Robert De Niro's $250M Caribbean Tourism Project Will Offer A Luxurious Island Experience

Between its miles of unspoiled white sand beaches, the gentle lull of turquoise waves lapping against the shore, and the calming chorus of tropical birds moving through the palm trees, you could say that Barbuda is the definition of desert island bliss. As one of the two islands that make up the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda, it has managed to remain relatively untouched. Now, a new luxury island resort for discerning travelers is currently underway on this underrated Caribbean tourist destination.

Developed by Nobu Hospitality, the company co-founded by acting legend Robert De Niro, Nobu Beach Inn is the latest addition to the $250 million Beach Club complex on Princess Diana Beach, on the island's south coast, that spans nearly 400 acres of prime beachfront land. The new Nobu Beach Inn will contain a range of luxury accommodations, consisting of 17 villas and 25 private residences. It will be a natural addition to Nobu Barbuda, the open-air beachfront restaurant that opened in 2020.

Drawn to the island, which he discovered while on a boat trip from Antigua over 30 years ago, De Niro knew he had found a place unlike anywhere else. "Since I first stepped foot on Barbuda, I knew it was special," said De Niro in a statement (via PR Newswire). "We wanted to create a place that's comfortable, where everyone wants to gather and embrace the essence of the island. The Nobu Beach Inn is designed to complement its surroundings while maintaining the landscape's natural beauty." 

To help preserve the largely undeveloped island, Nobu Hospitality is taking a sustainable approach to the luxury island experience. The accommodations are constructed using natural, locally inspired materials designed to blend into the surrounding landscape. Prioritizing open space and guest privacy, the high-end amenities at Nobu Beach Inn include an indoor and outdoor spa, a fully-equipped water sports center, an oceanfront pool, an outdoor cinema, and a kids' club.

The accommodation will consist of 36 bedrooms over 17 two- and three-bedroomed villas, and a further 25 beachfront residences. Some of the properties have already been snapped up, but if you're interested in buying one and have a spare $12 million lying around, you too could have your own private villa with direct access to the ocean, and entry to an exclusive beach club for you and your guests. With completion expected for late 2026, the exclusive resort is set to open in 2027.

Already bringing a touch of barefoot luxury to the shores of Barbuda with the Nobu Barbuda restaurant, more fine dining is on its way with a complement of other high-end restaurants. As well as the Japanese-Peruvian style cuisine that Nobu is celebrated for, an ocean front grill and a sushi bar will be added, perfect for after a day's snorkeling around the glittering coastline of this Caribbean destination everyone should visit at least once.

As Caribbean travel gets more popular, the creation of the Beach Club Resort in Barbuda will put Antigua's lesser-visited "sister isle" more in the spotlight. This serene island paradise has always seemed out of reach, and was previously accessed by a 90-minute boat ride from Antigua. While flights from the U.S. and Europe arrive at V.C. Bird International Airport in Antigua, travel to Barbuda will become more accessible thanks to the recently constructed Burton-Nibbs International Airport, which allows small commercial flights and private planes to land on Barbuda directly.

Beyond the Beach Club Resort, pink beaches, wild donkeys, and a rather distinctive bird are just a few of the other unique Caribbean island highlights. You'll find the famous pink sand beaches along the island's south coast. The mix of crushed shells and coral fragments are what gives the beach its uncommon pink tinge. Barbuda sits on a large shallow shelf with coral reefs dotted around offshore, which provide the ideal conditions for snorkeling among tropical fish and sea turtles.

The unique birds in question are the frigate birds, which can be seen at Frigate Bird Sanctuary near Codrington, the island's only village. Accessible only by boat, Codrington Lagoon National Park has one of the largest colonies of frigate birds in the Caribbean. Instantly recognizable by the males' striking red throat pouch, these remarkable birds can glide through the air for days on end. Fascinating to watch whether you're a birdwatcher or not. Another familiar sight are the wild donkeys roaming free around the island. Originally brought over in colonial times as work animals, the donkeys have since become a treasured part of the island landscape, and are a welcome sight as you cycle along the island paths.