Axim Beach Hotel is the perfect base for an off-the-beaten-track adventure in Ghana. The hotel is located in the coastal town of its namesake, in the western region of south Ghana, but it feels like you’re tucked away in another world. It is comprised of a cluster of villas, inspired by mud house architecture, sprawled over a hillside covered in palm trees overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The eco-friendly resort fosters sustainable tourism and employs environmentally friendly practices like solar water heating systems, as well as using recycled materials whenever possible.

Axim is a mini-village of chalets where guests can achieve a nice balance of rest and relaxation while taking advantage of modern amenities like satellite TV, cooling fans, wi-fi and AC. When I first entered my room, I had flashbacks of a waterbug incident at another hotel, but luckily I can report that the only critter that made its way inside of my room was a tiny lizard. They’re creepy, but not nearly as bad as bugs, and they tend to stay in one spot on the wall or ceiling before they seemingly vanish into thin air. Fauna aside, my experience here was pleasant.

There are sea turtles roaming the beach, friendly cats wandering the property (and hopefully keeping the creepy-crawlies away) and nature and adventure lovers will be titillated by experiences like surfing, beach volleyball, nature hiking, bird watching and more. Culturally enriching activities like drumming and dance classes are available, and the locally hired staff are happy to help organize tours that venture into the surrounding town, where guests can go to markets or even venture to the nearby twin cities of Sekondi-Takoradi. Other points of interest may such as Ankasa Forest and Amansuri Wetlants are about a 40-minute drive from the hotel.