Larger than Manhattan, Cap Cana is an exclusive lifestyle resort and residential community on the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic. The list of amenities stretches longer than most Christmas lists – five golf courses, the newest marina in the Caribbean, numerous recreational facilities, polo and riding fields, a different pool to swim in each day of the week, award-winning gourmet chefs, haute cuisine dining, a world-class spa, five-star hotels, luxury shopping, and a 2,000 acre ecological wonderland.
Why is Cap Cana Amazing?
The project sounded too good to believe so I checked it out for myself. The luxuriousness and serenity stunned me. Every detail was taken up a notch. From the kind-faced man who raked the sand on the beaches so you never had to walk in anyone else’s footprints to the butler who tended to every desire, no need was unfulfilled. I never had to leave the resort as everything you could wish for is on the 30,000-acre property.
As I chatted with Dr. Ricardo Hazoury, president and CEO of Cap Cana’s Board of Directors, I saw an immense passion for the project. Hazoury gave up a successful career as a general practitioner to go into the business. The father of five daughters, Hazoury shared his insight, “It (Cap Cana) is impossible to describe. You have to experience it. It is a high-end style life but it is a simple life. The most important thing for me and my family is to feel great and to believe in what you are doing.”
To keep the younger guests occupied, Scape2CapCana offers a great adventure experience.
Famous Names Attached to Cap Cana
A lot of big names are attached to the $1.5 billion project. Donald Trump built the Trump Farallon Estates at Cap Cana. The day Trump at Cap Cana went on sale, 68 lots sold in four hours for over $300 million, a record in the Caribbean. Golf great Jack Nicklaus will have three signature golf courses spread among the resort and the Golden Bear Lodge, a hotel-condominium developed by Nicklaus and Cap Cana, is the first accommodation project to bear his name. Nicklaus's first signature designed course, Punta Espada, has been hosting golf tournaments and winning awards for years. His second course, Las Iguanas, is 65% complete.
Cap Cana and Solaya Hotels, a private luxury boutique hotel development firm, will be building Eden Roc Cap Cana, an 8,000 square metre luxury resort, in the Cap Cana development. Franck Messiah, Vice President of Solaya Hotels, explained, "Our ultimate goal is to create a 6-star boutique hotel in a unique concept within the Dominican Republic rivaling the world's best boutique hotels in Europe, Asia and North America in every aspect." Eden Roc will model Mediterranean Revival style architectural elements.
Cap Cana Marina
With all the services of a 5-star marine, the Cap Cana Marina is an awesome place. When it is complete, it will accommodate over 1,000 ships, including mega yachts. As I walked around the facility, I was awestruck at the magnitude and grandiosity of the place. Not only is it a boater’s dream, those who love to fish will be in their own paradise. The resort is close to the Mona Channel, one of the five main fishing destinations in the world where you can toss your rod from March to October every year. White and blue marlins are often found on the other end of your line.
Cuisine at Cap Cana
I have never eaten as well as I did when at Cap Cana. Every meal was a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds. I asked Kalych Padró, the past Executive Chef of Cap Cana, what attracted him to the resort as he has an impressive culinary history and could work anywhere. He said, “This place is the new jewel of the Caribbean. The projection it gives us is important and I can input all my creativity in every plate. The experience of delighting all visitors from around the world with so many creations and my Caribbean flavors is exciting.”
It is easy to believe Cap Cana will live up to its tagline – “The World’s Next Great Destination.”
Toby Welch - Toby is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in magazine articles, online writing, e-books, and manuscript editing.
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