Above: the Villa Celeste Estate

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The Villa Celeste Estate eco-boutique hotel has officially opened in Jarabacoa in the Dominican Republic.

The property, which includes eight guestrooms, opened its doors on Friday.

“Our goal is to have our guests genuinely explore the ‘real’ Dominican Republic from a local perspective,” said owner David Ortiz. “We are different from the all-inclusive approach that encourages guests to stay on their grounds all day sitting on a beach chair absorbing the sun.”

Above: a bedroom at the Villa Celeste

The property can accommodate a max of 16 guests at a time, according to Ortiz.

The Spanish-inspired property is located in the mountains of the Dominican Republic; each guestroom has its own private balcony with views of the mountains.

The property’s food is purchased from local farmers, Ortiz said, and the menu focuses on organic food.

“We are not the typical all-inclusive resort,” he said.