This Luxury All-inclusive Resort Just Opened on a Little-known Caribbean Island — With Prices Under $500 a Night

Cayo Levantado Resort is the Dominican Republic's newest all-inclusive resort — and it feels like a private island.

The immersive sound of healing bowls relaxed my mind as I lay under the thatched roof of a spacious open-air pavilion surrounded by wildflowers. The sound bath was followed by a juice session with a nutritionist and an afternoon hydrotherapy circuit and back massage. I had spent the past three days in the Dominican Republic's newest all-inclusive wellness resort with facilities that easily rival ultra-luxurious properties with four-digit nightly rates. Here, you can stay for less than $500 a night.

No longer a place for dull buffets and watered-down drinks, hospitality companies have been re-inventing the all-inclusive model with more luxurious amenities and designer-approved decor. Cayo Levantado Resort, which opened its doors this summer, checks all of these boxes.

Further, Cayo Levantado offers something that's completely unrivaled in the Dominican Republic: it's the only resort that occupies the idyllic island of Cayo Levantado off the coast of the Samana Peninsula, an unspoiled tropical paradise where thousands of humpback whales migrate in winter and early spring.

Cayo Levantado Resort

• It is the only resort on a gorgeous island, a 10-minute boat ride from the Dominican Republic mainland.

• The eclectic design, helmed by Dominican architect Ramón Emilio Jiménez, focuses on locally sourced decor and chic tropical island motifs.

• Suites and villas are spread throughout the island in separate buildings, enhancing the feeling of privacy and exclusivity.

• The wellness center, Yubarta, offers an incredible variety of classes and treatments surrounded by lush flora and fauna.

"Samana is kept natural. You can truly feel the culture of the Dominican Republic in all these areas that are not overdeveloped," Hervé Blondel, the property's general manager, said.

Although one of the three white-sand beaches on the island is public, most visitors leave the island by late afternoon, which makes the beaches feel completely private.

The Rooms

Cayo Levantado Resort is an all-suite resort. There are 219 accommodations, including stand-alone villas, 12 of which are adults-only and offer direct access to the beach. The suites are divided into multiple categories, starting from a Junior Suite, a 575-square-foot space with a king-size bed, spacious indoor and outdoor sitting areas, and a private balcony. There are also family suites with private plunge pools on the balcony and beautiful ocean views.

The suites' decor pieces are by local artisans, from the Guayacán wood coasters and trays to the custom sconces modeled after palm tree leaves. Dominican architect and designer Ramón Emilio Jiménez embraced the island as inspiration, with the rooms' design drawing from the coast, the sea, and the island's flora and fauna.

Food and Drink

Cayo Levantado has four restaurants and six bars, including a ocean-front Japanese-Peruvian eatery, Carey. Another highlight is Santa Yuca, a casual restaurant nestled at the heart of the island, next to a vegetable garden. Santa Yuca takes a slow food approach to dining, which means that the dishes are prepared with fresh, sustainably sourced local ingredients. I loved the grilled watermelon salad with avocado cream and feta cheese crumble. The menu is divided into four categories — refresh, restore, relax, and renew — that complement each guest's chosen wellness path while on-property. Both Santa Yuca and Carey are part of the resort's all-inclusive program.

Manaya, a steakhouse, and Senda, a classic Dominican restaurant, are both fantastic, but guests need to pay separately at these restaurants. Senda takes guests on a culinary journey across the country through a carefully curated seven-course tasting menu ($160) inspired by the poem, "There is a Country in the World," by Dominican poet Pedro Mir. The experience starts with a welcome cocktail of sparkling wine with limoncello and acacia honey, inspired by the tropical forests of the Dominican Republic, continues with grilled Sanchez shrimp and beet ravioli with local goat cheese, and culminates with tender leg of lamb, roasted overnight.

The long list of wines served at the 10 bars and restaurants includes many options from Spain (the resort is owned by the Spanish hospitality company Grupo Piñero), France, Argentina, and California.

Activities and Amenities

While the two pools, full-service beach club, and three white-sand beaches on the island can definitely tempt you to spend the bulk of your time soaking up the sun and swimming in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, what makes Cayo Levantado unique is its commitment to wellness.

Yubarta, Cayo Levantado's wellness center, is the beating heart of the property, nestled among lush tropical gardens. It has several open-air activity spaces, a relaxation area with chaise lounges and a human-made cenote, a meditation room, an atelier, and a nutrition studio.

The resort's daily schedule of activities might include breathwork, yoga, boot camps, meditation, shamanic healing, pilates, cold therapy, sound baths, painting, and more. A team of professional instructors is available to help guests achieve their wellness goals and form habits they can integrate into their day-to-day life after vacation.

I attended a class entirely dedicated to stretching, and back home, on busy workdays, I still take time to do some of the exercises to help with lower back discomfort. And the nutritionist I spoke with during the juice therapy session took the time to ask questions not only about my immediate goals but also about my daily habits, making recommendations on what foods to include in my diet to help reduce stress and improve immunity.

Other resort amenities include a fitness center, an outdoor gym for CrossFit training, a beauty salon, and two fully serviced private beaches (guests can also enjoy the public beach, which is on the west side of the island, a short five-minute walk from the resort).

The Spa

Cayo Levantado's spa offers a variety of customizable holistic wellness treatments that perfectly complement the resort's four wellness paths (refresh, restore, relax, and renew). I started my spa afternoon with an hour of the hydrotherapy circuit, which consists of a sauna, steam room, a cold plunge pool, showers, and a large swimming pool surrounded by lush tropical views. In between plunges, I took time to relax in the pool area under an all-glass ceiling and enjoy the afternoon rain and the swaying palms above me.

The list of body and face treatments includes relaxing massages, aromatherapy facials, hot stone therapy, and beauty services.

Location

To get to Cayo Levantado, you have two airport options: the closest is La Samana (AZS), about an hour's drive from the resort's welcome lounge and boat dock. You could also fly into Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ), in which case you will be about three hours from the resort.

A boat will take you to the property, which spans 35 acres. Guests are invited to roam around the island as they wish. Cayo Levantado is about a 40-minute boat ride from Los Haitises National Park, a place of enormous historical and geological significance and beauty.

Accessibility and Sustainability

The resort is located on an island off the Dominican Republic and is only reachable by boat. There is a network of paved paths on the island, although some are fairly steep. Elevators are available in each building, including one that takes guests to a private beach and beach club.

To safeguard the island's ecosystems, the resort has implemented multiple preservation and education programs that include the removal of invasive plants, beach restoration, and support of a coral nursery. The resort also offers eco-tours where guests learn more about the unique flora and fauna in Cayo Levantado.

All-inclusive nightly rates at Cayo Levantado Resort start from $450 per person. You can book your stay here.

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