Hotels around the world are tapping into the noctourism travel trend by offering and facilitating unique, exciting, and awe-inspiring nighttime adventures.
It’s easy to fill an itinerary with outdoorsy daytime excursions that revolve around your destination’s natural beauty. But planning to enjoy and explore like that at night isn’t typically at the forefront of travelers’ minds. That’s why noctourism experiences are so well worth consideration. From stargazing at “dark sky” locations to nighttime rainforest treks, constellation spotting, and night drive safaris, the possibilities are as enticing as they are unforgettable.
Below, scroll through six stellar stays making epic noctourism experiences happen.
6 Top Hotels For Noctourism Experiences
Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico — Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest System. And when you stay at the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico, you’ll be in the foothills of that lush wooded area, making for an unparalleled noctourism adventure. Since rainforests come alive at night, touring then is exciting and multisensory, filled with the sights and sounds of the flora and nocturnal fauna.
Accessible on the property, you can make arrangements with Dragonfly Global DMC, the resort’s tour partner, for nighttime walking tours through El Yunque. After being shuttled from the hotel to the rainforest, the tour’s knowledgeable guide will thoughtfully showcase unique plants and animals as it gets increasingly darker. You’re likely to see some coquís, which are beloved tiny frogs endemic to Puerto Rico that make super loud calls. While under the starlight, you may also get the chance to see bioluminescent fungi, scorpions glowing in the dark, and the native yagrumo hembra, aka the “trumpet tree.”
Zion Wildflower Resort — Virgin, Utah
If you want glamping and stargazing experiences that are beginner-friendly, laid-back, and relaxed, this is the stay for you. Utah is known for its dark sky tourism — a major contributor to the noctourism trend — and this cabin stay is a fantastic place to see the night’s lights.
At this oasis in the desert, the end to the perfect day includes unwinding with some s’mores, songs, and stories around the fire pits. Then you can enjoy stargazing from the private porch of your luxe tent or bungalow. Or for even better views, head up the property’s Wildflower Trail to an elevated outdoor viewpoint. Surrounded by darkness and the landscape’s red rock, flat-topped mesas, you’ll feel like the twinkling stars are closer than ever.
O2 Beach Club & Spa — St. Lawrence Gap, Barbados
At this hotel, you can choose your own adventure regarding the type of noctourism that you want to experience. Leo Branch, the resort’s resident astronomer, has over 60 years of astronomy expertise. Join him for an outdoor nighttime session with other hotel guests near the beach. During the viewing, the “Bajan Starman” spotlights wondrous constellations and twinkling stars that will leave you in awe, and you get to see them up close with his large telescope. Branch blends his astronomical knowledge with celestial storytelling that recalls different eras of viewing Barbados’ nighttime sky, which has changed as the country has developed, and light pollution in some areas has increased. The sky-viewing sessions are magical, and Branch makes astronomical information easy to understand.
Another resort offering is the chance to bask in the nighttime sky’s stillness solo while listening to a guided stargazing meditation recorded for O2 guests.
Zielo de Levante — Tírig, Spain
About a two-hour drive from Barcelona, these glamping “bubble” pods offer amazing panoramic nighttime sky views you can enjoy from the comfort of your bed. Or if that’s not your vibe, you can see the stars at this remote glamping retreat from your private plunge pool or elsewhere on the property with a provided telescope. Making for a memorable experience, stargazing at this adults-only retreat will be charming whether you’re a solo traveler or with your significant other.
InterContinental Hayman Island Great Barrier Reef — Hayman Island, Australia
Several times a week, this private island resort offers a “Nocturnal Walk” that goes from dusk into night. During the excursion, you get to see both land- and sea-dwelling wildlife, including owls, Proserpine rock-wallabies, and rays. Additionally, the resort partners with Yooribaya Cultural Experiences to offer a stargazing and astronomy experience. During the latter, guides provide insight into how to use the stars as a compass. You also get to learn about astronomy through the eyes of “Traditional Owners of Ngaro & Gia Land & Seas.”
Sanctuary Stanley’s Camp — Okavango Delta, Botswana
A truly one-of-a-kind experience, a stay at this collection of luxury tented lodgings includes safari night drives in Botswana’s captivating Okavango Delta. In another destination where nocturnal wildlife is highly active, the sights and sounds of your surroundings will be truly spectacular. Your guide will safely help you spot what can be seen that evening, which may include everything from “elusive aardvarks” to “prowling predators” like leopards, servals, and hyenas. Additionally, you’ll get the chance to stargaze from your safari vehicle inside the UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to one of the world’s largest inland deltas.
