Cotubanamá National Park
A coastal and island park at Bayahibe with Taíno caves and the beaches of Saona.
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Cotubanamá, long known as Parque Nacional del Este, covers a block of dry limestone forest on the southeastern coast plus Saona and Catalinita islands, and it holds two very different draws: the beaches and shallow sandbanks of Saona, which day boats from Bayahibe fill every morning, and the Taíno cave sites on the mainland, particularly Cueva de José María, whose walls carry hundreds of pictographs.
What you actually see
- Cueva de José María - a cave with hundreds of Taíno pictographs on its walls.
- Saona Island - the beaches and sandbanks the day boats run to.
- The dry limestone forest - the mainland woodland with its caves and sinkholes.
- The park's rock coast - the low cliffs and inlets along the mainland shore.
When to go
December to April is the dry season and calmest for boats. Hurricane season runs June to November. Mornings are best before the day boats arrive.
Honest expectations
Saona day trips are heavily commercialised and the natural pool sandbank is packed with boats. The cave sites need a guide and permission and are much less visited. Park fees are charged separately from tour costs.
Nearby
Bayahibe is the departure point, and La Romana is west.
What to pack for Cotubanamá National Park
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
