One of the few remaining privately owned islands in its part of the world, Guana has seven white powder-sand beaches and 850 acres (3.4 km2) of tropical forest, mountains, hills, and valleys.

Archaeologists have extensively studied the Quaker ruins and have also unearthed older artifacts that give insight into Guana's earlier Amerindian history.

Henry and Gloria Jarecki bought Guana in 1975 and began improving accommodations and other facilities with the goal of maintaining the island's historic style and ambiance.

An interest in conservation led them to establish a long-term restoration program to protect the island's flora and fauna and bring back once-common species.

[1][independent source needed] The island provides habitat for the Puerto Rican racer (Alsophis portoricensis), the common Puerto Rican ameiva (Ameiva exsul), the crested anole (Anolis cristatellus wileyae), the sharp-mouthed lizard (Anolis pulchellus), barred anole (Anolis stratulus), green iguana (Iguana iguana), big-scaled least gecko (Sphaerodactylus macrolepis macrolepis), and the Richard's worm snake (Typhlops richardi).