There are starfruit on this path, a short stroll past the koi pond and the turtles. The yoga class just finished, and I’m walking through a canopy of green, hearing nothing but tropical birdsong. I’m hidden away in a lush garden in Providenciales, when I run into a collection of bright-yellow carambola fruits — with a sugar apple tree not too far above my head. This isn’t your average morning in Turks and Caicos. But Kokomo Botanical Resort isn’t your average resort. 

This 38-cottage hideaway in Turks and Caicos remains the best-kept secret in one of the region’s most sought-after destinations, a serene, endlessly tranquil resort that has quietly become the island’s must-visit wellness resort — and one where select units are now part of Marriott’s residential-focused collection, Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy.

Wellness, Turks and Caicos Style 

And that’s what you feel here, when you return at the end of an afternoon at the property’s beach club on Grace Bay Beach (just a short shuttle ride away). You feel better. You feel like you’re somewhere unique, somewhere you’ve really never been before. 

But now Kokomo has something new. Selected units at the wellness resort have officially joined the Home & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy collection, meaning you can book cottages at the resort on the Marriott platform and, more importantly — using your Marriott Bonvoy points. 

Rooms and Amenities at Kokomo 

What you’ll find is a boutique, bespoke residential-resort experience, where every cottage comes with two bedrooms, state-of-the-art kitchens and garden terraces. That’s along with an open-air yoga deck, a saltwater hot plunge, a freshwater garden pool and an outstanding boutique spa called Lovina. The latter, where I’ve had several treatments, is staffed by Bali-trained professionals, and the menu is impressive, from classic Balinese rituals to a rather unique fire-and-ice treatment that’s unlike any I’ve ever experienced. 

Another great touch? The hotel has its own fleet of rental cars on offer. 

The Culinary Experience 

This might be the biggest story at Kokomo: WE Market Cafe, the hotel’s on-site eatery that serves up outstanding international fare, from exquisite dumplings to just-right masala (it was named as one of the 50 Best Restaurants in the Caribbean last year, after all). It’s also got a special Chefs’ Table experience (curated by the wonderful Chef Anil and his team), where you can pre-arrange a tasting menu and wine pairing with just about any sourcing you can imagine, whether it be fresh lamb chops or beef flown in from the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto. 

The approach is a holistic one about wellness, at a resort that also includes a leafy nature trail.  It’s about living better, about a “return on health.” 

Suzanna, the resort’s yoga director, tells me that the idea is for travelers to leave with a better version of themselves. 

“Everybody is a spiritual warrior,” she tells me. The idea, she said, is to unlock that. 

It’s a cool concept, and one that defines a resort that is carving out a rarefied place in the increasingly competitive Caribbean wellness space. 

What’s Next 

Kokomo is planning another big development, with a collection of eight two-level “casitas” on the way, with private elevators, “skydeck” rooftop plunge pools and outdoor kitchens, among other touches. 

The Marriott Effect 

It’s a huge step for the resort to be included in the Marriott Homes and Villas program. 

“This partnership perfectly aligns with our mission to provide transformative wellness escapes in one of the world’s most beautiful destinations, while maintaining the intimate, boutique service that makes Kokomo special,” Jason Hunt, CMO of Kokomo Botanical Resort, told Caribbean Journal. 

For more, visit Marriott Homes and Villas or go directly to Kokomo. 

Prices start at around $527 per night right now. 

You can fly from New York to Providenciales for around $300 roundtrip in January, according to Google Flights.