This Might Be the World's Greenest Resort
Built to be energy-efficient, Coulibri Ridge is proof that sustainability and luxury don’t need to be mutually exclusive.
Courtesy of Coulibri Ridge
Coulibri Ridge’s 285-acre site, which was once a citrus farm, is supremely practical: the southern exposure optimizes solar-energy generation, and near-constant breezes keep wind turbines running. Being oceanview rather than oceanfront means the hotel is less vulnerable to storms.On the southern coast of Dominica, Coulibri Ridge is a hilltop oasis 15 years in the making. Built to be energy-efficient — it’s powered completely by trade winds and the Caribbean sun — the resort is also proof that sustainability and luxury don’t need to be mutually exclusive. Owners Daniel Langlois and Dominique Marchand shared with T+L the seen (and unseen) features of their 14-suite property, which opened in 2022.
Courtesy of Coulibri Ridge
The villa pool at Coulibri Ridge in DominicaBuildings
Accommodation is arranged across five three-story units, each with a mix of room types. Every building has its own power-generating mini grid as well as a rainwater-harvesting system. Exteriors are clad in six inches of volcanic stone that was mined on site, which keeps cool air in and humidity out.
Solar Panels
The resort’s 255 solar panels produce 85 kilowatts per hour—more than enough for its daily needs. Excess power is banked in 288 recyclable batteries.
Courtesy of Coulibri Ridge
The pool at Coulibri Ridge, a sustainable eco-resort located in Petit Coulibri, DominicaLocation
Coulibri Ridge’s 285-acre site, which was once a citrus farm, is supremely practical: the southern exposure optimizes solar-energy generation, and near-constant breezes keep wind turbines running. Being oceanview rather than oceanfront means the hotel is less vulnerable to storms.
Rooms
Suites are spacious and designed for longer stays. They’re also equipped with power-efficient LED lighting and faucets and outdoor showers that are motion-activated, which helps reduce water waste.
Courtesy of Coulibri Ridge
Poolside seating at Coulibri RidgePools
Two communal pools, a third at the spa, and private plunge pools for guests in the three Sky Penthouses are supplied with rainwater, heated with solar power, and cleaned with copper ionizers, which zap algae and fungi. Since it’s not chlorinated, the water is less irritating to eyes and skin, too.
Even More Earth-first Features
Wind Turbines
Ninety-five percent of the resort’s power comes from the sun, but a pair of wind turbines provide additional juice. Painted green to blend in to the hillside, their blades are oriented vertically, which is thought to reduce risks to birds and bats—creatures that provide natural insect control.
Water
The property doesn’t have a natural water source, so rain harvesting is key. Roofs are pitched to maximize runoff, which flows into a series of underground cisterns where it’s filtered and sterilized with UV light.
Restaurants
Chef Damien Mason, who’s from Dominica, draws on the estate’s organically grown bounty, which includes avocado, banana, bok choy, cacao, guava, lettuce, lime, mango, orange, soursop, and tomato. Rather than import ingredients, Coulibri only serves food sourced from the island at its two dining venues.
Staff
The resort’s efforts go beyond environmental considerations and factor in the community, too. Coulibri was built entirely with Dominican labor, and all the service staff are islanders, many from the nearby villages of Scotts Head and Soufrière.
A version of this story first appeared in the October 2023 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline "This Might Be the World's Greenest Resort."
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