Featuring just 6 overwater bungalows plus two restaurants and a spa, the Coral Lodge is a boutique resort in a secluded part of the San Blas Islands in Panama. These levels are outfitted with a bedroom, bathroom, two seating areas, a small kitchenette, and floor to ceiling views of the water outside. Up until late 2016, the Caribbean only had overwater “eco-resorts” to offer, but as of now there are three luxurious “honeymoon-style” overwater bungalow resorts. Here you’ll find rooms that include hot water, a TV, beach towels for use the entire stay, Wi-Fi, and a small fridge. This is yet another basic resort that is nothing like a fancy chain hotel in the South Pacific, but is still very popular for people who want an active vacation and a gorgeous setting. In fact, this location is a great choice for those who are seeking an ocean filled vacation. In addition to the lodge’s resident rescue monkeys that you can freely interact with, guests here will find 6 overwater bungalows that offer Wi-Fi, a fan, a private deck that faces out toward the water, and stairs that lead directly into it. Located in a special compound near Playa del Carmen (40 miles south of Cancun), the Rosewood Mayakoba Resort has 18 Deluxe Overwater Suites perched above its mangrove lagoon. It should be noted that room rates are higher than those listed below for stays that are only 1 or 2 nights in length. A large resort that’s already a hit with visitors to the Playa del Carmen area, the Banyan Tree Mayakoba Resort is currently updating its property with more amenities, dining options, and the addition of 6 overwater rooms that impress with 2 living levels. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Anyone looking for a large and luxurious overwater bungalow in the Caribbean should be happy here if they can afford it. This means that you won’t find any children staying in the overwater bungalows, which is great for adults who are vacationing with the intention of enjoying peace and quiet, alongside honeymooners who rather not be surrounded by children. Catering to couples, and perfect for honeymooners, the resort requires all guests be age 15 years or older (13 for divers). What to Wear in the Caribbean However, if you are looking for a remote and unusual room that is located directly over the water in the Caribbean, check out your choices below. We have stayed at the St. Regis overwater bungalows in Bora Bora and these are just as nice and without the long flight times. Hammocks 5. Rooms here are more basic than you’d find at the 4- and 5-star resorts in Bora Bora, but the price is also much lower as well, and the list of water sports and other activities is long. Sitting pretty on the Atlantic coast of Mexico in the Riviera Maya region, the El Dorado Maroma resort houses both land locked and over the water rooms, creating quite the selection for guests. The rooms here are very basic, and you won’t find any spa on-site, but you will find lots of freshly caught seafood and fish. The Water Villas at Kanuhura Resort feature an outdoor shower, private sundeck and room for four people. Overwater bungalows can found all across the world. If you’re in the market for an all-inclusive vacation, then you’ll want to look into the Royalton Antigua Resort and Spa. Their over-the-water bungalows are built in a private area of the lagoon. Situated only a few minutes away from the airport in Montego Bay, this resort offers close access to activities and attractions outside of its walls along with a free shuttle to and from the airport, making travel even easier. However, overwater bungalows can be found beyond those two exotic locations, in the likes of Mauritius, Cambodia and Fiji. Here you’ll find an impossibly long list of amenities, entertainment options, and dining selections, making it hard to run out of things to do and see, as well as enjoy. The resort also plays host to over 6 acres of gardens and greenery with a lush jungle backdrop. As of late 2018 the website itself appears to be completely offline, which is yet another major warning sign. 6 Sandals South Coast, Jamaica. And while the best overwater bungalow resorts were always focused in Polynesia, the Caribbean now teems with great overwater options, from the more luxurious to the eco-friendly. Reviews are strong, making this resort a great choice for the money. The resort also offers “romance packages” and several other extras, so this is still quite luxurious. You’ll also note that there’s an on-site restaurant, along with more options close by. 4 Punta Caracol Acqua Lodge, Panama. Another small resort that operates an on all-inclusive basis, the CoCo View Resort off Roatan Island is all about scuba diving, and its most popular packages include a surprisingly affordable upgrade to all-inclusive diving. The location is just off the enormous Belize Reef, so the diving and snorkeling are excellent, but St. George’s Caye is also a couples resort, restricting guests to 15 and up, so it’s popular with honeymoon couples as well. In fact, this seclusion is one of the main reasons guests choose this resort over other similar options. It should be noted that this resort operates on an all-inclusive basis, meaning that food and beverages are included in the nightly rate, along with use of the resort’s water sport equipment. Now to the new overwater bungalows. If you love playing in the water, you’ll also find that there are several different types of water sports to enjoy. Here you’ll find overwater rooms in addition to land based suites, all of which offer luxury to their guests. Lying within a nature preserve along Jamaica’s south coast beach, this adults-only resort offers over-the-water bungalows, an over-the-water bar and even an Over-the-Water Chapel! Chairman Overwater Bungalows. Located on the scenic shores of Deep Bay, every natural wooden bungalow offers a private and romantic ambiance and picture-perfect views of the Caribbean Sea – perfect for tranquil evenings spent watching the sunset. 3 Sandals Royal Caribbean, Jamaica. Here guests will find 30 overwater bungalows to choose from as well as 128 land rooms of varying sizes. Guests who sign up for that plan get two boat-diving sessions per day, plus unlimited 24/7 shore diving, all in an area famous for excellent underwater scenery. Don’t be surprised if you find no availability for your dates, although it’s worth a try. Enjoy the ultimate Caribbean escape in one of our exquisitely appointed, luxury private villas here in the BVI. Guests here will find 2 miles of white sand beach to enjoy along with a wide selection of water sports, including the famed sport of snorkeling and scuba diving. It should be noted that room rates are higher than those listed below for stays that are only 1 or 2 nights in length. If you’re the adventurous type, which is who this resort crates to, you’ll find plenty to do with fishing, snorkeling, canoeing and rainforest hiking. In addition, guests will find themselves privy to 600 feet of waterfront. The bare-bones and eco-friendly approach means there is no TVs or internet here, so a distraction-free vacation is nearly guaranteed. The bad news for most of us is that these overwater bungalows are among the most expensive in the world, at least based on the quoted rates at opening. And you can actually do the private island thing here, as they offer packages to rent the whole place out for one flat fee. Time to Head to Los Cabos, Make it Christmas All the Time with these Tropical Holiday Cocktails, The Back-in-Time Magic of Florida’s Little Gasparilla Island, 5 Last Minute Airbnb Rentals that Offer a Perfect Secluded Getaway. Many of their other room categories are amazing and some even are incorporated into an almost-private pool, so they are a good substitute for many people. Definitely the closest thing to the “honeymoon style” overwater bungalows in the Caribbean until 2016, this resort also has oceanview rooms and other luxury suites, and it’s one of the highest rated in all of Mexico. Still, it’s definitely worth including here because these are the first proper “honeymoon style” overwater bungalows in the region. Sandals recently added overwater bungalows to three of their resorts in Jamaica and St. Lucia. If you're looking for a true over the water experience, then you'll want to either head to the South Pacific, the Caribbean, or the Caribbean coast of Central America. Overwater Bungalows in The Caribbean Jamaica. Those with larger groups can rent out the entire island for US$9,950 per day all-inclusive, which could be excellent value for 10 to 12 active couples. The Mango Creek Lodge has 4 overwater bungalows plus two lodge rooms on the mainland. Guests will also find a garden to roam, water sports to partake in and dolphin tours. This resort in Bermuda features 13 overwater bungalows, but the entire place closed in late 2010 for a “one-year renovation,” which then was scheduled for reopening in 2012, but that never happened. This is considered an eco-resort so there’s no air conditioning and not much in the way of in-room entertainment, but there are ceiling fans and one of the few glass windows in the floor to observe the sea life below. There’s also a nicely appointed spa onsite offering a range of treatments and massages that focus on traditional Mayan herbal practices. It's one thing to stay at the beach. Located just 35 minutes from the Cancun Airport at the El Dorado Maroma Hotel, the Palafitos overwater bungalows are 800 square feet of pure bliss. Butlers were always 2 steps ahead of us. Once you slip into relaxation mode, the on-site spa is yours to enjoy with the option of massages or facials. Royalton Antigua Resort and Spa. Packages at this all-inclusive resort include non-motorized water sports, and you can add on diving or fishing, which are both very popular here. These palm-thatched bungalows stretch far out over the crystal-clear waters of the Riviera Maya. The Sun Island Resort & Spa has 68 semi-detached water bungalows in addition to its 358 island rooms and bungalows, making it among the very largest private-island resorts in the Maldives. In addition to the amenities, those looking for a ‘Bora Bora experience’ will find one at the resort’s overwater villas, which make up part of the 13.5 acre waterscape. You’ll also find an on-site restaurant and great snorkeling right at the resort. 7 Gorgeous Overwater Bungalow Resorts Near the U.S. | Jetsetter. This is a very expensive resort that offers privacy in addition to the best of the best, so it’s not for most of us, but it is stunning and a fine place to dream about staying. Staying in an Overwater Bungalow isn’t known for being an affordable way to travel, after all. Considering the reasonable price, this resort could be great value for many. Currently not yet opened, but set to open in 2021, the Viceroy Bocas del Toro Resort in Panama is being designed as a honeymoon oasis with an eco-friendly twist. Far more affordable are the 30 overwater bungalows not far south of Cancun at the El Dorado Maroma Resort. Even if you can afford them you usually have to book at least 6 or more months in advance for popular times. Sticking with resorts in the Caribbean, St. George’s Caye Resort in Belize is another affordable option for overwater bungalow experiences. Chauffeured transportation 4. Once you’ve decided to venture outside of your room, you’ll find several different restaurant and bar choices with each offering something a little bit different from the next, a beautiful spa that caters with treatments for both men and women and a large selection of fun and exciting water sports. Here you’ll find excellent snorkeling plus a wide variety of boat trips, including visits to Indian communities nearby. The Coral Lodge also is great value, with perhaps the cheapest overwater bungalows in the world. Rates here start off under the US$200 mark, making this a good choice for those who have a small budget. Family Water Villas are plenty big enough and come with a huge deck and whirlpool, which of course will be a hit with the whole family. The caribbean’s most spectacular accommodations Featuring groundbreaking, innovative designs that marry modern luxury to exotic palapa-style architecture, these spectacular Infinity pool 3. Cosmic Crab Resort. At least it offers great value, with very affordable rates in spite of an all-inclusive pricing scheme. ... private patios and over-water hammocks, amongst other special features. There’s also an active clubhouse with nightly entertainment so the guests do tend to mingle here rather than keep to themselves like they do in many other resorts. A trip to the Caribbean is incomplete without a stay in any of the overwater bungalows Caribbean. 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Its 68 rooms are in 18 structures over its inland lagoon, just steps from the beach. Glass Floor 6. This place gets fabulous reviews so it’s clear that most guests are extremely happy with what they get. Found just off of the Caribbean coast of Panama on a small private island, the Walilup Hotel is an eco friendly option that allows guests the chance to experience Panama’s wildlife and natural environment up close and personal. Each room also comes with Wi-Fi and air conditioning, which comes in handy during those hot summer days. An impressively large resort featuring a 450 foot tall guitar hotel, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is one for the record books. Located on a private island 9 miles from Dangriga in Belize, the Thatch Caye Resort is probably the closest thing to a Maldives-style complex anywhere in the Western Hemisphere. Typically overwater bungalows are associated with exotic locations like Bora Bora and the Maldives.But for some travelers, they don’t want to travel as far and Bora Bora and the Maldives are quite a far journey away. You’ll also find that this location is better suited to those seeking privacy and even romance as you won’t find yourself running into the masses of tourists that visit Aruba yearly. The rest of the resort showcases lots of activities and amenities that range from kayaking, jogging, snorkeling, and scuba diving to the resort’s spa, the golf school, and archery classes.