Casa Bonita – Dominican Republic

About

Casa Bonita is a small, secluded tropical luxury hotel lodge on the south coast of Barahona, Dominican Republic. It is nestled beside Dominican Republic’s only biosphere reserve, Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo. Casa Bonita offers a beautiful and unique ecological experience with rich biodiversity. Barahona city is located near beautiful beaches and only an hour away from an array of biodiverse parks, lakes, and mountains. Barahona is often referred to as “La Perla del Sur” and one of the best-kept secrets!

Casa Bonita offers beautiful and unique views of both the Caribbean Sea and Sierra Bahoruco Mountain. The lodge is made from local thatch and native trees and it consists of 12 deluxe rooms, 1 ocean-view suite, a woodland tanama spa, infinity pool, an onsite restaurant, an on-site organic garden, and expansive grounds to explore. Casa Bonita offers a wide variety of on-site activities for everyone including mountain biking excursion, hiking, water sports, horseback riding, yoga, tennis, and on-site canopy tours. Though just outside of Casa Bonita, there are guided tours to the national parks within Jaragua, Bahoruco, and Enriquillo Biosphere reserve, an ideal hotspot for bird watching tours. 30 of the 31 endemic species found in the Dominican Republic can be found within Barahona and Sierra de Bahoruco. Endemic birds like the Parakeet, Hispaniolan Emerald, Hispaniolan Trogon, and the Broad-billed Tody, cannot be found elsewhere. Other nearby hotspots for birding include Bahia de las Aguilas, Laguna de Oviedo, and Lago Enriquillo. Casa Bonita truly is a perfect getaway for nature photographers and birders alike.

Owen photographed the Antillean Mango, Northern Parula, and Vervain Hummingbird on-site and stayed at Casa Bonita in January 2019.