This hotel, enfolded in a 67-hectare cocoa plantation in a stunning location, stares at the jagged face of Petit Piton. It is worth every hairpin bend on the parallel concrete tire paths that guests must negotiate to get here.
Nestled on a lush hillside by the sea, this romantic resort comprises six older stone cottages and five newer multicolored villas in vivid hues of candy pink, deep-sea blue, teal, turquoise and yellow that ooze West Indian charm. Nature lovers and escapists can hide away here, free of the crowds and commotion commonly found at larger St. Lucian resorts. A small open-sided villa with lacy white trim functions as the lobby. From here, guests descend a steep road to the pool, where a flagstone deck juts out over the edge of a cliff. The views are exquisite.
Menus change nightly and offer delicious Caribbean Creole and Asian dinners using fresh fish, plantains, breadfruit, mangos and other local produce. The hotel also hosts special events and barbecues for guests, and inclusive meal plans are available.
The staff customizes tours and nature excursions, and rental cars send guests off on their own. Some options include trips to the sulfur springs, a rain-forest hike, riding, touring tiny fishing villages and bird-watching. Pre-Columbian petroglyphs are hidden in a cacao field close to the resort, and free shuttles whisk guests to a nearby beach (20 minutes on foot) for snorkeling and swimming. With advance notice, babysitting services and airport transfers are arranged.
Tucked into lush tropical foliage, the stone cottages lie closest to reception, and the five newer bungalows teeter on the cliff's edge by the pool. The spacious open-plan interiors feature ceiling fans, fully equipped kitchens, coffeemakers, king and queen beds (most are four-posters) with Madras spreads, mosquito nets and large verandas with stunning views of Petit Piton. Wooden jalousies on all sides filter in the trade winds. The one-, two- and three-bedroom stone cottages have a medieval feel with their heavy furniture and cool, dark interiors. Best picks are the four one-bedroom villas, which have interiors of terra-cotta and glazed Mexican tile, peaked ceilings, woven matting, and spacious sitting areas that open to large hammock-slung porches and well-shielded outdoor showers. The huge three-bedroom, three-bath Plantation House is a popular choice, with its large pool. Eight one-bedroom luxury villas, situated below the reception area, each have a private pool but no kitchen. They offer views of the Pitons and the sea. All accommodations lack air-conditioning and can be uncomfortable during the hottest and most humid months.
The warm West Indian staff treats guests like family. This little pearl is perfect for families and couples seeking privacy, peace and St. Lucia's natural pleasures.
