Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is a historic resort in Puerto Rico with a three-mile stretch of beach and plenty of activities.

Directly adjacent to the St. Regis Bahia Beach is a series of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, townhouses and Estancias. All are privately owned, but only a few are offered as vacation rentals. Indagare members can contact our Bookings Team to check availability.

The St. Regis'sMolasses restaurant and golf pro-shop sit on a slightly elevated platform on the far eastern end of the property, marking the end of the area designated for hotel guests only. Directly in front of the two buildings, the Bahia Village and Beach Club is being constructed on gradual steps leading down to the water.

About half of the accommodations offered to rent are condominium-style units located in Las Verandas. Units are two- or three-bedrooms or a ‘penthouse,’ which has three bedrooms and a family room. Entrances to the Las Verandas condos face the interior pool area and smaller clubhouse designated for residents, while most bedrooms overlook the course. Additionally, a small selection of two- and three-bedroom condominiums in the Las Ventanas area and a couple of townhouses in the Las Olas section are offered as vacation rentals.

While owners have the option to choose design elements such as wall hangings and bedding, the base décor, featuring neutral sand, wood and tree bark tones and state-of-the-art kitchens and bathrooms, is consistent throughout the residences. Most bedrooms have private or en suite bathrooms and all residences have private outdoor space equipped for grilling.

Unit owners and their tenants have access to the pool and clubhouse near Las Verandas, complimentary entry to the bird sanctuary, a concierge service and their own beachside club. However, only owners and tenants of the Estancias can purchase a limited number of entry passes to the St. Regis pool and that is the extent of their guest privileges.

The Bahia Village & Beach Club, completed in October 2014, brings more of what is missing from the rental experience.

With rounded latticework cinderblock exteriors, it is easy to spot the bold new hotel in Vieques’ seaside village, Esperanza. Inside, the 3,000-square-foot lobby restaurant and bar, also named El Blok, is meant to be the focus and aims to draw locals and visitors to mingle in the casual dining space. Jose Enrique, the young chef from San Juan who was a James Beard Award semifinalist in 2013 and 2014, takes an innovative approach to Puerto Rican cuisine and serves a fresh, minimalist tapas menu.

The building’s design comes courtesy of native architect Nataniel Fuster and is Gold LEED­­–certified for its sustainability. Though the exterior appears impenetrable, the interior features open spaces and a skylight in the hallway that allows ample light to enter. As the tallest building on the island, the structure has a big rooftop that boasts stunning ocean views, the perfect place for sundowner cocktails.

Twenty-two guest rooms are vibrant in color and design with bright-blue or green-tiled floors and private balconies that flaunt the dappled light from sculptural latticework panels. Magniflex organic hybrid foam mattresses for the king-sized beds were hand-picked by the owner, Simon Baeyertz, and come complete with memory foam pillows.

On an island where setting is key, this hotel’s location cannot be beat for those who wish to stay in the main town. Guests can easily explore the local restaurants and bars by foot, and drive 10 minutes to picturesque beaches.

Wabi-Sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profoundly in nature, and is the philosophy behind owner John Hix’s eco-luxury jungle retreat.

The Hix House is located in the interior of the island, providing cooler temperatures and sweeping jungle views with the ocean in the distance. There are 13 loft-like minimalist apartments spread out over four buildings, all offering picturesque views, outdoor showers and kitchens. Mosquito nets are available over the beds but are seldom used as the cool breezes typically keep bugs away at night. The hotel lacks an on-site restaurant, but each room has a fully equipped kitchen and a complimentary supply of the hotel’s signature homemade bread, Yaucono whole-bean Puerto Rican coffee, local fruits and juices, eggs, teas, jams, milk, cereal and more.

A concierge is available to book restaurant reservations, sailing trips, horseback riding and other activities. Beach chairs, snorkeling gear and coolers are also available to take on excursions to the beach.

Note: Children under 16 are not allowed

The only luxury hotel in Rincón, on Puerto Rico's western coast, the Horned Dorset Primavera can feel hidden, even for those staying there. But something about its loyalty to the aesthetics of North Africa and France so unexpectedly displayed is utterly appealing. At the end of a treacherously steep driveway, past a seemingly untouched swimming pool, dogs nap by a trickling fountain at the entrance of the white-washed Colonial Spanish villa.

Ten of the 16 suite accommodations are housed in buildings just to the east of the main villa overlooking the water. A short but steep uphill path accesses six upper-level rooms, while the gym and yoga pavilion sit towards the far east end of the grounds. The air-conditioned rooms have a king-sized bed, living room, full bathroom and kitchenette. All are adorned with Moroccan accents and no two rooms are alike. Whitewashed stucco walls serve as a display for everything from the carved wooden canopy beds and embroidered fabrics to delicate mirrors and ceiling fixtures ornately carved in wood.  Contemporary amenities like steel refrigerators and showers with Jacuzzi-jet style outlets balance out the ‘shabby chic’ design elements, elevating the Horned Dorset accommodations.

Unit 19 (also known as the presidential suite) is best for couples. A fence surrounds its sizable outdoor plunge pool next to the entrance, and unlike any others on property, it has a second bedroom on the ground floor. A smaller, more decorative pool sits nearby along with the outdoor yoga pavilion and gym, whose contemporary exercise equipment looks misplaced sitting in the grand, dusty room it occupies.

Across the asphalt path, double wooden doors open into Casa Escondido, a building with four rooms grouped around a common space lit by a grand, antler-shaped chandelier. (The Casa Escondido rooms can be booked individually or all together to accommodate larger groups or families.) The stark wooden floors and stained-glass windows above evoke a chapel-like feel.

The reception-cum-concierge team is a one- or two-man show, and staff members often seem surprised to see guests. However, with connections to the best local service providers from manicurists to boat charter companies, it seems they can, eventually, meet most requests.

Breakfast is served in the Blue Room, a restaurant with walls covered in hand-painted, dazzling blue tiles. These common spaces would feel like stale captain’s quarters were it not for the always-open doors leading to a large terrace overlooking the beach and sparkling water. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available à la carte, and a locally sourced four-course special menu is offered each night at dinner.

Sprawling grounds, pristine beaches and amenities abound but do not overpower this sanctuary of a resort.