Nestled between a sea of palm trees and the wild waters of the Caribbean, Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is set for a grand reopening in October following an extensive refurbishment in the wake of last year’s devastating Hurricane Maria. Some 300,000 new plants and trees have been planted in the gardens of the resort, which sprawls along the coast of northern Puerto Rico. All 114 guestrooms and suites have been revitalised in a new palette of colours befitting the tropical destination, and the resort’s signature five-bedroom villa, Su Casa, has also been refurbished and modernised.
It’s not the first time Su Casa has sustained damage thanks to Puerto Rico’s tempestuous weather: pilot Clara Livingston who inherited her father’s property on Dorado Beach at the age of just 22, built Su Casa in 1928 to replace the original wooden house which was damaged in a storm. Since then, investors including Laurance Rockefeller have helped turn the 1,400-acre Dorado Beach into a hot destination for America’s affluent travellers. As well as the Ritz-Carlton Reserve, four Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed 18-hole golf courses lure golfers from around the world, and their associated clubhouses, bars and restaurants are popular among owners of Dorado Beach’s luxury real estate and visitors alike.
Back at the Reserve, Spa Botánico has also had some tender loving care, with new products being created in the on-site apothecary, brand new equipment in the fitness centre and a new spa cuisine menu complementing the aesthetic improvements to the spa. Beachside restaurant Positivo Sandbar has taken the opportunity to add an Omasake & Ceviche Bar a stone’s throw from the Caribbean; Encanto Beach Club Bar & Grill is introducing a new menu of coastal and Mediterranean cuisine; and a brand new signature restaurant will be unveiled in November.