Rare Forms: Ritz-Carlton Reserve’s Uniquely Special Destinations For the Most Discerning Travelers

T here are hotels, and then there are escapes: places so remote or deeply rooted in their landscapes that the extraordinary setting becomes the main attraction. That is the philosophy behind Ritz-Carlton Reserve, the ultra-exclusive collection from The Ritz-Carlton—and the presenting partner of Sotheby’s Book Week—with just a handful of properties around the world. Each is deliberately positioned somewhere rare: beside one of the planet's largest barrier reefs, amid UNESCO-listed valleys, or on vast wildernesses defined by remarkable biodiversity. Rather than simply occupying these remarkable locations, the hotels immerse guests in them, drawing on local culture, history, ecology, and tradition. The result: A pitch-perfect portfolio where the landscape is every bit as luxurious as the accommodations.

Reef and Reveries

The Arabic word "Nujuma" means "the stars," and Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Saudi Arabia lives up to its name. Set within the Red Sea archipelago, it sits between two extraordinary worlds: the fourth-largest barrier reef on Earth and some of the clearest night skies in the region. Beneath the surface, divers encounter coral gardens, reef sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, and countless tropical fish. After dark, there are moonlit yoga and stargazing sessions where resident astronomer Ahmed Althaher guides guests through the ancient Arabian art of celestial navigation.

Grounds for Adventure

Costa Rica's Peninsula Papagayo is one of Central America's ecological treasures, and Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, occupies 1,400 protected acres bordering the UNESCO-listed Área de Conservación Guanacaste. The tropical landscape can be explored by zip line, mountain bike, canoe, or hiking trail, but it's equally celebrated for what grows there: coffee and cacao. Guests can learn traditional coffee-making techniques or simply sip Costa Rican chorreado brewed from prized Tarrazú beans. Meanwhile, the resort's master chocolatier creates works inspired by the Chorotega, the Indigenous people renowned for their pottery traditions, and even offers guests the chance to craft their own chocolate bars.

Vitamin Sea

Some hotels are all about the beach, but Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in San José Del Cabo, Mexico celebrates the sea. Overlooking the Sea of Cortez—famously dubbed "the Aquarium of the World" by Jacques Cousteau—the resort is surrounded by extraordinary marine life, from migrating whales to manta rays and leatherback sea turtles. Local folklore adds another layer of intrigue, with tales of pirate treasure and the elusive pejesapo, a mysterious creature said to vanish into the rocks and sand. Guests can explore these waters alongside marine biologists, join traditional Fish & Cook excursions with local fishermen, or participate in the resort's conservation partnership with Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ambassadors of the Environment program.

Mountain Mysteries

Near Jiuzhaigou in Sichuan Province, China, Rissai Valley, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is the first of its kind in the country and sits beside a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Valley of Nine Villages." Surrounded by brilliantly colored lakes, waterfalls, and forested peaks, its 87 villas overlook a landscape long inhabited by Tibetan communities. Guests can explore nearby villages with resident cultural experts or hike the valley's quieter trails before unwinding with the Eaglewood Vibration Ritual, a treatment combining aromatic agarwood oil with the soothing resonance of Tibetan singing bowls.

Estate Pleasures

Before becoming one of the Caribbean's most celebrated resorts, Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico was a working pineapple, citrus, and sugarcane estate, and that legacy still shapes the experience, especially at the five-acre Spa Botánico, with its own pineapple garden. Here, treatments draw inspiration from the island's natural abundance using coconut oil, coffee scrubs, and wild herbs. Walking and cycling trails weave through gardens, signature Cupey trees, and coastal scenery, inviting guests to explore this one-of-a-kind setting up close.

Emerald Escape

Few landscapes are as unmistakably Balinese as emerald rice terraces and jungle-clad valleys, and Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve has both. Set beside the Ayung River near Bali’s spiritual hub of Ubud, the resort feels like a traditional village where days unfold with al fresco breakfasts over the misty fields each morning, steamy jungle walks in the afternoon, and end with evenings of zero-waste, hyper-local feasts at the romantic Kubu restaurant. Guests can also immerse themselves in the island’s spiritual traditions through visits to the property's active Hindu temple and sessions with the resort’s resident blind healer, whose intuitive practice offers a rare window into Bali’s enduring culture and spirituality.

Beach Bliss

On Mexico's Riviera Nayarit, where the Sierra Madre Mountains tumble into the Pacific Ocean, Sīarí, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, occupies a 920-acre estate with nearly 4.3 miles of pristine, gold-sand beach framed by wild jungle. The landscape caters to the adventurous and active with hikes to hidden waterfalls, excursions to secluded coves, and a Tom Fazio-designed golf course; but the secluded beach has a do-nothing lure that is impossible to resist. Heritage served with local seafood dishes in the restaurants and sacred water-based rituals, like sensory baths inspired by Wixárika culture, in the spa.

Coastal Majesty

Tucked along Thailand's fabled Andaman Coast, Phulay Bay was the first Ritz-Carlton Reserve and remains one of the region's most extraordinary retreats. Set against a backdrop of dramatic limestone cliffs, emerald jungle, and the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea, the resort offers a sense of seclusion rarely found in one of the world's most sought-after destinations. Private longtail boat excursions to hidden islands, sunrise views over Krabi's iconic karst formations, and immersive encounters with local culture and cuisine fill the days. The architecture draws inspiration from traditional Thai design, while expansive villas, many with private pools and sweeping ocean views, create an atmosphere of understated elegance. Equal parts sanctuary and gateway to discovery, Phulay Bay captures the natural beauty, rich heritage, and unhurried rhythm that make southern Thailand so captivating.