Aguada mayor joins opening gala for El Oasis Hotel, reviving a historic landmark

Aguada Mayor Christian Cortés Feliciano and entrepreneurs Victor and Hannah Sine at last week’s ribbon-cutting. The Sines have invested $3.3 million to restore El Oasis Hotel, formerly known as La Villa de la Aguada, as a vibrant cultural and community hub.

By THE STAR STAFF

Aguada Mayor Christian Cortés Feliciano attended last Thursday’s grand opening gala for El Oasis Hotel, a new hospitality venture in western Puerto Rico that breathes new life into a property with more than four decades of history in the municipality.

Although El Oasis Hotel is presented as a new project, the site has long been part of Aguada’s landscape and collective memory. After years of abandonment, the property -- formerly known as La Villa de la Aguada -- has been meticulously restored by entrepreneurs Victor and Hannah Sine, now residents of Aguada, who invested $3.3 million to revive the space as a vibrant cultural and community hub.

The Sines, who are not originally from Puerto Rico, emphasized their commitment to the local community. Their vision goes beyond attracting outside visitors, they said; they aim to create a destination for domestic tourism, offering residents from across the island a place to relax and reconnect with nature and nostalgia.

“El Oasis Hotel is a conscious restoration of a place with history, respecting its original essence while bringing back its splendor,” Victor Sine said. “More than an opening, this is a recovery -- of a space, of memories, and of its role as a community gathering point.”

The boutique hotel sits on 14 acres of lush greenery and features walking trails, outdoor spaces, a swimming pool, and an event hall ideal for retreats and celebrations. Its on-site restaurant, Ylang Ylang, is open to guests and the public, offering fresh, creative cuisine complemented by collaborations with local coffee growers, cacao producers and artisans.

Recognizing the limited availability of walking trails in Puerto Rico’s western region, Sine also developed multiple paths within the property, which remain open to the public and continue to expand. The trails aim to strengthen connections with nature and Aguada’s rural surroundings.

Cortés Feliciano praised the initiative, stating: “We wish them great success, and as we remind all entrepreneurs, the Municipality of Aguada is your ally in fostering business ideas and economic development.”

Located in Barrio Naranjo Arriba on Carretera 416, kilometer 7.5, El Oasis Hotel accommodates up to 77 guests across 26 units and villas. In addition to various indoor amenities, outdoor areas provide options for open-air events. As part of its commitment to local production, the property serves Café Cacique, grown, processed and roasted entirely in Puerto Rico.