Some of us dream of sleeping on beaches; others fantasize about being cocooned by lush jungle, with the sounds of the night forest a lullaby. If your vacation desires are colored green as well as blue, consider a getaway to a Caribbean resort where nature is the star.
Here are our favorite eco-resorts in the Caribbean, from clifftop sanctuaries in Dominica to country inns in the middle of the rainforest.
Secret Bay, Dominica
The Ylang Ylang Villas at this Dominica resort pop up like treehouses from the jungle canopy; the Zabuco Villas, on the other hand, appeal to guests who want to live in the forest but still soak in ocean views. Gourmet dining, spa treatments, and a commitment to sustainability make this Relais & Chateaux resort the top luxury eco-lodges in the Caribbean.
Small Hope Bay Lodge, Andros, Bahamas
The Andros archipelago adds up to the largest single island in the Bahamas by area, yet it’s also largely undeveloped. The 22-room Small Hope Bay Lodge has attracted nature lovers for more than 60 years with beachfront guest accommodations shaded by native pines and palms, surrounded by trails and perches for hikers and birders.
Fond Doux Eco Resort, St. Lucia
St. Lucia’s beaches are amazing, but it’s the jungle-shrouded twin Pitons mountains that are the island’s real calling card. The Fond Doux Eco Resort, set on the grounds of a former cocoa plantation, has 17 individually designed cottages set on 135 acres of rainforest, tropical gardens, and cocoa fields — the latter providing the raw materials for the resort’s chocolate-making classes.
Chaa Creek, Belize
Chaa Creek puts its money where its mouth is when it comes to sustainability, donating 10 percent of all room revenue to environmental and community programs. It’s knowledge that helps guests feel good about enjoying the luxurious pampering at this Belize resort set amid a 400-acre nature reserve.
Antigua’s first-ever luxury camping retreat is in a stunning setting right on the sands of the island’s spectacular Valley Church Beach, with sleek, off-the-grid tents with solar showers, USB ports and private gardens.
Rosalie Bay Eco Resort and Spa, Dominica
With rooms starting as low as $170 nightly, Rosalie Bay demonstrates that you don’t have to break the bank to stay at a beachfront eco-resort where turtle hatching are a regular occurrence and the activity program includes nature walks, cooking classes, and couples massage sessions where partners learn to provide soothing touch to one another.
Castara Retreats, Tobago
Peaceful Tobago has vast natural areas that provide a perfect setting for this 17-room treehouse lodge. “Rustic chic” self-service rooms have elevated ocean views to go along with their lush tropical garden surroundings, best enjoyed from spacious decks that invite outdoor living and breezy relaxation.
Asa Wright Nature Centre & Lodge, Trinidad
The Asa Wright Nature Centre on Trinidad is perhaps the best-known destination in the Caribbean for birders, home to more than 250 species of birds. Less well known is that the nature preserve also has a guest lodge with 29 rooms, with stays paired with educational programs provided through HADCO Experiences.
Eco Del Mar, Dominican Republic
Safari suites, desert themed cabins, and luxury tents are among the lodging options at this beachfront nature lodge on the southwest coast of the Dominican Republic, close to Jaragua National Park and offering fine dining, a beach club, spa services, and excursions to Bahía de las Águilas, El Hoyo de Pelenpito, the Oviedo lagoon, and Beata Island.
Finca Victoria, Vieques, Puerto Rico
This resort high in the hills of Vieques is more than a nature lodge, it’s a wellness retreat with a broad menu of Ayurvedic treatment services, classes, and accommodations ranging from treehouses to Airstream trailers.
Tendacayou Eco Lodge and Spa, Guadeloupe
Swaying hammocks afford timeless views of the Morne Bois d’Inde rainforest and the Caribbean Sea at this French Caribbean eco-resort, which has lodging in treehouses, traditional creole style “cases,” and a rental home with a private swimming pool.
Concordia Eco Resort, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Most of St. John is protected parkland, and the Concordia Eco Lodge takes full advantage of its unspoiled surroundings with rustic cabins arrayed along a ridgeline for unobstructed views of both land and sea. Experiences range from forest hikes to snorkeling in nearby Salt Pond Bay.
Camp Cabarita Eco Resort, St. Mary, Jamaica
Jamaica’s lush Blue Mountains are the source of its famous coffee as well as a sharp contrast to the island’s beach resort scene. This riverside eco-resort introduces guests to local culture through educational programs as well as opportunities to mingle with area residents, plus of course spa treatments, locally grown food, and nature tours.
Caribbean Photo of the Week: Sunset in Ocho Rios, Jamaica
