When the crème de la crème need an escape, they head to Dorado Beach – as they have time after time in the 70 years since Laurance S. Rockefeller debuted this tropical sanctuary. The 50-acre estate, tucked discreetly into Puerto Rico’s peaceful northern coast, is the kind of Caribbean refuge one would expect to attract movie stars and titans of industry: waves lap at golden sands, ocean breezes carry the aroma of tropical blooms, guests draped in weightless linen float from the villas to the pools, from the spa to the restaurants, and no building towers above the tallest palm trees.

Much like its clientele, Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is anything but ordinary. Every aspect of the resort, which joined the Ritz-Carlton portfolio in 2012, rises to the standards of its elevated distinction as a Reserve. Guest rooms are not merely guest rooms, but rather suites, villas, residences and penthouses. The smallest accommodation starts at a spacious 160sqm, with sea views, terraces and high-tech amenities coming standard, as well as an outdoor shower, a private plunge pool and a personal embajador butler. Guests looking for the opulent apogee of holiday comfort can opt for a two- or three-bedroom Residence, the four-bedroom Penthouse or the five-bedroom Villa, all of which offer separate living and dining areas, a gourmet kitchen and ample outdoor living space, as well as a private pool.

If every night at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is the epitome of repose, then every meal is the pinnacle of pleasure. Signature restaurant COA is the jewel in the resort’s culinary crown, serving farm-to-table fare prepared from local, seasonal ingredients and cooked over an authentic custom-built Mi Brasa wood-burning oven. Savour memorable moments in the beautiful dining room overlooking the sea, and pair them with some of the world’s best wines; at more than 3,200 bottles, the restaurant’s wine cellar, La Cava, boasts one of the most extensive wine lists in the Caribbean. For a more relaxed meal, take a seat with your feet in the sand at Posi+Ivo Sand Bar for Asian-inspired, Latin-infused flavours, or enjoy ocean-fresh sushi handcrafted by Chef Masato at Omakase Bar, washed down with creatively mixed cocktails. Even casual dining here is an exceptional experience.

Exceptional, too, is the resort’s unique wellness space, Spa Botánico, presided over by a 100-year-old ficus tree and stretching across a full five acres. Meandering paths lead guests through tropical gardens and alongside an infinity reflection pool to their stunning treatment rooms, which take the form of treehouses and airy pavilions. Spa therapies combine indigenous Puerto Rican ingredients, like coffee and tobacco, with Ritz-Carlton’s signature botanical scrubs, wraps and oils. Indulge in a one-of-a-kind healing, revitalising treatment before luxuriating in a private deep-soak tub nestled amid exotic gardens: your own perfect slice of paradise.

Visit Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve