How to Book Amanera: Clifftop Casitas on the Dominican Coast

Amanera is Aman in the Caribbean, though it is a wilder, more elemental Caribbean than the brochure version: a resort of clifftop casitas set between jungle and the open Atlantic on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, above the sweeping sands of Playa Grande and a championship links. It is a place for golf, surf and the raw energy of the ocean, delivered with Aman's quiet polish. Booking through a preferred-partner advisory costs the same as booking direct, with recognition and benefits added at no extra cost.

Amanera sits on a bluff above Playa Grande, backed by forest and fronted by the Atlantic, on a stretch of the Dominican north coast that remains refreshingly undeveloped. The sea here has real power, the beach is long and golden, and the setting feels close to nature rather than manicured. It is reached most easily via the regional airports of the north coast, and we coordinate the journey as part of the booking.

The casitas step down the hillside toward the sea, each a private pavilion with floor-to-ceiling glass, a terrace and, for most, a private pool, framing either the ocean or the bay below. The larger Casas add more space for families and groups. Materials are natural and the palette is drawn from the sand and sea, so that the architecture gives way to the view.

Casa Grande, the main restaurant, serves Caribbean and international cuisine with the ocean as its backdrop, while the Beach Club offers relaxed, feet-in-the-sand dining down by the water. Seafood and local produce feature throughout, and private dinners can be arranged on the beach or the cliff.

The Playa Grande golf course, a dramatic Robert Trent Jones layout with ten holes along the cliffs, is one of the finest in the Caribbean and sits at the resort's door. Beyond golf there is surfing, horseback riding on the beach, and an Aman Spa for recovery afterward. For Aman's other beach and island escapes, see Amanpulo and our guide to the best Aman resorts for couples and honeymoons.

Amanera is the wild side of the Caribbean, clifftop casitas between jungle and the open Atlantic, with one of the great ocean golf courses at the door.