Finding wellness at The Hillside Eco-Retreat
In a world where much of our day is spent staring at screens, answering messages and moving from one digital notification to the next, sometimes the best wellness practice is simply to unplug. On St. Maarten, The Hillside Eco Retreat in South Reward is offering residents and visitors a chance to do just that: Trade screen time for fresh air, hiking trails, trees, birdsong and a slower pace of life.
The retreat is designed around a simple idea – reconnecting with nature can help us reconnect with ourselves. Hiking trails wind through the property toward the Dutch/French border, offering an opportunity to move the body while taking in the island’s natural landscape. For those accustomed to spending hours indoors, even a short hike can feel like a reset, providing a welcome change of rhythm with fresh air, physical activity and time away from devices.
There is also something grounding about being surrounded by living things. The property includes beehives, organically grown herbs and spices, seasonal fruit and other elements of small-scale agriculture. Visitors may encounter chickens, trees and the everyday sights and sounds of a working natural environment – a reminder that wellness does not always have to come in the form of a spa treatment or fitness class. The retreat’s honey, harvested on the property, is another expression of that connection to the land. Alongside its pure honey, The Hillside produces infused varieties such as sorrel honey and hot honey.
For those wanting to stay longer, the retreat is developing a glamping experience that combines the simplicity of camping with a few comforts. Guests can sleep in a large canvas tent with a queen-sized bed, wooden deck and private terrace, with an outdoor shower and toilet. Waking to birds, breezes and greenery offers a very different start to the day than reaching for a phone beside the bed.
Project leader Erjon Neuman says the goal is to create a space where people can “disconnect from the digital world” and immerse themselves in the island’s natural beauty and history. Perhaps time is the real luxury The Hillside offers – time to walk, time to breathe, time to listen, time to explore, and time to simply be. In an increasingly connected world, stepping away from the screen may be one of the healthiest ways to reconnect.
Located at 37 Reward Road, contact The Hillside Eco-Retreat at Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Phone/WhatsApp: +1 (721) 581-1837; Instagram: @thehillside_sxm
