Amanera
The fact that Amanera offers Hispaniola’s most refined stay is evident from a mile away. That’s the length of Playa Grande, the immaculate beach that fronts this Bali-inspired resort. The glass-and-teak main house highlights nature’s artistry, as do the 25 casitas and a two-bedroom, clifftop villa; most accommodations feature personal pools facing the sands. Take a jungle trek, get a seaside massage or sip Santo Libres at the beach club, then puff a hand-rolled Domincan puro in the cigar lounge. Rees Jones renovated the adjacent golf course, touted as “the Pebble Beach of the Caribbean.”
QX insider
The resort offers ample adventures in the surrounding nature reserve, including canyoning and waterfall rappelling. Humpback whales migrate to nearby Samaná Bay between January and March.