Published on Apr, 2024
Fantastic trip from start to finish. Transportation arrangements were easy and right on time. We took a small boat from the Bayahibe marina out to the Quetzal which was one of the nicest in the area. We sailed to Catalina Island and went snorkeling near "The Wall" which was fantastic, definitely the best snorkeling we've done in the DR over several visits. Our guide, Lola, took us around the area and pointed out several great species including chimney coral, a white urchin, and others. The crew followed the snorkelers in a small motorboat which was great. One of my kids was new to snorkeling and the water was pretty choppy so he wanted to wrap up before the group - he hopped in the motorboat and they took him right back to the catamaran. This was a great addition to the snorkeling experience, they kept up with stragglers, helped a girl who dropped a flipper, and were generally available to help, great for comfort and safety.
We got back on the boat and had lunch which the crew grilled on the boat. They made chicken, steaks, pasta, salad, and fresh fruit - all locally sourced (except for the pasta) with several drink options - sodas/beer/rum cocktails/water/etc.. Lunch was outstanding, steaks were actually medium rare and everything was plentiful. We did another short snorkeling trip on the other side of the island - there was less to see there but still some great fish, particularly the jewel damselfish. We then spent about an hour on the beach, nothing special there although they made some great pina coladas in pineapples which the kids loved. The beach was very hot but there was shade available - and we found a lot of sea glass walking the beach. Back on the boat we sailed around the island and up the Chavon River. The river was beautiful, lined with high-end villas and exotic foliage.
The boat was comfortable with plenty of shade in the rear, multiple bathrooms, and dual trampolines on the front. The kids loved the front of the boat which was steady even as the sea got choppy in the afternoon - no seasickness at all, very smooth ride. We really enjoyed the time spent with Lola and Enrique - both were a wealth of knowledge, warm and considerate. Our family learned a lot about diving/sea life and Dominican geography and terrain.
We had high expectations for this trip based on other reviews we read, - this tour exceeded all of them and I can't think of a single negative thing to say. If you're looking for a cheap booze cruise/party boat this isn't the tour for you. If you're looking for a spectacular day on, and in, the Caribbean sea on a beautiful boat with a great crew, great food, and fantastic snorkeling, this is it.
