Where to Stay in Portsmouth: Dominica's Eco-Lodges, Boutique Hotels & Villas

The concept of eco-luxury reaches its pinnacle at Secret Bay, where six clifftop villas blend seamlessly into the verdant landscape overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Each villa—a masterpiece of sustainable architecture—features locally-sourced tropical hardwoods, outdoor rain showers, and private plunge pools that seem to spill into the horizon.

During my stay, I woke each morning to the symphony of rainforest birds, enjoying coffee on my private deck while hummingbirds performed aerial ballets mere inches from my face. The staff arranged a private cooking class where I learned to prepare traditional Dominican callaloo soup using ingredients harvested that morning from the property's organic garden.

What distinguishes Secret Bay isn't just its commitment to sustainability, but how it transforms eco-consciousness into an art form. The resort's bamboo straws and biodegradable toiletries aren't token gestures—they're part of a holistic philosophy that extends to their zero-waste kitchen and community development initiatives.

For couples who prefer proximity to both civilization and nature, Picard Beach Cottages offers an idyllic middle ground. Situated on a golden sand beach just minutes from Ross University, these charming cottages provide the perfect balance of accessibility and seclusion.

I spent three nights in one of their oceanfront cottages, falling asleep to the gentle percussion of waves against shore. The cottages themselves embody Caribbean simplicity—whitewashed walls, vibrant local artwork, and louvered windows that invite the trade winds to serve as natural air conditioning.

The real magic happens at dusk when I'd settle into my portable hammock strung between palms to photograph the sun sinking into the sea. One evening, the manager Augustine invited me to join a small beach bonfire where local musicians played traditional jing ping music—a spontaneous cultural immersion that no guidebook could have prepared me for.

While less explicitly eco-focused than other properties, Picard Beach's commitment to supporting local fishermen and farmers means your morning fruit plate and evening mahi-mahi have likely traveled less than 5 miles from source to plate.

For couples seeking the perfect balance between privacy and service, Tibay Villas represents Portsmouth's most sophisticated boutique offering. Perched on a hillside overlooking Prince Rupert Bay, these five Mediterranean-inspired villas offer sweeping panoramas that have occupied countless frames in my camera.

The design sensibility here marries European elegance with Caribbean warmth—think terracotta tiles, vaulted ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the bay like living paintings. Each morning, I'd wrap myself in their plush Turkish cotton robe and practice yoga on my private terrace as fishing boats created rippling patterns across the bay below.

What distinguishes Tibay is their personalized service. When I casually mentioned my interest in Dominica's rare parrots to the manager Claudia, I returned from dinner to find a carefully curated selection of books about Caribbean ornithology alongside a hand-drawn map marking optimal photography locations in the nearby forest reserve.

The villas' fully equipped kitchens allowed us to alternate between dining in—using provisions from Portsmouth's vibrant Saturday market—and sampling the chef's exquisite creations featuring lionfish ceviche and breadfruit gnocchi.

While technically located about 30 minutes from Portsmouth proper, no accommodation guide to northern Dominica would be complete without mentioning Jungle Bay. This legendary eco-resort has reimagined itself after Hurricane Maria, emerging as an even more committed steward of Dominica's natural heritage.

The 30 private villas, constructed by local craftsmen using volcanic stone and sustainably harvested timber, seem to grow organically from the hillside. During my three-night stay, I experienced the peculiar sensation of being simultaneously indoors and outdoors—with retractable walls that eliminate the boundary between living space and jungle.

My daily ritual began with sunrise yoga on the panoramic deck, followed by a breakfast of local mangoes, passion fruit, and cassava bread. For adventure-seeking couples, Jungle Bay organizes guided hikes to nearby Syndicate Falls—an opportunity to test your hiking poles on the island's challenging terrain.

What resonated most deeply was their farm-to-spa philosophy. After a challenging hike to Boiling Lake, I indulged in their signature volcanic stone massage, where locally harvested botanical oils and heated river stones released tension I didn't realize I was carrying from my Newcastle life. The spa's aromatherapy diffuser filled my treatment room with the scent of bay leaves and citrus harvested that morning—a sensory souvenir I still revisit in dreams.

For couples celebrating milestone anniversaries or simply seeking absolute privacy, Clifftop Haven represents Portsmouth's ultimate indulgence. This standalone villa, available exclusively as a complete rental, perches dramatically on a promontory overlooking the meeting point of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

The architecture defies conventional Caribbean style—a modernist glass and concrete structure that would seem stark if not softened by the surrounding tropical gardens and the ever-present blue horizon. During my photography assignment documenting Dominica's luxury accommodations, the owners granted me a two-night stay to capture the property's interaction with changing light.

What makes Clifftop exceptional is its thoughtful details: the master bedroom positioned precisely to capture moonrise over the ocean; the outdoor shower carved from a single piece of volcanic stone; the infinity pool that creates the perfect reflection of Dominica's mountainous spine at sunset.

The villa comes staffed with a private chef who prepared the most exquisite lionfish ceviche I've tasted, served alongside breadfruit chips and passion fruit mojitos. Each morning, I'd wrap myself in their linen kimono robe and photograph the mist rising from the valley below while the housekeeper quietly prepared fresh coffee and tropical fruit platters.

For those seeking to document their Dominican escape, the villa's private yoga deck doubles as an ideal sunrise photography platform—I captured some of my most compelling images using my neutral density filter set to balance the dramatic morning light.