Amanera
Rio San Juan, Dominican Republic
Playa Grande
Vibe
Stepping stone paths over water lead into open air concrete and teak pavilions perched high above the Atlantic surf.
“Clifftop jungle outpost”
Modernist clifftop pavilions by John Heah featuring green living roofs, handmade Aguayo tiles, and floating walkways.
VIP airport escorts, bespoke artisanal turndown gifts, and discreet intuitive service across twenty-five oceanfront casitas.
A two-thousand-acre jungle campus featuring an eighteen-hole coastal golf course, private beach club, and guided nature trails.
On limestone cliffs above Playa Grande, surrounded by two thousand acres of protected coastal jungle.
“Privacy is paramount: all accommodations are located within free-standing casitas scattered along the shoreline cliffs, each offering unobstructed views of the sea.”
Rooms
Freestanding casitas feature floor-to-ceiling glass, warm teak framing, and private oceanfront terraces, many with ten-meter heated swimming pools.
“Emptiness is the true luxury at this enormous Dominican Republic hotel, intentionally employed throughout the property…”
Wellness
Spa suites offer treatments rooted in Taino herbal traditions, opening with Palo Santo wood smudging rituals beside the ocean.
“Expect the brand's customary polished minimalism and obsessive attention to detail, plus panoramic beach views from the cliffside pool and bungalows.”
Backstory
Opened in 2015, the retreat pairs the Sanskrit word for peace with the indigenous Taino word for water across its clifftop campus.
“Artfully scattered over 60 foot cliffs, which overlook Playa Grande beach, the resort respectfully slots into its lush environs…”
Eat & drink
Casa Grande serves Dominican seafood on clifftop terraces, while Club de Playa offers fresh ceviche right on the sand.
“One of the best places to take it all in is at the 131-foot heated swimming pool, where a curving infinity edge seems to disappear into the sandy bay…”
The neighborhood
Golden sands curve below the cliffs, backed by two thousand acres of protected coastal jungle and the Cordillera Septentrional mountains.
More like this
ÀNI Dominican Republic
“Private peninsula citadel”
Secluded
The app
This is one hotel. The app has every one we rate, in your pocket, for the whole trip.
Our shorthand
What makes a hotel special, how well they pull it off, and what it feels like outside the door.
How well they pull it off
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
They did this well. You’ll notice.
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Architecture and interiors lead. There’s a creative vision at work.
The guest is conspicuously well cared for. Requests met before they’re made.
Rooted in place. Local character runs through the whole stay.
Energy and scene. Where the city goes out, whether or not it’s sleeping here.
A building with history. The story of the place is part of the stay.
Built around feeling better. Rest, sweat, soak, spa.
A hotel the city grew up with. Same rituals, same regulars.
A world of its own. No reason to leave the property.
Scene — what’s outside the door
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
A place apart: the property is the destination.