Hotel Snapshot
“This sand looks like cous cous!” I shout to my friend over the rhythmic sound of the waves breaking in front of Cap Karoso. I’d never touched, let alone seen, circular sand before, just one of the many unique characteristics I’d find during my time on the island of Sumba.
A one-hour flight from the buzzing island of Bali, this lush island is twice its size, with none of the crowd-filled chaos. Located in the Lesser Sunda Archipelago, it’s a uniquely Catholic island with strong ties to its traditional Marapu religion. Cap Karoso is one of only a handful of stylish new resorts that dot the island’s outer edges, but it’s arguably the most striking.
Design & Character
Channeling a bit of Bali, a dose of French Riviera and an abundance of coastal cool, the design here is a tropical modernist masterpiece. Award-winning architect Gary Fell worked in tandem with Jakarta-based Bitte Design Studio to create comfortable, open-air living with sleek architecture and tons of Sumbanese touches. Its cement flooring against dark timber, soft cream-colored furniture, and traditional Sumbanese architecture and decor mark Cap Kaoroso as a design darling.
The Rooms
The resort's 66 rooms and suites span from a simple studio to a spacious beachfront villa. Each comes with outdoor space, as well as its signature design touches like a hand-carved wood panel inspired by the island’s Ikat weaving and locally-made ceramics. Its beach suites and studios are most popular (we recommend booking room 103 for the best ocean views). Its multi-bedroom villas are decked out with a private infinity pool, dreamy tiled bathrooms and a fully-stocked kitchen made for families.
The Food & Drink
Cap Karoso is all about creativity, especially when it comes to all things culinary. There are three restaurants and a bar here, all of which use fresh eggs, herbs and vegetables from the resort’s farm down the road. The Beach Club is the center of the resort with all-day dining, including Nasi Goreng, smoked gazpacho and wood-fired pizzas. (Don’t skip out on the pulled pork bao buns or any of the desserts). For something lighter, Apicine serves a small, ever-changing menu of small bites like eggplant dip with black garlic and octopus carpaccio. They also have a list of signature cocktails created by mixologist Nico de Soto (responsible for two bars on the 50 best list) with fun twists on the classics like a Cap Karoso Old Fashioned with croissant bourbon and pandan palm syrup.
For something a bit more special, a book in at Julang, where a rotating cast of culinary masters come to the resort to create a multi-course experience. One month, this chef’s table may have a Mexican flair, and the next a Japanese menu.
The Amenities
For a small resort, it’s surprisingly well stocked. There’s a fully-equipped gym inside a traditionally-built Sumbanese house, a multi-room spa, two infinity pools, a seven-acre farm with pigs and horses, and a long stretch of sand.
Spa & Wellness Scoop
Spa time here leans hard into the island’s spiritual healing techniques. Its Malala Spa is built to look like traditional local homes with tall thatched roofs, outfitted with all-natural oils and herbs harvested from the island and the resort’s farm. Sumba’s Marapu religion is the inspiration for treatments like their signature Moro Ndahka massage, using a special oil made from the bark of Sumbanese trees. After a long flight, guests can sign up for a morning or sunset yoga session on the beach. And if spirituality is your bread and butter, you can apply for a seven-day Shamanic Healing Journey with a local Shaman.
Location & Neighborhood Recs
It's an hour and a bit drive from the airport to reach Cap Karoso, situated in the Kodi subdistrict in the island’s southwest. You’ll pass by rows of corn and cashew trees, but not much else before you arrive, so solitude is part of its appeal. But local tourist sites like the electric blue Weekuri Lagoon and Marapu villages are a short drive away. Plus, there’s every water activity under the Indonesian sun, from surfing to fishing to secluded beaches a boat ride away.
Fast Facts
Location: Sumba, Indonesia
Vibe: If Bali and the South of France had a beautiful beachside baby
Rating: Five-star
Room Count: 66 rooms and suites
Pricing: Rooms start at $370/night
Our Favorite Thing About The Hotel: Sunset by the beach where locals ride their sandalwood horses on the sand, and the bar team makes top-notch locally-inspired cocktails.
Dining: The Beach Club (all-day dining, Indonesian and Western plates), Apicine (light Mediterranean bites and cocktails), Julang (fine-dining, multi-course, changing menus)
Amenities: Two infinity pools, three restaurants, one bar, beach lounge chairs, kids’ club, fully-equipped gym, spa, boutique, farm, bicycles
Nearby Attractions: Weekuri Lagoon, traditional Sumbanese villages
Airport: Tambolaka Airport (TMC)
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