Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda Opening In November

Michès, a relatively untouched part of the Dominican Republic, is preparing for its first-ever resort: Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda. This 93-acre, $100-million project is set to host its first guests on Nov. 23, a week earlier than previously announced.

This 335-key resort is Club Med's first-ever Exclusive Collection property in the Americas. It features 2,000 feet of beach area and four specialized boutique villages, depending on preference of stay: Explorer Cove, Caribbean Paradise, Emerald Jungle and Archipelago.

Explorer Cove provides the most accommodations, hosting 158 family-oriented rooms close to the children's clubs and sports facilities. Caribbean Paradise has 111 rooms situated in the heart of the resort and close to the main pool and the beach lounge.

Emerald Jungle and Archipelago are the two adults-only villages. The former is for wellness seekers with 48 deluxe rooms, located near the Zen pool, the spa, fitness facilities and the wellness bar. Archipelago is for romantics and is significantly more exclusive, boasting just 18 oceanfront suites with private pools, an outdoor shower, an infinity view from the bedroom and exclusive access to a private section of the beach.

Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda's on-property amenities include three restaurants, a beach lounge, four bars, three wine cellars and a coffee shop.

Cayuco is the main restaurant, featuring three dining rooms (including one reserved for adults) and a self-service, marketplace atmosphere with a gourmet, international menu. Open for dinner only, Coal and Copper Steakhouse specializes in charcoal grilling and the use of an "asado," an Argentinian grill. Cacao & Co. Family Restaurant offers a Dominican menu fit for the entire family and grants the kids access to the "top-secret Caramel Room."

Included in the resorts amenities is access to more than 25 different sports and activities. Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda offers fitness classes, yoga classes, tennis, a guided running trail, pickleball, dance classes, archery, team sports, indoor climbing, aqua fitness, circus activities, snorkeling and kayaking (including see-through models).

The resort will also host six unique experiences: JetSurf (electric surfboarding), horseback riding on the beach, Hobie Eclipse (stand-up pedal board), a fitness trail, a treetop yoga class and family paddle-boarding.

There are four on-property pools, including the adults-only, natural Zen pool, and the Cinq Mondes Spa that features single- and double-treatment rooms, a beauty salon, reflexology-and-relaxation areas, a sauna, hydrotherapy treatments, a steam room and hot-and-cold plunge baths.

Guests looking to explore the natural, off-property scenery can do so with Club Med Michès Playa Esmeralda's excursions program. Tours allow visitors to explore Laguna Limón, a nature reserve, the 170-foot-high Limón waterfall, Samana Bay and Montaña Redonda (the "Rounded Mountain").