Where do you go in Ghana when you really want to get away from it all and get close to some version of an utopian hideaway? Escape 3 Points – that’s where.
The remoteness of this pristine stretch of beach on the West coast, proven by the long drive through rural communities and an extensive rubber plantation required to get there, is the ideal setting for a totally secluded holiday in dreamy surroundings…and no cell service. A far cry from the resorts dotting the Ghanaian coast, Escape 3 Points is a nature lover’s paradise, blending seamlessly into the environment thanks to an eco-minded owner/architect.
The reception
French signs adorned the landscape, pointing the way to the beach (Boulevard de la Plage)…
…the restaurant (Avenue de la Fringale), etc. No doubt a touch from the owner’s French wife and an initial sign of the natural and laid-back ‘joie de vivre’ which transpires from the whole place.
The accommodations seem straight out of your childhood’s tree house fantasies.
High Times House
Perfectly spread out on the property, the hand built chalets offer privacy and a quiet stay.
Using bamboo, raffia, wood, and other natural and recycled materials, the owner succeeded in building and designing attractive and ecologically sound rooms in which you’ll never miss any of your usual modern day comforts.
I stayed in the Anansi House – aka Spider House.
The all-natural look and feel of the bedroom, ingenious composting toilet in the bathroom, and constant breeze flowing through blur the lines between the outside and the inside.
No need for AC or even a fan as all the houses have been designed to make the best use out of that fresh ocean breeze which acts as natural ventilation…and the rolling waves make the best soundtrack to fall asleep to. And that’s not mentioning the gorgeous landscape views you awake to in the morning.
You’ll find the same pleasant aesthetic in the communal areas such as the bar and lounge.
Culinary-wise, it exceeds all expectations for such a remote location, thanks to an organic garden providing fresh produce for the kitchen and bar and trees filled with mangos, coconuts, lime, bananas, oil palm, etc.. Not to miss: the bar stocks a stunning array of housemade akpeteshie, the local spirit, flavored with produces and fruits from the land – pineapple, ginger, lemongrass, fried bananas, cinnamon, garlic, etc. and my favorite mango with chili. I felt it was my duty to try them all…(!)
The outdoor eating area gets all the beach views, sounds, and fresh air and you’ll find yourself lingering for hours at the communal tables, indulging your taste buds in comforting food.
Vegetarian pasta dish from the garden
Roasted chicken with rice, Escape style
Freshly-caught grilled lobster or what one should always have for dinner at a place like this…
With my friend Tara who was visiting me from New York for a week.
The beach bar has an even more stunning setting (you guessed it, right on the beach), and immediately charms with its casually laid out rustic furniture, looking as if it has just sprung from the sandy ground.
Recycled bottles were used to make the walls, creating vibrant light reflections at different times of day.
And then there’s the beach which only hints at its beauty seen from the lodge but turns into a true vision of tropical paradise as you step on it,
Golden sand, crescent-shaped, clear and refreshing water, lush and bright green vegetation, and it seems to go on and on. No wonder it is known to be one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Ghana…and you have it almost all to yourself!
Take a walk going west towards Cape Three Points and its lighthouse (yes, there’s a lighthouse at the tip of the crescent, how cool is that?!) for an even more pristine landscape and witness Ghana’s only coastal rainforest reserve almost merging with the ocean.
A small path at the end of the beach leads you through the rainforest to the small village of Cape Three Points, a remote fishing and farming village famous mostly for its location i.e. at the southernmost tip of Ghana and therefore all of West Africa!
After a 30 minutes walk from the lodge, you find yourself not only at the southernmost tip of all of West Africa but also the closest land point to the centre of the world at 4 degrees latitude and 2 degrees longitude…impressive.
This location has obviously made Cape Three Points and its lighthouse a major landmark for navigators. The original lighthouse dating from 1875 is still standing though you’ll want to climb on top of the newer one built in 1925 and in use today.
Once at the top of this solar-powered lighthouse you’ll get breathtaking 360° views of the entire coast.
Looking north from the tip of Ghana
Looking out East towards Escape 3 Points
The walk back will be as pleasant as the walk out and made even more beautiful in the golden hour of a late afternoon setting sun, colors popping out everywhere.
To add to the long list of bliss-inducing things about this place, let’s just point out that they also have a sea turtle conservation project right on the beach as well. Fall is prime nesting season for the endangered sea turtles and Escape 3 Points is closely watching and protecting their eggs from predators to make sure the little ones get into the sea safely. I had the wonderful thrill of holding a newborn in my hands before we all ran to the beach and released it, watching it disappear, swallowed by the first wave… Truly magical evening.
You just won’t want to leave…I know I didn’t!
wow… merci!
do you think that with 2 kids, a trip like that would be fun and safe?
Bienvenue Seb!
Of course you could totally do it with the family. Can’t think of a safer place and the fun everyone would have is well worth the trek. Worth noting too that the owner is Canadian/Ghanaian and speaks French alors ca rend les choses encore plus faciles! Do it! 🙂