Indonesia has another island you should visit and it has a brand new luxury resort
A 1.5-hour airplane ride from Bali is the untouched island of Sumba.
It is twice the size of Bali, with less than half its population. The towering cliffs, bottomless lagoons and soft sand beaches are a complete contrast from its more famous counterpart. Another landmark that Sumba owns is the newly finished Cap Karoso resort.
Travel + Leisure shared the details of the island’s newest addition. Owned by French husband-and-wife duo, Evguenia and Fabrice Ivara, the resort is their first attempt at being hoteliers. The location sits on 15 acres of untouched, secluded shoreline, extending the exclusiveness throughout the property. The couple found the land in 2017 and loved its unobstructed panoramic views of the Indian Ocean.
Individually, the couple has an extensive background in luxury brand management. Eve is a high-end brand marketing expert, and Fabrice is a Parisian food blogger. The two are dedicated to creating a less sensational and more personal feel for the resort. The resort offerings aren’t centered around tourist traps or the best picture moments like other locations, but rather focus on a more tasteful and intentional approach.
“It’s my project, so if my mom sees Cap Karoso reposting a naked lady eating a floating breakfast, she will say it’s my shame,” Eve told Travel + Leisure.
The resort’s design and decorations are a balance of native and influenced art and textiles.
The studios, suites and villas boast intricate wood carvings reminiscent of local ikat patterns and Indigenous statues. The architecture is a nod to the traditional Sumbanese buildings, huts and roof shapes. Bathrooms include deep ceramic soaking tubs and panoramic windows placed on pebblestone walls.
The noted luxury amenities of the resort include a private shoreline dotted with day beds, an outdoor cinema area, and a spa/gym with ocean views. Fabrice took care of the location’s culinary choices by building an organic farm, plant nursery, buffalo herd and chicken coop.
Every room comes with “a Klipsch soundbar, gourmet minibar with an ice well, Italian espresso coffee machine, Indonesian single-estate coffee and tea, custom room fragrance and bath products, Cabas bags, bathrobes, yoga mats, and air-conditioning. The Beachfront Suites have a Bang & Olufsen speaker or sound system too, and each villa has a private swimming pool.”
The resort is set to open fully to the public in August and will have double rooms starting at $333.00 per night.
For more information on Cap Karoso, please visit CapKaroso.com.
Martie Bowser is a journalist and public relations professional in Charlotte, NC. She enjoys amplifying the voices of POC and women that fill a void within their community. Her favorite things to cover include “person of interest” pieces, small business highlights, pop culture commentary, entertainment features, and everything about Beyoncé. Her bylines can be found in Blavity, Black Excellence, Signature Bride, Black Wall Street Times, and HipHop Weekly. Martie can be reached via email at martiebowser@detourxp.com.
This story was originally published June 21, 2023 at 5:27 PM.