Saona Island - History

Saona Island is a picture book tropical island with crystal clear waters, unspoiled beaches, coco palms, mangroves and coral reefs, set in a protected national park.

Isla Saona is 25km-long, 5km-wide, and has two tiny settlements - Mano Juan and Punta Gorda - both on the coast and boasting a total population of not much more than 300. Christopher Columbus discovered Saona in his second voyage. The island's original Taino name was Adamanay, but this was changed to Saona when the Europeans arrived in the late 15^th century. You can swim at Mano Juan and Punta Catuano, where the beaches are white and the water very blue. The other areas visited by the public are Laguna de los Flamencos (Flamingo Lagoon) and Laguna Canto de la Playa, as well as the caves of Cutabanamá near Punta Catuano.

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