Private, white sand beaches and turquoise waters, a Six Senses Spa, and a luxurious resort, all located on a 1,500-acre ecological reserve? Yes, please. The five-diamond Tortuga Bay Hotel at Puntacana Resort & Club, located in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, is a place where giving back and wellness indulgence go hand in hand.

With a commitment to making the world a better place, Tortuga Bay Hotel has always made decisions based on a deep respect for nature, culture and the people of the Dominican Republic. Its wide-ranging giving-back efforts resulted in the property being named the Ambassador of Sustainable Tourism by the World Tourism Organization in 2021.

Located on a nature preserve, it’s only natural that Tortuga Bay Hotel focuses on the wellness of the environment. Its Grupo Puntacana Foundation leads the Partnership for Ecologically Sustainable Coastal Areas (PESCA), an expansive coral reef restoration and conservation program. It also supports programs in the conservation of endangered species and sustainable agriculture. Through its unique research facility, the Center for Sustainability, the Foundation engages some of the best universities in the world for research and education programs seeking to provide solutions to environmental and social challenges.

One of the best ways to learn about some of these efforts is to go on an ecological tour run by the Grupo Puntacana Foundation. Guests can learn about the on-site apiaries producing local forest honey, get a lesson in aquaponics, study indigenous plants during a tropical hike, or have an encounter with endemic rhinoceros iguanas. There’s also the possibility for a little horse whispering at the Puntacana Equestrian Center.

Other wellness possibilities are more traditional. There’s the beach, of course. But the resort also has its own Six Senses Spa. Located in La Cana Casa Club, the plush facility offers everything you would expect from the Six Senses luxury brand. A beautiful and natural getaway from the stresses of modern life, the spa offers a variety of holistic journeys and yoga programs, along with locally inspired signature body scrubs and massages. Oh, and did we mention the signature massage features coconuts? tortugabayhotel.com