"With a stone tower rising from a cliff, Royal Isabela resembles a fortress, especially from a distance. But La Casa, the property's main building, was actually patterned after an antique sugar mill: a tribute to the island’s agricultural history. The hotel painstakingly maintains its 426 oceanfront acres as part nature preserve, part golf course, with an ethic dedicated to conservation. Rainwater is recycled, an on-site organic farm supplies the restaurant, and even the golf course is sustainably maintained. The wildlife is one of the highlights—it’s as if Animal Planet is shooting a series on the front lawn. Take advantage of humpback whale sightings (from January to April), sea turtle sightings, and a natural aviary filled with birds and butterflies." - Kathleen Squires
