There’s a private island off the northern coast of the Dominican Republic — accessible only by boat — where a 218-suite all-inclusive resort sits surrounded by white-sand beaches on every side, and this summer it’s joining one of the world’s most recognizable hotel loyalty programs.

Cayo Levantado Resort, located on a secluded island off the Samaná coast, will join The Unbound Collection by Hyatt in summer 2026. The announcement, part of the brand’s 10th anniversary expansion, means World of Hyatt members will soon be able to earn and redeem points on stays at one of the Caribbean’s most unique private-island properties.

For travelers who’ve been looking for something genuinely different from the standard Punta Cana or Montego Bay all-inclusive experience, this one is worth understanding.

What Is Cayo Levantado Resort?

Cayo Levantado Resort opened on its own island just off the Samaná Peninsula — the lush, mountainous northeastern corner of the Dominican Republic that most tourists skip in favor of Punta Cana. Getting there involves a 10-to-15-minute boat ride from the mainland, and once you step onto the dock, you don’t need to leave the island again until checkout.

The resort is all-suite and fully all-inclusive — 218 suites total, each with a separate living area and private outdoor space. The suites are positioned across different parts of the island, with beachfront units catching the breeze and more sheltered inland rooms offering a quieter setting.

Because the island is compact, you can walk across it in minutes — but that small footprint is deceptive. Cayo Levantado has beaches on multiple sides, which means you can choose your spot based on sun position, wind, or simply how many other guests are around. There’s a main pool plus quieter alternatives tucked into different corners of the property.

The nearest airport is Samaná El Catey International (AZS), about 45 minutes from the mainland dock.

Dining and All-Inclusive Experience

The all-inclusive package covers multiple restaurants and bars spread across the island, all within a short walk:

Palma Real handles international buffet-style meals and breakfast service. Carey is the seafood-focused venue with longer, more deliberate meal experiences — the kind of restaurant where you settle in for two hours, not thirty minutes. Manaya specializes in Dominican cuisine, grounding the dining program in local flavors rather than generic “Caribbean fusion.”

Additional beach bars and lighter options fill in the gaps between meals. Nothing requires advance booking or charges extra — you eat where you want, when you want, and adjust as you go.

The Wellness Program: Yubarta

One of the most distinctive features of Cayo Levantado is its approach to wellness, which goes well beyond a spa menu.

The Yubarta wellness zone — named after the humpback whales that migrate through the Samaná Bay each winter — draws from Taíno healing traditions to anchor a holistic wellness philosophy. The zone includes a full spa, a personal training studio, and outdoor fitness areas, all organized around four wellness pathways: Renew (physical restoration), Refresh (energizing activities and movement), Relax (meditation, therapies, and stillness), and Restore (immersive rituals and deeper wellness experiences).

For travelers who want more from a Caribbean vacation than a beach chair and a swim-up bar, this is a property that takes the wellness piece seriously — and the private-island setting gives it a sense of isolation and calm that’s hard to replicate at a mainland resort.

Conservation and Cultural Experiences

Cayo Levantado leans into its natural setting with a conservation program that goes beyond token gestures. The resort runs species identification initiatives through guest-submitted photos, turning snorkeling and nature walks into genuine citizen-science experiences. Daily activities include watersports, cultural programming, and guided explorations of the island’s ecosystem.

Each guest is assigned a 24-hour personal ambassador — not a concierge desk, but a dedicated point of contact who helps shape the stay around individual interests. It’s a level of personalization that’s more common in ultra-luxury properties than in the all-inclusive space.

What Joining Hyatt Means for Travelers

This is the detail that makes the Cayo Levantado story especially relevant for points-savvy travelers.

When Cayo Levantado officially joins The Unbound Collection by Hyatt this summer, World of Hyatt members will be able to earn and redeem points on stays at the resort. The Unbound Collection is Hyatt’s portfolio of independent, character-driven hotels — properties that maintain their own identity and aesthetic while plugging into the broader Hyatt loyalty ecosystem.

This is part of a much bigger Hyatt push into the Caribbean all-inclusive market in 2026:

  • Bahia Principe integration: Hyatt added 20+ Bahia Principe all-inclusive resorts across the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Jamaica to World of Hyatt earlier this year, with a double-points promotion running through June 30, 2026.
  • Grand Hyatt Grand Cayman: The 382-room Grand Hyatt Grand Cayman Resort & Spa opened on Seven Mile Beach in April 2026.
  • Cayo Levantado: Now the Unbound Collection adds a private-island, all-inclusive, all-suite option in the DR.

For World of Hyatt members, the Caribbean went from having a handful of Hyatt options to having a genuinely robust portfolio of all-inclusive, luxury, and boutique properties — all earning and burning points within the same system.

Steve’s Take

The Dominican Republic keeps adding interesting resort options, and Cayo Levantado is one of the more distinctive properties I’ve come across recently. A private island, all-suite, all-inclusive, with boat-only access and a genuine wellness program rooted in local traditions — it’s a very different experience from the Punta Cana strip.

What makes this especially notable is the Hyatt connection. If you’ve been stacking World of Hyatt points through credit cards, business travel, or the Bahia Principe double-points promotion, Cayo Levantado just became one of the most compelling redemption options in the Caribbean. A private island that accepts loyalty points is not something you see every day.

For couples and honeymooners in particular, the combination of the private-island setting, all-suite accommodations, Taíno-inspired wellness, and the romantic Samaná Peninsula location makes this a strong contender against properties like Sandals for that “once in a lifetime” Caribbean trip.

If you’re interested in exploring Cayo Levantado or comparing it to Sandals and Beaches options for your next Caribbean vacation, our team at Pixie Vacations can help you weigh the options — at no cost to you.

Ready to Plan Your Caribbean Vacation?

Our team at Pixie Vacations specializes in Caribbean all-inclusive vacations with no planning fees. Whether you’re considering a private-island resort like Cayo Levantado, a Sandals or Beaches property, or a Virgin Voyages Caribbean cruise, we know the landscape and we’ll find the right fit for your trip.

For couples and honeymooners, Pixie Honeymoons focuses exclusively on luxury Caribbean romance travel — and a private island is about as romantic as it gets.

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