A destination for eco-conscious travellers seeking authenticity and a sense of community, Gold-List Award Winner Cap Karoso offers traditional-styled pavilions, sustainable-minded practices and farm-to-table cultivation
Named after the beautiful Karoso Beach it resides on, Cap Karoso is designed to offer guests an authentic Indonesian experience that embraces the rich traditions native to its landscape. The resort provides visitors with a genuine glimpse into the preserved culture and breathtaking landscape of Sumba.
Located in eastern Indonesia, Sumba is a quieter alternative to the hustle and bustle of Bali. Adorned with rich historic landmarks – namely the megalithic tombs side-by-side with soaring peaked houses known as uma mbatangu – the choice of Sumba for Cap Karoso was a pledge to both preservation and exploration, with local involvement integral to the project.
The location of Cap Karoso strongly influenced the design direction. Guests are immersed in the story of Sumba by way of visual references to the local religion, Marapu, and the integration of art, materials and crafts inspired by traditional aesthetics. Comprising 47 guest rooms and 20 beach villas, the resort was designed by Jakarta-based interior design and architecture firm Bitte Design Studio. The resort amalgamates local traditions and contemporary features, such as merging the traditionally styled pavilions at the heart of the property with a series of modern structures. The resort also features an open-air cinema, a pool with a bar, a kids club, a wellness spa, a fitness centre and a yoga platform.
Design details include locally scoured hand-carved wooden headboards in the guestrooms, ikat wall hangings by Indonesian artist, Alexander Sebastianus Hartanto, and contemporary Indonesian art in public spaces. Materials incorporated throughout Cap Karoso were sourced locally and sustainably, including the Sumba stone used throughout the property and guestrooms.
Cap Karoso is committed to minimising its environmental footprint, with a range of sustainable-minded practices already actioned, including drawing at least 50 per cent of energy use from an onsite solar panel park, vegetation placement and landscape design to reduce the need for air-conditioning and a complete ban on plastic packaging on site.
The epicurean experiences and cultivation at Cap Karoso stand out as a highlight, with the resort having won the Gourmet Luxury Tourism Experience award at the Gold List Awards 2023. The Cap Karoso Farm is an expansive working estate set up by organic agriculturalist Philippe Guiglionda, designed to harvest fresh produce – including organic eggs, dairy, fruit and vegetables – for the hotel’s dining venues. The dining venues at Cap Karoso include a fine-dining communal table restaurant catering exclusively to the guests of the resort, Julang. The restaurant engages world-renowned chefs from around the world for short residencies, challenging them to transform ingredients from Cap Karoso’s organic farm into an epicurean experience that celebrates Sumba’s local produce. In addition to Julang, there is a casual Beach Club that specialises in family-inspired cuisine created with local produce with a zero-waste objective.