Paradise is preserved: Maca Bana Villas, Grenada
Grenada resort is known for sustainable features and rainforest luxury
Stepping off my connecting flight from Barbados to the nearby Caribbean island of Grenada, I was ready for a luxury holiday that only the Caribbean affords – sun, sand and solitude. I was heading for Maca Bana Villas, just a five-minute drive from the airport.
The evening sky is awesomely clear, lit by stars overhead. Only the faint roar of waves far below me can be heard as I enter my private villa located high on the cliffside overlooking Magazine Beach. “This has to be the closest place to heaven,” I sigh, and my friend agrees, as we relax on the terrace gazing at the view.
Privacy is ensured, with only seven villas cut into the rainforest. The resort is known for its sustainable designs and features, which include an organic farm and solar panels, making Maca Bana something of a trendsetter in Caribbean eco-luxury.
On my first morning, I explore the tropical garden before taking a swim in the infinity pool overlooking the beach, then head for a yoga class offered by the spa. The spa oils and treatments are infused with spices and fruits sourced on Grenada.
Feeling renewed, I head for the beachside Aquarium Restaurant, with its mouthwatering menu that fuses West Indian flavours with European dishes. I try the seafood – shrimp cooked in coconut, washed down with a glass of chardonnay. “A perfect choice,” my waiter agrees.
The restaurant uses vegetables, herbs and fruit grown in the on-site organic farm, fertilised by compost made from the resort’s food waste. I take a tour of the farm, where I am inspired by the pesticide-free way of cultivation.