This was the best day of our vacation. We rented the whole boat for the day with 22 people adults and kids all older than 11. The boat was incredible and huge. The locations we stopped at weee beautiful and we felt like we had the whole beach to ourselves. One beach was white sand with clear waters and plenty of waves for the kids to body surf. The natural pool was breathtaking and not another boat was there. Lunch and drinks were great and the staff was so knowledgeable and ready to help. We snorkeled for 20 minutes or so at the old dock but that could have been skipped as not a ton to see there. Overall the best day.

We booked a boat excursion with Quetzal for my bachelorette, and it was truly unbelievable! From start to finish, Joy and the crew went above and beyond to make sure we were taken care of. They were incredibly attentive, friendly, and fun, making the entire experience feel effortless and luxurious. The boat itself was beautiful, and every detail, from the service to the atmosphere, was perfect. If you’re looking for an unforgettable day on the water, this is the company to book with. Highly recommend! Also, Saona Island is a MUST!!!

It was an average snorkeling tour with average food. Nothing stands out except a few of the staff(not all) and the captain who seemed to care if you enjoyed your experience. The boat was clean and well cared for. Transportation from punta Cana was not included and cost 40$ US more each . The river tour was the best part in my opinion. The weather wasn’t great which I’m sure affects your experience.

Our excursion was booked using the excursion table and Club Med resort for a Thursday, all-day excursion on January 9th 2025. The day started with a bus ride from Club Med resort to Bayahibe and we were accompanied by a "tour guide" who provided some entertainment and support (but was really not necessary). Our family included six adults and there were a total of twelve in our group. I would recommend any excursion be limited to twenty as more than that will create a crowded and slow experience. The bus ride was about 40 minutes and we arrived at Bayahibe around 0830, having departed Club Med a bit after 0730. We were shuttled to the catamaran by a small launch because the catamaran was anchored in the harbor. There is a single pier in the harbor and it appears reserved for use by large groups. We saw a different group with over fifty people boarding from the pier. Our group was small enough that we did not use the pier. Our first stop was the "Aquarium" after an hour of cruising. During this time we were introduced to the crew and offered coffee and refreshments. Throughout the entire trip we felt that all our needs were provided for and we only had to ask for anything. The Quetzal is absolutely gorgeous and she is clearly well maintained and very comfortable. We were fortunate in that conditions for our excursion were close to perfect: calm seas, sun and clear water. Arriving at the "Aquarium" we were given a short briefing on the equipment and entered the warm waters which were teaming with fish. The depth felt about 15 feet so we were not able to get up close to the coral but we enjoyed the view and our guide (not the same person from the bus but a crew member) sprinkled food into the water to attract fish. We stayed in this area for about an hour and raised anchor around 1200 and started for Catalina Island. Catalina Island is a nature preserve and our guide had earlier distributed wrist bands which appeared to be day passes for the preserve. On the way to Catalina we were served an excellent lunch which included salad, grilled meat and vegetables, and fresh fruit. Drinks were always available. The "Wall" at Catalina Island gave a much better snorkeling experience where the coral is closer to the surface and it is possible to hover above and study many different species of fish. After giving us a guided tour of the area, our snorkeling guide, gave us the option of returning to the "Wall" for more snorkeling or riding their inflatable skiff to the beach on the island for exploration. We all opted for more snorkeling as the conditions were so good. We were rewarded with a sighting of a sea turtle and additional marine animals. Only downside to all the snorkeling was a little too much sun on the lower back: bring high SPF sunscreen and apply as directed or wear a water shirt. Having stayed at the island for almost two hours we raised anchor and headed towards the Chavon river. This took about thirty minutes of cruising and we spent the next hour or so going up the river, admiring the natural beauty. Our bus host attempted to keep us entertained with stories about wealthy people occupying the residencies near the mouth of the river. I personally would have preferred some peaceful quiet time. After the Chavon we returned to Bayahibe and took a launch back to the beach, boarded our bus and returned to the resort. Everyone agreed that this was a remarkable and unforgettable excursion. The crew and captain of the Quetzel were wonderful and the catamaran is beautiful. I would change nothing from that experience. I would recommend saving some money and booking the excursion yourself, directly from the Quetzel and arranging transportation to and from the port. You may even want to spend some time in Bayahibe which had a lot of activity (do your own research on that as I cannot vouch for safety - sort of a Tatooine Mos Esley feel to it ). That and bring extra sunscreen or swim shirts.

We had the pleasure of booking a tour to Saona Island on Quetzal. There were 9 of us in total two of which were young kids (7&10) and every person absolutely lovely the trip and said it will be a memory which stays with them for years and year. We travelled from Punta Cana area, early in the morning a private transfer was waiting for us at the hotel, took as straight to their offices in Bayahibe. From there everything was taken care of, well organised and just perfect. The boat is lovely, we were with one other family of 4 so it wasn't busy at all, we received a personal service the entire time. Some relaxed in the shade at the back at the seats/table others were at the front on the netting enjoying the waves. The journey is slower to Saona island but this is exactly how we wanted it. The moment we stepped on to the boat it felt like our trip started. I can imagine using another tour and the speedboat option, it doesn't feel relaxing and the start of the trip but more still the travelling to get to your excursion. Our first stop was for snorkelling, equipment provided including life vests for those who wanted them. It was so well organised, as a parent I could relax and enjoy the sea seeing all sorts of fish and rays with my children safe and well looked after in the water as well. Many had never snorkelled before and loved this part of the tour. Next stop was Saono Island, speed boat to get to land and then a small walk to an area on the far side for the tour. It didn't seem overly busy, could easily take a photo with no one else in shot. The sea was a bit rough but we were pre warned. The amazing colour and warm temperatures made it perfect for a dip. Time for a cocktail in a coconut and lots of photos. Our guides helped with everything, even providing their own rum so keep the cost down of the coconut drinks from local sellers. When we returned to the boat the seats and table had been setup for the two families as lunch was prepared. Salad, fruit, veg setup as a buffet and then on the back of the boat bbq/stove cooking the most amazing beef and chicken. I wasn't sure what sort of food you could cook on a boat but I was stunned by the quality. The beef smelt and tasted like perfection. 3rd and final stop was to try and spot starfish. Had to swim out a little as the boat cannot get too close but after 90 seconds you could stand and look for the sea life. Managed to spot a few thanks to the crew who swam too and found them for us. It was then back on the boat and we peacefully said back to Bayahibe, again some people sitting in the shade, others getting the last bit of sun. Back on land we were all taken back to the offices and Joy had arranged for a friend to pop over with some Larimar jewellery, this was because at Saonoa Island she suggested the prices were high and quality low. It was certainly the case, the jewellery they purchased was much better quality and well worth it. Back to our hotel again via the private transfer, again waiting for us at the offices and our trip had concluded. There is nothing I can suggest to improve the trip and there isn't a single person I would discourage from going on this tour. We had young kids and older people in our group including someone who is very scared of water however the crew were exceptional helping everyone when we had to transfer to boats to get to the island and off the boat. Joy and Jasmine looked after us throughout the day and Bernard the captain was so welcoming. If we ever return to Dominican Republic we will be speaking to Quetzal and going on another of their trips.

I had the pleasure to deal with Quetzal assisting me to coordinate a day trip to Saona Island for a group of clients of my company. My clients were very pleased with the crew and the customer service they received during the excursion. They were attentive to all our requests including the baby car seat for a toddler, going above and beyond to exceed my client's expectation. I can't thank you enough to taking care of my passengers and I hope to work with you again.

A perfect day. The 9 of us had such a good time, sun bathing on the way to Saona island, playing in the crystal clear water and relaxing on the white sandy beach, we had lunch waiting for us when we returned to the catamaran. A short sail to go snorkeling and starfish spotting then a relaxing sail back to Bayahibe. Lola and the other crew were brilliant and helpful and I can't praise them highly enough. Between the food, drinks, cake and rum there's nothing else we could have wanted. We didn't do the snorkeling earlier in the day as there had been some storms so the sea was a little rough and the currents were strong. It was reassuring to know that the crew know the area so well, wanted us to have the best trip and were always thinking about our saftey. Everything before the trip was great too, from me making the enquiry to the communication on the days before was helpful and informative. We had a fantastic time in the DR but this trip made the whole holiday. If you're thinking of booking a trip with them, just do it, you won't regret it. If we go back we will be booking with them again.

Excellent day! Great boat! Great staff! Great food! They really took are of us and we had a fantastic day! Highly recommended.

I always try to book a catamaran when I travel with the family. This tour company was excellent as they were very communicative and a delight on board. The ship had a good surround music system which was important and the facilities were clean. We did Soana Isalnd which was very beautiful, I would skip palmillas next time. I think the waters are no longer very clear due to over tourism and the sand is a little mildewy. Our tour guide Joy is truly a Joy and an excellent photographer! Thank you Joy and thank you to your kind team!

An amazing experience! Top notch. Great service, staff and food. We enjoyed so much and took tons of photos. We did the buggies and catamaran trip.

Best day of our entire trip to the Dominician! Scheduling, transportation, staff, crew, guide, boat, destinations, food, drinks, ALL OF IT WAS beyond exceptional and WORLD CLASS! Def plan on returning to the DR just to spend more time on this Vessel. We did fully Private with 8 guest and words can't begin to describe how beautiful and amazing our day was! Thanks again!

Wonderful day visiting Saona Island on this beautiful catamaran: staff very friendly and professional, plenty of food and drinks, space to relax and enjoy the beautiful view! It's a bit more expensive compared to other tours but we were looking for something to relax in a small group and this was the best choice. We were planning to go on another excursion to Catalina 2 days later but the weather wasn't great, in any case I would definetely reccomend them!

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.

Amazing day! We loved the food and meeting people from all over the world. The food was delicious! Thank you for a fun and relaxing day!

Fantastic day on the Quetzal to Catalina Island with snorkeling 🤿 great crew and gorgeous place! Will book with them again!