Although there are many five-star resorts in the Caribbean, Tortuga Bay stands out for many reasons. Here is my Top 10 list, which covers why I fell in love with this serene beachside retreat, plus an added bonus.
An intimate oceanfront resort, Tortuga Bay is made up of 13 villas spread over flowering gardens and coconut trees. The atmosphere is not like staying at a hotel, instead, it feels like an upscale residential community with private estates. Every guest room has a separate entrance, and there are no elevators on the property. Welcome to your Caribbean home!
You could spend a week at Tortuga Bay and never run out of things to see and do. Enjoy biking through the property (every suite comes with bikes for guest use), horseback riding, sailing, snorkeling, tennis, yoga classes, scuba diving, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, eco tours, kiteboarding, and that’s just for starters. After a day of adventure, relax at the Six Senses Spa, the brand’s first location in Latin America. My favorite activity? Swimming in the freshwater springs of Puntacana’s Ojos Indígenas ecological reserve, a natural wonder within the nearby tropical forest.
Enjoy all-day dining at the intimate Bamboo Restaurant, located poolside, as well as the nearby Grill, Mare, and Playa Blanca restaurants. Most of all, I loved dining at La Yola, Puntacana’s seaside restaurant named after Dominican fishing boats and featuring outstanding nightly cuisine. Don’t miss La Yola’s eggplant Parmesan appetizer and seafood entrees—simply delicious.
Puntacana is famous for the quality of the links and dramatic settings of its golf courses. The Corales course, designed by Tom Fazio, and the La Cana course, created by P.B. Dye, are truly world-class. Guests of Tortuga Bay have access to both courses during their stay. FYI: The Corales course hosted The PGA Tour event in March of 2021. Need I say more?
Over 50 years ago, the Puntacana Group (parent company of Tortuga Bay), pioneered responsible tourism in the Caribbean region under the leadership of entrepreneur Frank Rainieri. Long before it was in vogue, Puntacana Group set up a foundation to give back to the local community, launched initiatives to support sustainable tourism including restoring the undersea coral, and have been recognized for being ahead of their time. Every stay at Tortuga Bay makes a difference.
Above all, it’s the service that sets Tortuga Bay head and shoulders above other resorts. From the moment you arrive, a team of professionals looks after you as an honored guest and a member of the Puntacana family. Long after your stay, it’s the staff that will touch your heart and that you will remember most fondly. In addition, Tortuga Bay is a proud member of Leading Hotels of the World® and lives up to very high standards of hospitality.