In recent years, the concept of experiential hospitality has gained global prominence. Our design team in Colorado has been diligently working on RED, a new boutique hotel adjacent to Red Rocks Amphitheater, the world’s premier music venue. As the only hotel in Morrison and the first new project approved in the town in over six decades, RED is poised to redefine the local hospitality landscape.
Over the past two years, our focus on hospitality has revealed emerging trends in luxury vacation travel. A new category in hospitality, known as Landscape Hotels, has outpaced all other classes. These innovative resorts often include an agricultural component and are located in remote, picturesque locations, frequently in Southeast Asia and Latin America, where the climate is favorable year-round.
Landscape Hotels emphasize an elevated guest experience, balancing specialized service with a relatively private journey. In today’s fast-paced world, where work and social schedules can be overwhelming, the opportunity to disconnect and enjoy unscheduled time offers a much-needed respite.
The unique allure of Landscape Hotels lies in their careful planning and serendipitous combination of remoteness and accessibility. Guests seek the experience of being one with nature, rather than the traditional trappings of a luxury hotel room. The popularity of luxury tents, exemplified by resorts like Amangiri, highlights this trend, with guests willing to pay premium prices for a unique stay.
At Estancia Natura, we’ve embraced this concept for over two decades, creating unique accommodations like the Papagayo Perch Treehouse, a guest favorite. Our plans include eight more distinctive treehouses and modern A-Frames, each designed to offer a unique experience. Our The A-Frames, inspired by a timeless design, are accessible to a wide audience through our the A-Frame Club.
Spirit Mountain, with its expansive 135 hectares (335 acres), provides the ideal backdrop for Estancia Natura. With less than 15% of the farm developed, the majority remains a managed coffee farm and natural forest, offering plenty of space for hiking, biking, and camping. Our diverse activities cater to everyone, from the excitement of downhill mountain biking at Tri-Mountain MTB Park to the tranquility of birdwatching for the elusive Hispaniola Trogon. Guests can also learn about sustainable coffee cultivation and the importance of our shade canopy for both bird habitat and coffee quality.
Spirit Mountain’s proximity to the largest national park system on the island, home to the Caribbean’s highest mountains, and its closeness to Jarabacoa, the eco-tourism hub of the Dominican Republic, enhance its appeal. Visitors can enjoy a range of activities on-site, such as mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, and birdwatching, as well as off-site adventures in Jarabacoa, including paragliding, white-water rafting, kayaking, 4-wheeling, and canyoneering. Jarabacoa also offers fine dining options just 30 minutes from Manabao.
Jarabacoa has long been a popular destination for environmentally conscious travelers, and its continued development has elevated Manabao, almost 2,000 feet higher in elevation, as a prime spot for those seeking mountain serenity. Spirit Mountain’s unique semi-circular valley, with over 2,000 feet of vertical elevation gain, forms its own watershed, providing ample water for our community and the one below. As the surrounding area develops, our commitment to preserving the majority of the farm ensures that those who join us now will always enjoy peace and tranquility.
The growing market for high-end luxury experiential eco-tourism promises higher-than-average returns on investment, making Estancia Natura a wise and rewarding choice for discerning investors and guests alike.
Un Fuerte Abrazo,
Chad Wallace
Farmer, Architect
CEO and Founder – Estancia Natura at Spirit Mountain
