The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort, Puerto Rico: The Rainforest Retreat of Your Dreams

After spending a few days in Puerto Rico’s fast-paced capital, San Juan, it’s possible to have a vacation within your vacation at the edge of the El Yunque Rainforest.

The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort is just 30 minutes from the city in Río Grande, an area known for its white-sand beaches and contrasting ribbons of dark green foliage.

Guests enter through towering white gates that frame a quiet road, and once they open, it’s a nearly 10-minute drive through almost 500 acres of forest to reach the resort.

Just when you start to wonder if you should have packed a tent, your arrival is marked by the silhouette of a woman, carved in obsidian by the late Colombian sculptor Fernando Botero. Twin fountains appear at the entrance and a butler opens the door to the lobby. Beyond, the ocean reappears through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Who said rainforest living couldn’t be luxurious?

With two miles of private beach, an estuary and a floating red mangrove forest, the resort’s natural features make it so much more than your standard beach getaway. The former coconut and sugarcane plantation is also uniquely positioned: You can enjoy El Yunque Rainforest views on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other from the comfort of a chauffeured golf cart (the preferred method of transportation around the hotel).

The hotel is just as popular with the local fauna as it is with travelers. Iguanas and lizards peek out from behind pool chairs, while resident cats cozy up to you as you enjoy red snapper ceviche and lobster tacos during lunch at Seagrapes, the hotel’s beachfront restaurant. More than 70 species of birds and 15 species of fish currently call the hotel’s lakes and trees home, including the elusive yellow-crowned night heron; the endangered Puerto Rican parrot; and a range of snook, tarpon and other fish. When night falls, songbirds, frogs and insects serenade you as you stroll back to your room.

Of course, you don’t have to wait for the wildlife to come to you. You can borrow a hotel bike and explore the property’s nature paths and arched bridges. Or, at the boathouse, try catch-and-release fishing, or kayak or paddleboard across one of the hotel’s man-made lakes. Even the 10,000-foot spa has plant-lined walkways.

In the evening, enjoy comforts reserved for the hotel’s human guests at The St. Regis Bar, a bright and airy saloon that transforms with dim lighting in the evenings. After a specialty cocktail (or two), you’ll dine at the hotel’s Mediterranean eatery, Paros, while the moon illuminates the manicured lawn and ocean beyond.

The Room

Though the property’s allure is largely outside, you won’t mind returning to your room at the end of the day. With coffered ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies and decor that subtly nods to the oceanfront location (turquoise vases and beachy wall decor), the rooms summon the feeling of a spacious beach house. With just two rooms or suites on each floor, you might just feel like you’re staying in a private villa. If you’re planning a big group trip, you can book two rooms next to each other with the vestibule serving as a hallway between the two.

One word of caution: Standard rooms and suites don’t have mini-fridges or microwaves, so keep that in mind when ordering food to go.

Bathrooms have both massive showers and oversized soaking tubs—you can walk a full lap around the sandy-tiled shower, and the tub feels like a private plunge pool. The hotel also worked with three popular beauty brands to develop its bespoke line of bath products (some scented with ylang-ylang and cedarwood), and you might be willing to check a bag to take home a bottle after the trip.

The Features

Don’t miss: Getting a treatment at the outdoor garden spa. Leave extra time to enjoy the cold plunge pool, sauna and steam room in the spa’s designated relaxation area before or after your appointment. The Iridium custom massage includes hot stones and a custom blend of aromatherapy developed by your massage therapist.

Favorite feature: The size of the showers and tubs can't be stressed enough. You’ll want to save at least one evening for an extended bubble bath.

Can’t stop thinking about: The small treats left in your room during turndown service, like flower-garnished fruit plates and sweet polvorones (a soft, powdery cookie popular in Puerto Rico) placed on your nightstand.

The Lowdown

The highly specific reason you’d come here: You’ve had your fun in San Juan and want to immerse yourself in nature by exploring tree-lined trails, marshes and mangroves during the second half of your trip.

What might surprise you? The hotel’s commitment to preserving its environment through its partnership with Alma de Bahia, a local animal rescue that works with the hotel on environmental education and conservation, and engages guests in community work. The St. Regis offers animal lovers the opportunity to spend a night or two with a dog or cat from the rescue in your room. If you simply can’t part at the end of your stay, the foundation will help make adopting your new pet as seamless as possible.

Where you’ll find the best views: Make a reservation at Paros during golden hour and request a table alongside the dining room windows for perfect beach views. The Caribbean lobster—split in half and plated dramatically alongside charred lemons—is just as photogenic as it is delicious.

The family-friendly amenity that's really for the parents: The staggered mini pools, which feed into the main pool and gradually deepen, making it much easier to keep an eye on your kids while you swim. 

The drink to order: In 1934, a barman at The St. Regis New York’s King Cole Bar invented the Bloody Mary. Now, every St. Regis offers a destination-inspired twist on the classic cocktail. Here, the Encanto Mary is a must-order with spicy Puerto Rican peppers, celery and crispy plantain chips. 

Wildlife sightings are common since more than 240 species of plants and animals live at the resort. (Angela Sun/Chase)

Fast Facts

• Number of rooms: 139 rooms, 2 residences      
• Number of pools: 1
• Fitness center? Yes                                             
• Spa? Yes             
• Salon? Yes                                                           
• Number of bars/restaurants: 3
  
• 24-hour room service? Yes                                 
• Childcare and kids club? Yes 
  

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