A new 285-acre luxury hotel with only 14 rooms recently opened in this verdant island

The beautiful island of Dominica in the Caribbean has a new, magnificent hotel thanks to the efforts of Dominque Marchand and her husband, Daniel Langlois. Coulibri Ridge is a prestigious vacation spot that offers a lush and luxurious getaway.

The resort, about a two-hour drive from the Douglas-Charles Airport, is undoubtedly worth the accessibility difficulties, according to Travel + Leisure author Samantha Brooks, who recently made the trip to this verdant location. She points out that few flat areas could serve as runways due to the island’s unusual terrain, including nine volcanoes spread throughout its 250 square miles. On windy days, this can result in even private flights getting stranded or delayed elsewhere.

However, she also notes that “The Nature Island” hasn’t been overdeveloped because of its difficulty accessing. (And possibly why most people assume you mean the Dominican Republic when you say you’re heading to Dominica.)

Nestled atop the southernmost point of the island, where the majestic Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, the boutique retreat provides a constant flow of refreshing breezes and cooler evening temperatures and naturally repels annoying mosquitoes and other insects.

The snakes and other dangerous animals that come to mind when most people think of the great outdoors pose very little risk and are rarely seen. Dominica’s landscape, which includes numerous volcanoes, 365 rivers, 12 waterfalls, verdant peaks, and nutrient-rich volcanic soil, defines the island’s natural environment.

The entrance to Coulibri Ridge is a rough road that winds through a rugged, verdant landscape before cutting off at the arrival center, the resort’s lowest point of development. Even from this vantage point, sweeping views of the distant blue water, lush valleys, and narrow peak mountains are sufficient to ease any jet lag or motion sickness quickly.

Coulibri Ridge has only 14 rooms despite its expansive 285 acres. The seven nearly identical buildings that sit side by side each contain one studio apartment measuring 930 square feet on the ground floor and one duplex apartment measuring 1,550 square feet on the upper two floors. The ocean views from the duplexes are expansive, and the views of the surrounding mountains and valleys are beautiful enough to make you feel like you’re staying in an island safari lodge, highlights Brooks.

At the rooms’ entrance are private sundecks with plunge pools. A second covered patio facing the ocean and a lower level with a living room with double-height windows, a powder room, a kitchenette, and a dining area are all included. Bedrooms and a second full bathroom are upstairs, with a closet and dressing area. The rooms are kept cool by air conditioners upstairs, while cross breezes can naturally cool the downstairs area through screened windows and patio doors.

Coulibri Ridge is the 24th property to join Beyond Green, an international collection of eco-friendly independent hotels. Coulibri Ridge’s strongest environmental commitment can be found in what most visitors don’t notice. A group of batteries, solar inverters, and a single computer that keeps track of power generation, storage, and distribution are located behind one of the resort’s restaurants. These batteries store excess renewable energy generated by solar panels and wind turbines.

According to Langlois, he had the concept for this project in 2003.

“We had wanted to do an experiment where we could source all of our water and power to live completely off the grid,” he said. “Dominica’s topography — abundant sunshine and evening rainfall — made it ideal, and while we hadn’t always imagined it would take shape as a resort, in the end, it made the most sense.”

In 2001, Langlois and Marchand used local labor to begin construction officially. After five years and only one completed structure, it became clear that more workers would be required. The resort was nearly ready to open in September 2017 when a devastating hurricane struck the island, obliterating many nearby towns and leaving their residents without running water or electricity for almost a year and a half.

“Even though our resort wasn’t badly affected, we couldn’t reopen until we had helped resuscitate the town,” Langlois elaborated.

The couple rebuilt the neighborhood elementary school using hurricane-resistant materials, backup renewable energy systems, and a fully functional community kitchen. They also built a jetty in Scotts Head, a nearby village, to support the daily operations of nearby fishermen and service providers in the tourism industry and emergency evacuation efforts in the event of hurricanes and other natural disasters. Coulibri Ridge received its first visitors in December 2022 after years of preparation to get the town back to normal and prepared for tourists.

Dominica should be on the list of every nature lover, even though it may not be the Caribbean’s newest hot spot. Dominica’s rugged coastline offers crystal-clear waters for snorkeling, scuba diving, and lionfish spear hunting rather than miles of sandy beaches. With the Waitukubuli National Trail circling the entire island for 114 miles, its undulating interior landscape has made it a trekker’s paradise. Visit the village of Roseau for culturally authentic souvenirs and island T-shirts made by a nearby graphic designer. There are many beachside shack restaurants that serve freshly caught fish.

Before returning to Dominica to lead the resort’s culinary program, chef Damian Mason, a native of the island, spent 20 years working at resorts in Barbados. The resort’s breakfast and lunch restaurant, Mesa, offers everything from gazpacho, and fresh fish burgers, to quinoa salad and vegetable omelets, all of which can be washed down with a variety of freshly squeezed juices. The Vista dinner establishment has a sizable outdoor lounge that opens to it and offers a changing daily specials menu that might include anything from coconut curry lobster in a banana leaf to lentil dal with pickled onions and garlic naan.

Additionally, there is a gym, a private outdoor pavilion where yoga classes are held each morning, two infinity-edge swimming pools that use copper ionization rather than chlorine, a luxurious spa treatment room with ocean views and a private outdoor tub, and one of the most serene settings in the Caribbean.

Pricing per night begins at $650. Visit coulibriridge.com for bookings and additional information.

Evie Blanco is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, New York. She is extremely well-versed in hip-hop music and culture and is always aware of its developments. Whether it’s the latest in pop culture, a fascinating foreign destination, a truly amazing new restaurant, or breaking news, she loves to write about it all. Evie can be reached at evieblanco@detourxp.com

This story was originally published May 31, 2023 at 6:38 PM with the headline "A new 285-acre luxury hotel with only 14 rooms recently opened in this verdant island."