Tortuga Bay

I just got back from an INCREDIBLE trip to Tortuga Bay in the Dominican Republic. It was my first visit to the beautiful country and I already can’t wait to go back.

Tortuga Bay is a private enclave nestled within the larger Punta Cana Resort. It is surround by 1,500-acre ecological reserve and miles of private beaches allowing an exclusive experience. The hotel has 13 luxurious villas offering 1 bedroom junior suites, 2 bedroom suites, 3 or 4 bedroom villas to choose from. The villa interiors were designed by Oscar de la Renta., who incorporated his Dominican heritage into the design of each villa.

All suites come with Frette linens, separate kitchenettes, balconies or patios, coralline stone bathrooms, and ocean views. Guests also have a golf carts for convenient travel throughout the resort and bikes on request.

Tortuga Bay guests have access to Punta Cana Resort’s amenities, two PGA Championship golf courses (Corales and La Cana), Six Senses Spa, and all 10 restaurants on property. Plus Tortuga Bay guests have complimentary access to the ecological reserve which features 12 freshwater lagoons guests can swim in.

On our second day we learned about the sustainability efforts on property and in Punta Cana as a whole. On property the Grupo Puntacana Foundation offers guided tours highlighting efforts to protect and restore the Dominican Republic’s unique species and develop innovative sustainability projects.

Here are some of their projects include:

Coral Restoration Project – Learn about the importance of conserving these species and how they work with coral reef restoration techniques in the reefs of our coast.

Zero Waste Program – The team continuously works on the culture and policies of waste classification, in order to recycle and not accumulate, in a sustainable manner.

Lombricompost – Punta Cana Resort converts organic waste into a very rich worm compost, which is used as a fertilizer for our gardens and golf courses.

Iguanas– Meet our endemic rhinoceros iguanas in a recreated natural habitat, which serves as a conservation station for this protected species.

Aquaponics – Aquaculture system in which the waste produced by farmed fish supplies the nutrients for plants grown hydroponically.

During our stay we ate at Bamboo (Also designed by Oscar de la Renta) for breakfast everyday, La Yola Restaurant, Playa Blanca, Brassa Grill, and Mare. These restaurants offer a mix of Mediterranean, Italian, seafood, and Dominican cuisine.

Lastly, what truly makes the experience extra special is the VIP airport service complimentary to only Tortuga Bay guests. Upon arrival a host will be outside the plane ready whisk you away to a separate immigration and custom area. The whole process take 10 minutes and you will be in your transfer before you know it. At departure they walk you through the priority check-in process before escorting guests through a private security line then onto the VIP lounge. The lounge features a full bar, buffet foods to snack on and an infinity pool overlooking the tarmac. Yes, you read that correctly a rooftop pool at an airport. It’s truly a one of a kind lounge!

The property is truly one of a kind and is perfect for every type of traveler. Here are the amenities you’ll receive when booking through The Departure:

-Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
-Buffet breakfast daily, for two guests per bedroom
-Nightly VIP turndown service with platter of Dominican sweets
-Bottled water and platter of fruit in room upon arrival
-One spa consultation and steam/sauna, plus 30-minute massage at Six Senses SPA per adult, per stay
-Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
-Complimentary Wi-Fi
-For stays of 5 nights or more: One US $50 Food & Beverage credit for Bamboo Restaurant

Ready to plan your getaway to Tortuga Bay? Click here to start planning!