Rosalie Bay Resort, Dominica

Simply Magical. Those two words carved into a sign at the entrance to Rosalie Bay Resort were brought to mind over and over again as my husband and I immersed ourselves in the sights, sounds, and smells of this 22 acre eco-resort on the island of Dominica. We had passed through its gates in darkness, weary after a full day of travel. After dropping our luggage, we headed for the inviting, open-air Zamaan Restaurant steps away, where we devoured freshly caught red snapper and washed it down with a crisp Sauvignon Blanc. Then we happily sank into the comfy king bed in our gingerbread cottage nestled by the sea.

Morning’s light, filtered through a grove of tall coconut trees partially obscuring the ocean, roused us from a restorative night’s sleep. Before breakfast we took note of our surroundings which we’d barely noticed the night before. Our spacious suite included a large sitting room with locally made furnishings and a roomy, open closet.

The locally made theme continued in the bath with oatmeal soap from the spa, for luxuriating in the tub or scrubbing up in the tiled shower, equipped with a high-mounted rainshower. The bedroom area opened onto a wide plantation style porch facing the sea, the ideal spot to start the day with some locally grown coffee brewed right in our room.

Minnesota native Beverly Deikel opened Rosalie Bay Resort in 2010. Her love of Dominica drew her back to the island multiple times before she found the beachfront property upon which the resort was finally built. “It’s been a labor of love in so many ways,” she told us over dinner, which we enjoyed along with her partner, Oscar, a Dominican native who helped design the place. “We have our own wind turbine, solar panels, and UV-filtered spring water,” he said. “Everything, from our cuisine to the furnishings is home grown or homemade and our staff is Dominican born and bred.” Vegetables and herbs are grown on the organic farm near Beverly and Oscar’s hillside home above the resort.

When Beverly learned that Rosalie Bay’s black sand beach was one of several nesting sites on the island for three species of sea turtles—the Leatherback, Green and Hawksbill—her search for a location ended. Poachers had raided the turtle nests for years, further contributing to the critically endangered status of these ancient reptiles worldwide, and she was determined to do something about it. Scores of volunteers have since joined in a community effort called NET (Nature Enhancement Team) Rosalie, headed by Simon George, to patrol the beach during turtle nesting season—March through September—from dusk till dawn. They watch for and protect turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs and rescue hatchlings that become trapped by beach debris.

Upon checking in, guests can sign up (as we did) to receive a wake-up call if a turtle makes an appearance on the beach, or if eggs are ready to hatch. Nightly turtle tours are held at the turtle hut on the beach, where guests learn about the egg relocation program and visit the hatchery.

Other not-to-be-missed activities include yoga on the beach or early morning power walks through the rainforest, but relaxation is also always on the wellness menu at Rosalie. Relax by the onyx-lined saltwater pool while sipping a drink or enjoying lunch at Oscar’s Pool Bar. Or, choose to be pampered with a hot river stone massage or detoxifying volcanic mud bath in the spa.

Coming in 2014:  Spa services are being relocated from the current seaside location to a setting overlooking the Rosalie River, across from the fitness center. The new, larger Gló Spa, named after the Creole word for water, will include three treatment rooms, plus a treehouse for outdoor massages, and mani/pedi services. The new spa is anticipated to open in January, 2014.