#GUIDES
12 August, 2022
Dominican Republic travel guide: Wild jungles, blissful beaches, and a lively Caribbean spirit
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Published
8 August, 2025
Edited
9 September, 2026
Some trips are built around cities, others are built around the landscape. Whether it’s early mornings in a Tuscan vineyard, the sound of monkeys rustling through the trees in Costa Rica, or long afternoons where the only agenda is the tide, time in nature has a way of resetting things.
For your next getaway, consider trading traffic for birdsong and high-rises for open horizon. From jungle-edge villas to countryside estates set among working vineyards, these onefinestay homes place you directly in the landscape, with wildlife included.
Costa Rica
Every year, something magical happens right in front of Casa Oceano: a host of turtles heading to the beach in front of the villa to lay their eggs. 60 days later, the eggs hatch, and the baby turtles make their way back to the ocean. Guests at the villa can glimpse this incredible natural phenomenon from the villa’s beautiful infinity pool - the perfect spot to enjoy the show. As well as turtles, you’ll be able to call a variety of mischievous monkeys and vibrant tropical birds neighbours during your stay, too.
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Spanning an impressive 22 acres, the gorgeous Rancho Cuatro Patas is home to an array of friendly horses and dogs for guests to make friends with. As well as the resident animals, you’ll also discover an incredible wealth of wildlife experiences in the local area, including turtle hatching along the coast at Las Tunas (Nov - Feb) and year-round whale-watching in the deeper waters off the coast.
Tuscany, Italy
Tucked away amidst Tuscany’s iconic rolling hills, you’ll find the magnificent Lagesta. The surrounding area of Val d’Orcia is renowned for its vineyards, hearty cuisine and natural thermal springs, with plenty of hiking and biking trails to explore. The local landscape is alive with all sorts of wildlife, including deer, hares, song birds and even wild boar. So remember to always keep an eye out on your adventures - you might be lucky enough to spot an animal neighbour.
Breckenridge, The Rocky Mountains
Leave the rest of the world behind at Moose Tracks Lodge, an incredible timber-frame cabin hidden in the Highlands of Breckenridge. Relax on the sprawling deck and soak in the natural beauty all around you. Nearby Breckenridge’s Cucumber Gulch Preserve, known for its meadows and wetlands where elk and mule deer graze regularly, you’ll find a wealth of wildlife on the very doorstep of this chalet.
Tuscany, Italy
Perched atop a hillside, Chiara boasts show-stopping views of the region’s verdant gardens, vineyards, olive groves and forests. A vision of stone arches and terracotta terraces, the villa feels totally secluded, a private paradise in the heart of the countryside. While away the sun-soaked afternoons by the oval infinity pool or in one of the hammocks on the terrace, listening to the birdsong. Depending on the season, truffle hunts with expert local guides and trained dogs can be arranged.