After crossing a small suspension bridge over a salt lake, it is possible to notice that tall palm trees on a bright green lawn hide charming white villages built in the best Moorish style.
There is no better way to describe arriving at the Cap Juluca than this. That 5 star beachfront resort is located on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world a Maudays Bay – voted best island beach by Condé Nast Traveler in 2019.
The fine white sand and the turquoise sea that fit perfectly into the horizon are just some of the attributes that the beach has. Everything there seems to have come straight from an Instagram filter and, even though it is public, it is empty and totally available to guests at Cap Juluca, which gives the impression of being private – also common on other beaches in anguilla.
But it’s not just the beach that is on the Olympus of the best: renovated in 2018 after the brand Belmond take over the operations, the super-luxury resort joined the list of 500 best hotels in the world this year by the specialized magazine “Travel+Leisure”, as well as being on the podium of the best resorts in the entire Caribbean in previous years by the same publication and for Condé Nast Traveler.
And what makes the hotel receive such attention? In addition to being in Anguilla, one of the most beautiful islands in the entire Caribbean, with high temperatures all year round and the colors of the sea that fascinate the eyes Cap Juluca is considered a “dream refuge”.
The hotel is recurrently an escape destination for American celebrities as it is in an isolated location and offers sophisticated restaurants along with a luxurious leisure infrastructure.
accommodations
In all, the hotel has 108 spacious accommodations, all with ocean views, direct beach access, 24-hour butler service and breakfast included. They are divided into four categories – from rooms to private villas.
The smallest rooms range from 63 to 73m² and have a terrace facing the sea.
The largest accommodations are villas with private pools, which can have three to five bedrooms and range from 158 to 511m². They even have a private kitchen and are more recommended for groups of friends and family.
Regarding daily rates, the lowest rates range from US$1,045 (approximately R$5,000 at the current rate) in low season and US$1,895 (approximately R$9,000) in high season. Values reach US$ 3,200 (more than R$ 15 thousand) on specific peak dates for the smallest suites.
Gastronomy
If the views and rooms are already impressive, the local cuisine is also not far behind. There are three open-air restaurants that offer the flavors of the island and mix influences from Italian, Peruvian and Anguilian cuisine.
To begin with, the hotel brings a taste of Venice to the Caribbean with casual Cip’s by Cipriani , brother of the Belmond hotel restaurant in the Italian city. With views of the beach and the sea, the place serves breakfast and an Italian menu dinner also for non-guests, such as pasta, risotto and the famous Cipriani carpaccio (US$ 28).
O Uchu closer to the main entrance hall, is a chic corner of the hotel that offers lunch and dinner next to a small pool that looks more like a reflecting pool.
led by chef Cesar Loose , the Peruvian-influenced place serves delicacies to be shared during the day with a drink – such as the classic Pisco Sour ($18) or Chicha Morada ($9). At night, more full-bodied dishes give a taste of Peru, such as ceviche with fish of the day (US$24) and creations that mix ingredients from the jungle and mountains of the South American country.
already the Pimms , open only for dinner and also for non-guests, was born with the hotel in the 1980s and is based on Caribbean cuisine that brings together classics and international specialties. The seafood is fresh and from local suppliers – examples are crayfish (US$56), a species of small lobster typical of Anguilla, or the “Caribbean Red Snapper” (US$46), a fish known in Brazil as red snapper and which accompanies a traditional shell stew.
Lastly, the The Cap Shack it is a kind of beach hut – a very typical structure on the island – that serves the classic Rum Punch and other drinks with food in the best beach style, such as tacos, burgers and appetizers. The dishes are prepared in a food truck on the sand and the soundtrack is rocked by calypso and reggae.
This year, at the end of July, the hotel prepares the first “Culinary Shores”, a gastronomic event with guest chefs from different parts of the world. The first guest is even Nello Cassesse, chef who runs the Cipriani’s starred cuisine at Copacabana Palace at the Rio de Janeiro. The event promises exchanges of cuisines, dinners on the beach and cooking workshops.
Experiences
Sitting on one of the beach chairs on the sand and soaking up the sun with the sound of the waves is a valuable experience on the island, but the hotel offers activities beyond the basics.
Snorkeling, stand-up paddle or kayaking, or going sailing and fishing with an Anguilla professional are some of the programs that can be done in the waters right in front of the hotel.
In the field of land sports, beach volleyball, basketball, croquet and tennis are offered in addition to the gym, yoga classes and fitness classes on the sand.
Romantic dinners for two on the beach can also be arranged with the reception, as well as enjoying a family meal at a private table next to the Pimms restaurant with a three or four course menu.
In the mornings, it is also possible to take a walk near Cove Pond, a salt lake next to the hotel that is home to a number of birds. Next to an expert, the walk includes bird watching and a guide.
A spa was recently added to the hotel, Arawk, a beachfront space offering treatments in five private massage rooms. Haircuts, special occasion styling, manicures and pedicures are also available.
Source: CNN Brasil
