Are you looking for a Dominion Republic boutique hotel or ecolodge as an alternative to an all-inclusive resort? Consider Casa Bonita. The Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) member is located in the southwestern Dominican Republic, near the only Biosphere Reserve in Hispaniola.
| Casa Bonita hotel |
| Credit: Casa Bonita Tropical Lodge |
Barahona is far from traditional tourist areas, like the beach resorts of Punta Cana and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. People go to Barahona for the eco-diversity, rainforest, rivers and nature activities, like hiking and rafting.
Driving directions to Barahona DR
It takes about 2.5 hours to drive from Santo Domingo to Casa Bonita Tropical Lodge in Barahona. Follow Road 2 through San Cristobal, Bani and Azua, and then drive along Road 44 to Bahoruco. Casa Bonita's address is Kilometer 17 on Carretera de la Costa.
Charter flights from Santo Domingo to Barahona are 40 minutes long. You can drive to Casa Bonita in a half hour from Barahona International Airport (code BRX).
| Infinity pool |
| Credit: Casa Bonita |
Hotel accommodations
Casa Bonita has a dozen rooms with modern amenities. The thatched roof, coral stone cabana-style buildings sit on a hill, offering views of the Caribbean Sea.
Dominican Republic residents staff the boutique hotel. Restaurant meals feature vegetables grown in Casa Bonita gardens and fresh fish purchased from Bahoruco fishermen.
You can enjoy Tanama Spa treatments made with organic herbs and ingredients from the garden. Afterward, relax in the infinity pool or outdoor Jacuzzi.
Things to do near Casa Bonita
El Quemaito Beach, San Rafael Beach and Bahoruco, the best surfing beach, are near Casa Bonita.
| Thatched-roof lounge |
| Credit: Casa Bonita Tropical Lodge |
Eco-tours include bird-watching for 300 Dominican Republic bird species in Bahoruco Mountain forests and Oviedo Lagoon in Jaragua National Park. Casa Bonita also arranges eco-trips to Jaragua National Park to enjoy Eagles Bay (Bahia de las Aguilas) beach and cave with prehistoric Tainos rock art.
The hills of Bahoruco National Park overlook Casa Bonita. Visitors, who are looking for adventure vacations in the Dominican Republic, can book horseback riding, zip-line canopy tours, mountain biking and hiking.
Casa Bonita was originally a vacation retreat for the Schiffino family. In 1991, they converted it into an ecolodge.
The founder's grandson, Polibio Schiffino, plans to add 24 villas, with private pools, to the boutique hotel by 2014. Guests at each villa will have access to a jeep to explore the Barahona region of the Dominican Republic.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Casa Bonita: www.casabonitadr.com
