Dominican Tree House Village

The utterly adventurous experience of being at Dominican Tree House Village starts even before arriving at this eco-lodge. The little parking lot and archway with the hotel’s welcome sign are all you’ll see upon arrival. Walk through the archway and expect to hike at least fifteen minutes along a forested path beside a raging river, with little wooden signs guiding the way. Flip-flops won’t do here, not just for the tarantulas sometimes crawling along the path, but for the mud and rocks that tend to get slippery after the periodic rainfalls throughout the day.Then the path opens up and the first and largest of a series of wooden cabins comes into view. This is both the lobby and an all-purpose space: guests eat breakfast at the restaurant here, sleep on hammocks, gather for drinks at the bar, and play cards at the tables, surrounded on all sides by bright green, lush vegetation. At night it’s just as beautiful of a sight; the cabin has a massive fire pit built into the entryway, lighting up the comfy, cushioned red benches that surround it.  A bit of backstory: The American owner initially ran a zip-line company on the property, and then had the idea of building a village entirely in the air, with cabins hand-built into the trees and long wooden bridges connecting them along the way. At first, the cabins were simply there for friends who wanted to sleep over and for artist retreats. In time the place eventually grew into what it is today: a rustic floating hotel for nature-loving, adventure-seeking travelers from all over the world.

To call the roads in the thickly forested Samana and Las Galeras area "poorly maintained" is an understatement. Squeezing by the motorcycles, cars, trucks, horses, cows, and children playing in the narrow, bumpy roads makes getting here a precarious driving experience. Climbing the last final hill before reaching the hotel might cause doubt about any car’s capacity to actually arrive safely. Luckily for the less adventurous, the owner offers to pick up guests from Samana's airport and drive them the hour or so to the hotel. For those who do want to drive, however, here’s a word to the wise: Don’t attempt to get here in anything smaller than a seven-seater, and definitely don’t expect to find it at night. Gas stations are scarce, as are English speakers, so it's important to follow the meticulous directions that the owner provides.The famous Playa Rincon beach is about an hour away, but there’s a nearby local beach (El Valle) and waterfalls within a five-minute bike ride. At the shore, there are some simple waterfront restaurants open for lunch, with basic fish and meat dishes. Getting to Las Galeras takes at least 45 minutes, and shopping at the local town center requires about a 20-minute drive. 

The 20 cabins here are built on stilts or in the trees, anywhere between 10 and 40 feet (three to 12 meters) above the ground, with thatched roofs and slender wooden steps winding around their bases. It can definitely feel gut-wrenching for those with a fear of heights, and anyone with mobility issues might want to request a lower-level room. Yet both the steps and cabins themselves are sturdy, and solid wooden railings on all sides provide enough support to manage the trips up and down. They’re small and open-air, with thick red curtains, so there’s both sunlight and a decent amount of privacy to the rooms (though the lack of walls means you will hear noises from neighbors and nature -- ear plugs are a good call). Each is equipped with little more than a bed, safe, individual reading lamps, mosquito nets, and simple wooden chairs. Many also have hammocks. It all feels quite cozy -- even when the rain starts pouring down, it’s hard not to feel lucky to watch it from the dry comfort of a high-up perch.There are no en-suite bathrooms except for those in a handful of select VIP cabins, which have simple wooden shacks next to the rooms, with just a toilet and sink and tiny overhead lightbulb. Outdoor showers are built into the rock-face outside. They’re cool-looking, but definitely not private, though it helps that they’re behind the cabins and somewhat hidden from view. The VIP Rooms are also more private -- they’re built higher up and at a significant distance from the small cluster of entry-level cabins. Don't come here expecting to stay connected to the outside world -- there are no TVs, Wi-Fi, and not much in the way of cell phone service either.

The hotel has its own simple restaurant, which seems a necessity for such a remote property. Luckily, it’s quite good, and breakfast and dinner are included in rates. The varied buffet-style meals incorporate both Dominican favorites and international fare, with a focus on fresh fruits and hot dishes. Options are also available for vegetarians and others with special diets. Everything is out in the open here, including the staff kitchen, which stands just behind the restaurant and bar. It's a special touch to watch the laborious process behind every meal that's served to guests. There's also a bar with a surprising variety of spirits on offer.The hotel also has a large, dome-shaped cabin built at a distance from the rooms. This multi-purpose space hosts yoga classes and meditation sessions. Otherwise they have a rotating series of artists-in-residence who bring their particular skills to the hotel. On our visit we encountered a painter who made portraits of all the guests who passed through.The pool is large and lovely, and set in the woods a little beyond the entrance, making it feel quite private. The hotel also offers excursions to nearby beaches and waterfalls, as well as horseback, ATV, and zip-line tours. Some of these are free and some come at additional fees depending on the type of packages upon booking. Bikes are also available for free to reach the nearby beach.