Saona

La **Isla Saona** is a tropical island located off the southeast coast in the Dominican Republic's La Altagracia Province. Politically Saona Island belongs to the province of La Romana.  It is part of the Cotubanamá National Park (Old Del Este National Park). The island is also a great tourist attraction for its beautiful beaches and natural beauties.

The island has two permanent human settlements, the towns of *Mano Juan* and *Catuano.* Mano Juan is a fishing village with wooden houses and "Catuano beach" has a detachment of the navy.

## Isla Saona

### Region

La Romana Province
Yuma

## History

*Adamanay* was the name given to this island adjacent to the Cotubanamá National Park by the Taino Indians. Christopher Columbus set foot on the island for the first time on September 14, 1494 during his second voyage, and named it *Bella Savonesa* in honor of the Savonese Michele da Cuneo (Miguel da Cunio ), who warned that it was an independent island of the then already named Hispaniola .

On this island is the famous Cotubanamá Cave , named in memory of the Taíno chief at the beginning of the 6th century, who, fleeing the killings of Nicolás de Ovando , decided without much success to seek refuge on the island, being captured and executed. In times of the dictator Leónidas Trujillothis island was awarded to his family, who exploited the coconut trees that had existed since an undetermined date. It was this president who built the town of "Mano Juan" in 1944 to house 14 families who settled, and since then it survives as the only inhabited center in the Cotubanamá national park. This town was also used as a hunting ground, extensive cattle breeding point, and a place to banish political dissidents from the dictator's regime.

On September 16, 1975, the Cotubanamá National Park was created by President Joaquín Balaguer , through presidential decree 1311.

## Geography

The surface of the island is 110 km². It has beautiful coral reefs, coastal lagoons, a great diversity of birds and reptile species, and it also has interesting archaeological sites and caves that were used by the Tainos.

The island contains a high percentage of endemic species and floral richness. Of the 539 species reported in the Cotubanamá national park, most are found in this place.

In the Saona, species of sea turtles have also been identified, including loggerhead, hawksbill, green turtle and leatherback. Among the birds you can see beach gulls, waders, the crowned pigeon, and the green parrot, which is in danger of extinction. Other fascinating animals such as the rhinoceros iguana, the manatee, the dolphin and the fishing bat are also part of the inhabitants of the island.

40 species of fish, 10 of corals and 124 of mollusks have been reported, qualifying the area as one of the most important ecological reserves in the country. This has a natural pool in which the water does not exceed the navel, we also find starfish of various types and with Caribbean colors, in addition to enjoying this natural beauty one is only a few steps from the coast and the water is even more crystalline.

### Population

Its population is approximately 500 inhabitants with only 69 houses of families that live mainly from a variety of fishing.

## Excursions

Departing from Bayahibe and passing the Canaleto Catuano, you reach Isla Saona, where the most popular excursion for tourists visiting the area takes place. Saona Island is part of the Cotubanamá National Park and was selected as one of the best dream beaches in the Caribbean by "Caribbean Travel & Life" magazine. Its pristine beaches, lush palm trees, and turquoise waters make it one of the most enchanting regions of the Dominican Republic.

Saona Island attracts between 2,000 to 2,500 tourists daily, for an annual average of 600,000 people. This crop of tourists from different countries, specifically, from those that make up the European and American continent increases to more than 3,000 in high season. Only in the 110 km² of Saona Island there are 22 national and foreign investment concessions.