Note: This article first appeared on Travel Weekly.
About 90 minutes west of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, separated by a highway that cuts through banana fields and grazing cattle, lies Miches. It is a rural area known for its pristine palm-lined beaches and nature reserves such as Salto de la Jarda (the highest waterfall in the Dominican Republic), the Lagunas Redonda y Limón Natural and Scientific Reserve, and the hilltop Montana Redna. Historically, the region’s population has been primarily farmers and fishermen. Leatherback turtles come to shore every year to lay eggs. Humpback whales also migrate at the beginning of the year. They will soon be dating a lot of people.
Some saw Miches as having the potential to someday serve as a sustainable tourist destination. Founded in 2008 by Tropicália (a sustainable tourism and real estate development company of Cisneros Real Estate), Fundación Tropicália, a regional non-profit organization, has promoted the socio-economic and environmental development of Michés through a variety of initiatives. I did.
pioneer
Club Med took its first step into Miches in 2019 with the opening of Club Med Miches Playa Esmeralda. The brand has already seen success with its Punta Cana store, and the Dominican government has encouraged Club Med to explore the idea of opening a Miches facility.
“The area’s lush landscape, pristine beaches and vibrant local culture align perfectly with Club Med’s vision of providing a sanctuary that combines relaxation and adventure,” said Club Med North America Caribbean Said Ocean Region President and CEO Caroline Doyon.
Playa Esmeralda Beach, Dominican Republic (Photo by Omar Perez)
Miches was a relatively undeveloped area, Doyon said, so infrastructure and accessibility were initially considered. However, the highway connecting Punta Cana and Miches greatly improved access and alleviated these initial challenges.
“To address these concerns, we invested in building and developing the necessary infrastructure and worked closely with the government to enhance connectivity,” she said. “Sustainability was important to us, both during construction and in day-to-day operations, as well as employment within the community.” Club Med worked with local organizations to establish a training center that employed more than 900 local residents. .
following the leader
Club Med was the first, but more companies will soon join.
Upcoming resorts include the trademark all-inclusive resort, Viva Michie’s by Wyndham, opening in December. Marriott Miches Beach (renovated Sunrise Miches Beach, scheduled to debut in Q1 2025 and the brand’s first all-inclusive in the Dominican Republic); Zemi Mitches All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton, February 1st. Two Hyatt Inclusive Collection properties are scheduled to open in April: the adults-only Secrets Playa Esmeralda Resort & Spa and the family-friendly Dreams Playa Esmeralda.
Scheduled to open in 2026, Four Seasons Resort and Residences Dominican Republic at Tropicalia (owned by the Cisnero family) will sit along 60 acres of beachfront on the south coast of Samana Bay.
Simon Suarez, Vice President of Institutional Relations and Projects at Groupe Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, said public-private initiatives introduced in 2012 have fostered tourism growth in the region. (The introduction of a highway between Miches and Punta Cana in 2015 also helped make Miches easier to access). After some tweaks and revisions, the initiative took root around 2018 and has since seen unprecedented growth in the space, Suarez said.
It is unexplored, secluded, clean and pure. Truly a new destination in the Dominican Republic.
Erica Sordo
Miches is an extension of the Punta Cana region and “offers experiences that Punta Cana doesn’t have and diversifies the (tourism) product in the market,” said Suarez, former president of Hotels and Tourism in the Dominican Republic. he said. As an association and as a hotelier. He also envisions a future where resorts and other tourism services will spread between Punta Cana and Miches.
Each resort development project requires an environmental impact study conducted under the supervision of the Dominican Republic’s Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The project must comply with environmental protection obligations, one of which is requiring the use of adequate lighting for nesting sea turtles.
“Our aim is to responsibly exploit the region’s immense potential and create competitive tourism services that meet the environmental and social inclusion demands of today’s travelers.” said Gustavo Roman, executive director of the Hotel and Tourism Association El Ceibo Miches. (Promish). “We have developed a comprehensive tourism development plan for Miches and are implementing it in collaboration with the Dominican government, local governments and community leaders.”
Erika Sordo, corporate director of marketing and public relations for Viva Resorts by Wyndham, said the Miches region’s pristine nature attracts guests seeking a pristine, authentic stay.
“This is unexplored, remote, clean and pure. This is truly a new destination in the Dominican Republic,” Sordo said.
Caroline Doyon couldn’t agree more.
“The future of tourism in Miches looks promising,” Doyon said. “As the region continues to develop, it will become an important destination for travelers seeking natural beauty and unique experiences.”
