There’s nothing like standing under the cool, cleansing flow of an outdoor shower set amid natural surroundings. While lathering up in bubbles, you might hear the songs of birds, monkeys chattering in the trees, or the sea rolling ashore—all bringing you closer to nature.
Blancaneaux Lodge, Belize
Nature takes center stage at this eco-lux resort, where rooms sit on a forested hillside overlooking the rushing waters of a jungle stream. The property was purchased in the early 1980s by Francis Ford Coppola, who transformed it first into a family retreat and later into the 20-room luxury hideaway it is today. The Blancanaeaux lodge is located along the edge of the Privassion River in a setting with tropical pines, oaks and palmetto. The nearby jungle is dense with ravines and rivers leading to waterfalls. After a day of exploring the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, guests can freshen up under flowing water that emerges from the face of the garden’s rock wall. If the occasion calls for a soak instead of a shower, guests can immerse in a tiled bathtub overlooking the garden.
Viceroy, Riviera Maya, Mexico
From the outside, the thatch-roofed palapa villas of this upscale coastal resort might seem rustic and quaint. But there’s nothing primitive about the bathing suite, which pairs a stand-alone soak tub with both indoor and outdoor shower areas facing a landscaped courtyard that also provides chaises, hammocks, plunge pools, and outdoor showers. Each palapa is nestled into the native landscape of the Yucatan, with white sand beach just steps away.
When the time comes for a wellness check the spa at the Viceroy Riviera Maya offers ancient Mayan traditions ranging from facials to energy therapies. The elements of water, earth, air and fire come together during a temazcal ceremony through herbal-infused steam. During the month of May, a ritual is offered that includes a relaxing honey massage and warm compresses of medicinal herbs. You’ll leave restored and rejuvenated.
La Fortuna at Atitlan, Guatemala
With just five private bungalows, this lakeside eco-lodge feels more like a home than a hotel. Bungalows and suites set on the shores of Lake Atitlan are built from locally sourced materials and showcase handcrafted furniture and local textiles along with thatched roofs. Each room at La Fortuna opens to an outdoor shower alcove intricately fabricated from rock, surrounded by a wall made from recycled glass bottles. The boutique hotel is 100 % off-grid and entirely powered by solar energy, the hot tub is wood-fired, and waste is disposed of in an anaerobic biodigester. In the kitchen meals are prepared using local ingredients, some grown on the property others from the daily trips to Panajachel market.
Four Seasons Bali at Jimbaran, Bali
Experience Balinese hospitality at this resort nestled right on the waterfront. Set along three miles of sand and a tranquil bay, Four Seasons Bali resort guests can linger the day at the beach club on daybeds or join in one of the yoga classes under a thatch roof space overlooking the sea. Designed to look like a traditional Balinese village, the all-villa property takes in 35 acres. The luxurious villas have private plunge pools and terraces surrounded by flowers with the sea just steps away. Outdoor spaces are stone-walled courtyards where outdoor showers, private spaces and garden settings are enjoyed in intimate moments.
Lapaz Rios Lodge, Costa Rica
The jungle comes right up to the bathing area behind courtyard walls at Lapaz Rios Lodge, which is situated on a private 1000-acre rainforest reserve in Costa Rica’s wild Osa Peninsula. Here the rainforest is rich in wildlife—birders find sightings of scarlet macaws, toucans, parrots and woodpeckers. Hikers can choose the high ridge scenic pass or an excursion crossing rivers and mountainous terrain to waterfalls. The grounds of the lodge sit on the point where the Pacific Ocean meets the Golfo Dulce. Open-air bungalows allow nature to waft throughout while screens keep those uninvited creatures at bay. Here you’ll fall asleep to the sounds of the waves offshore and wake to the chatter of howler monkeys.
Paradise Taveuni Island, Taveuni Island, Fiji
At the Paradise Taveuni, guests can enjoy a private moment in an outdoor shower garden attached to an ocean-view villa. Known as bures in the Fijian language, these traditional thatch-roof cottages sit on the oceanfront grounds of a former coconut plantation, overlooking the colorful coral reefs of the Somosomo Straits. Diving is a popular activity in Fiji which is known as the soft coral capital of the world. Rainbow Reef, a twenty-minute boat trip out is one of the world’s top dive sites. Guests can snorkel from shore or take a boat into deeper water where whales and dolphins are often seen.
Photo: Paradise Taveuni
The Perry Hotel, Key West, Florida
Old becomes new in an outdoor shower at the Perry Hotel. Each room at this Key West hotel has been carefully crafted with rustic touches like reclaimed materials and wood-paneled headboards. Guests will discover unique flooring reminiscent of sand, seashells, and driftwood. Each spacious guest room comes with a front-row seat to spectacular Stock Island views. Explore on foot or grab a golf cart for a bite to eat at one of the seafood spots on the island. Take a boat trip out to the pristine sandbars for day of snorkeling and dolphin watching. First-floor Mangrove rooms are highlighted with outdoor showers and views of Key West sunsets over the saltwater lagoon.
Photo: The Perry Hotel
Four Seasons Hualalai, Kona, Hawaii
The décor at the Four Seasons Hualalai draws inspiration from nature and pays homage to the island’s traditions of outdoor living. So, it’s fitting that the walls of the outdoor shower gardens of the Makaloa Villa are made from the same lava rock that forms the building blocks of the island itself. More than 125 of the property’s rooms and suites contain outdoor showers and private garden courtyards. For dining, the resort offers an ocean-to-table menu using ingredients sourced from more than 160 local Hawaiian farms. The sushi lounge features freshly caught fish and seafood, and steak lovers dine on high-quality beef from the best local ranches on the islands at the new club-like spot overlooking the Hualalai Golf Course.
Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge, Costa Rica
The jungle provides the soundtrack for a refreshing rinse at Playa Nicuesa Rainforest Lodge. Each guest retreat is separate from the Main Lodge and features private entrances, beautiful hardwood floors, private open-air showers and wrap-around terraces. Immersed in the rainforest and fronted by calm gulf waters off the Pacific Ocean, Playa Nicuesa is reachable only by boat. The lodge is powered by renewable energy and built with sustainable materials including fallen wood and recycled plastics and was rewarded the highest rating for sustainability from the Costa Rican government. This environmentally sensitive lodge caters to travelers interested in ecotourism, nature, and adventure sports.
Jake’s Hotel, Jamaica
The beachcomber lifestyle comes to life at this eclectic resort set on Jamaica’s Treasure Beach. Jake’s Hotel collection of one-of-a-kind oceanfront cottages and bungalows incorporate found materials such as driftwood, shells and sea glass, creating an ambiance that Robinson Crusoe would have appreciated. Ditto for the outdoor showers, which combine whimsical materials with beachside placements that usher in salt air and sheltered views of the ocean. Guests may spend the days overlooking the sea or join the sunrise yoga class, learn to make jerk chicken in a cooking class or take an art class to explore making whimsical mosaics.
The Lodge at Kukuiula, Kauai, Hawaii
The combination of floor-to-ceiling windows and courtyard walls constructed from native volcanic rock allows guests at the Kukuiula to experience a sense of outdoor living while also enjoying total privacy. A focal point of each courtyard is the open-air rainforest shower patio, where guests can take full advantage of Kauai’s year-round mild weather. The resort’s island-style cottages and villas are stand-alone vacation rentals complete with kitchens and are close to fine dining, a spa and an 18-hole championship golf course. Guests can walk or bike to the upcountry farm, a 10-acre paradise where guests can pick fresh flowers and tropical fruit, vegetables and herbs and head back to their kitchen with a full basket.
COMO Maalifishi, Thaa Atoll, Maldives
The aptly named water suites at COMO Maalifishi provide numerous options to immerse and refresh. The over-the-water rooms have window walls that bring in views of the waters of Thaa Atoll, and bathrooms feature sunken tubs and outdoor showers. If that isn’t enough, there’s also the private plunge pool on the sun deck, and steps leading right down to the waters of the lagoon. Ashore, the resort’s beach suites also offer outdoor showers and baths. Water adventures available include paddleboarding, catamaran sailing and fly fishing. The pristine waters around the resort include 33 dive sites to reefs and pinnacles teeming with corals and pelagic fish. Snorkelers find an outer reef home to turtles and reef fish.
Naraya Springs, Costa Rica
To follow up on a day of horseback riding, canopy tours, water rafting, or hiking the trails of the Arenal Volcano Nature Park, guests at Naraya Springs retire to their private walled garden. Here, they can step into a personal plunge pool or refresh under the twin cascades of their rainforest shower and take in the lush tropical setting. After drying off, you can end the day with a relaxing yoga session or a spa visit. Several dining options are available including a romantic candlelight experience in a private space. A chef’s tasting menu showcases the flavors and ingredients of Costa Rica and fine Italian dining is a take on the chef’s interpretation of traditional recipes.
Four Seasons Punta Mita, Punta Mita, Mexico
The outdoor shower goes upscale at this premier Pacific Coast resort. In the Four Seasons Punta Mita oceanfront suites, a glass wall connects the elegant marble bathroom and soak tub to the private shower courtyard, which also includes a day bed for relaxing, or perhaps using the sea breezes and sunshine to dry off au natural. These suites also offer open terraces with direct views of the ocean, and the chance to see migrating whales passing offshore. The resort is home to two golf courses both Jack Nicklaus designed including the famous “Tail of the Whale” hole on a peninsula overlooking the sea. Water activities include snorkeling, kayaking and paddleboarding.
Ti Kaye Resort & Spa, St. Lucia
The courtyard shower spaces at this hillside retreat epitomize the philosophy of nature plus nurture that has made St. Lucia the epicenter of the Caribbean’s eco-lux hotel trend. In addition to private courtyards, Ti Kaye’s gingerbread-style hillside cottages provide sea views from furnished balconies, where hammocks invite lazy afternoons and a ringside seat for sunsets. For added relaxation, guests can visit the resort’s wine cave, which has one of the most extensive collections in the Caribbean. Off-site excursions include a visit to the drive-in volcano and a dip in the hot Sulphur baths, hiking the Pitons, or a shopping trip to Castries.
Photo: Ti Kaye Resort
