Stay in the Best Treehouses in the Caribbean

Get up close and personal with nature when you visit these three magical retreats

 

How pleasant is it to fall asleep to the sound of rolling surf? Or wake to the morning bird song? An immersion in nature often reduces stress and can create a feeling of well-being and even euphoria. So, take a break from the concrete walls and try a place where elements of a natural environment are incorporated into and inherent in the design, furnishings, and construction.

These three island escapes deliver an elevated sense of being and more, offering one-of-a-kind experiences and a connection with the tropical surroundings while providing panoramic views and personalized attention.

Secret Bay

The love story lives on at Secret Bay, a dream realized by the owner Gregor Nassief, enhanced and brought to life when he met his wife Sandra and her father, an award-winning Latin American architect. Fifteen years after the concept was born, these luxury eco-resort villas, named after local trees, continue to captivate today as a member of Relais & Chateaux. Hidden away from the outside world, the villas offer 180-degree views from the mountain peaks down to the Caribbean Sea, where paddleboarding, snorkeling, and swimming are on the agenda.

Upscale and on the edge of glamourous sitting on four acres of cliffside terrain with the beach and bay below, the collection of luxury eco-styled villas and bungalows are wrapped in the rugged natural landscape of Dominica. Sustainable building and tourism in Dominica are paramount, and Secret Bay is a leader. The staff and developers are committed to maintaining the land naturally. Residences are crafted of sustainably sourced Guyanese hardwood, built in harmony with the environment, and placed in locations to minimize land clearing, all under the guidelines and practices of LEED construction. Furnishings are locally sourced red cedar and Green Globe Certification brings in general practices; drip irrigation keeps the gardens green, and the property maintains a zero-waste policy, recycling, reusing, and composting.

In your villa, a breakfast basket is always filled with fruit, eggs, bread, and yogurt, and you’ll have the option for a stocked frig with your favorites. You might occasionally eat-in cooking in your fully equipped gourmet kitchen or have a private chef take care of the details. But with the onsite organic garden, the connection with local farmers and fishermen, and a restaurant with amazing views of Tibay Bach, you’ll want to dine at Zing Zing restaurant. Celebrate the day with the chef’s authentic Dominican tapas and curated cocktails when the sun sets, and then dine on the island-to- table fare, all ethically prepared and created onsite. Just sit back and enjoy the soundtrack of birds and wrap yourself in nature. For info: https://secretbay.dm/

Castara Retreats, Tobago

Set on the west coast of Tobago and backed by one of the oldest protected rainforests in the world, you are among the trees when you stay at Castara Retreats. The setting sits at the edge of the local fishing village of Castara. Within a five-minute walk, you’ll experience the enchantment of mingling with locals at one of the picturesque communities on Tobago that give way to the island’s cultural heritage.

Tucked between the foliage of almond and coconut trees, the 17 delightful accommodations, each with unique names like Treetops, Hideaway, and Ginger Lily, are sprinkled throughout the two-acre tropical gardens and loft over the sandy shore below. These one-of-a-kind dwellings, built from cypress and cedar, are outfitted with expansive decks for watching frigatebirds and pelicans swoon in on a meal. Spaces are connected via pathways that vary in altitude, winding throughout the green landscape, some steeper than others. Inside your treehouse, your views are never-ending, facing the Caribbean for sunsets, amongst the branches for bird watching, and, in the evening, to the sky for stargazing. Hammocks are strung from decks; open- air bedrooms allow guests to capture the island lifestyle and connect to nature with cooling ocean breezes and the soothing sounds of waves hitting the shore.

While self-catering is an option, guests are drawn to the Caribbean Kitchen, an open-air restaurant perched above the beach. It’s a magical place to follow the flight of hummingbirds during the day, watch a sunset over cocktails, and have a candlelit dinner. Locally sourced ingredients and daily fresh- caught fish are served from breakfast to dinner. More info: https://castararetreats.com/

Kanopi House

Finding the perfect spot to build a treehouse is key. You’ll want a view, a breeze, and some privacy. But you’ll also want to maintain the existing environment. That’s just what they did at Kanopi House. Here, the bungalows were built around the old-growth trees and tropical jungle foliage, maintaining the canopy where trees, some even as high as 100 feet, provide homes to local parrots and other wildlife. With just eight peak-roofed tree houses of various designs and sizes couples and families will have choices overlooking the majestic jungle of the six-acre property. Winding pathways through tropical foliage lead down to the famous Blue Lagoon.

Interiors are anchored by handcrafted renewable Spanish elm and sweet wood floors and decorated with intricately carved wooden furniture created by local craftsmen. Merging West Indian with Colonial charm, artwork, and soft furnishings showcase the creations of local talent. Decks and balconies invite the outdoors in, where the sounds of nature back views of lush green gardens. Tucked away in the jungle canopy, you feel like you are sleeping in the branches of a bird’s nest.

Dining on property is doused with sense of place and served in the Living Room restaurant with views of the Blue Lagoon. Mornings are greeted with Blue Mountain coffee, freshly squeezed fruit juices, and plates of locally grown fruits, followed by the usual breakfast fare. An Asian and Jamaican fused menu rounds out the day and evening meals with fresh seafood and mountain garden greens from the onsite plot, all woven in with locally sustained produce you’d expect to find in Jamaica. You’ll find rich and unique ingredients like just harvested callaloo, sweet potatoes, plantains, and akee on the menu infused with traditional dishes and curries. To book: https://www.kanopihouse.com/