch a massive Marlin. Dance waist-deep in the ocean. Swim over a 100-foot coral drop-off. Need more ideas for your itinerary? Dig into our Punta Cana travel guide for the real local scoop.
Stop waiting. Our boats book out incredibly fast, especially the private ones. Grab your preferred dates online right now and let’s get you out on the water!