5 Best Resorts in St. Lucia for Bird-Watching, Snorkeling, Horseback Riding, & More
Climbing to the 2,619-foot peak of the Gros Piton, tasting cacao seeds from the tree on an organic farm in lush inland jungles, or snorkeling among some of the most protected reefs in the Caribbean is all impossible without first booking a stay at one of the best resorts in St. Lucia.
The eastern Caribbean island is a reader favorite for a reason: not only is it an island full of adventure, with natural mud baths, zip-lining through jungles, and the aforementioned hiking of the volcanic Pitons, but St. Lucia also offers a diverse food scene, including a fascinating Indian cuisine heritage. Many of the island’s restaurants are starting to source from government-backed farming initiatives on the island to not only cut costs, but to also reduce the environmental impact of shipping items in.
This is a passion point for the island, and the dreamy resorts that offer unspoiled beach access, jaw-dropping views, and indulgent service are helping to push forward local initiatives like these. For example, Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet Resort’s executive director of marketing and operations Karolin Troubetzkoy has long established programs to raise up the community in a sustainable fashion, such as sourcing food from local farmers and fishers, establishing an art program that supports and showcases the island’s artists, and most recently, working on a coral reef restoration program. Ladera Resort gives back to the community by decorating its rooms with exclusively St. Lucian–crafted furniture and organizing ongoing initiatives like planting trees or repairing roads.
Each of the following resorts offers programs that support eco-initiatives or the local community, reflecting the greater philosophy shared by the island nation, all without sacrificing an ounce of luxury. Read on to find the best resort for your St. Lucian island escape.
Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and reviewed by a Condé Nast Traveler journalist who knows the destination and has visited that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider properties across price points that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination, keeping design, location, service, and sustainability credentials top of mind.
All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Courtesy Jade MountainhotelJade Mountain
$$$ |
Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Top amenities: Organic farm tours, scuba diving and snorkeling, birdwatching
What’s nearby: The colorful town of Soufrière is a short drive away—enjoy a Piton beer atThe Container Bar N GrillThis monumental concrete tree house is perched on a verdant hill to provide the 24 guest suites—each with a private infinity pool, bedroom, living area, and bathroom—with the most sublime views of the Pitons the island has to offer. Jade Mountain is a true destination resort. Travelers around the globe venture to St. Lucia just to stay at this wonder of a property, which has just as much heart as its design chops and James Beard Award–winning culinary program. It's the brainchild of architect Nick Troubetzkoy and his wife, Karolin, who operates the pen-and-paper guest books to this day. The couple and most of their family live a short drive away near the property-owned organic farm and gardens (guests are encouraged to tour the operation, where their son, Yasha, brews the craft beer served at the resort with island-grown ingredients like soursop and amaranth). In the 16 years since Jade Mountain opened, Nick and Karolin have worked tirelessly to help create a vibrant, sustainable economy in Soufrière, where the resort is located. They were recently awarded the island's highest honor: The Saint Lucia Cross. Nick was named an individual of distinguished service with continued dedication to the advancement of St. Lucia for his impactful, regenerative community efforts. A typical day at the resort includes lounging on a private soft sand beach, indulging in a massage in your open-air suite, and sipping a cocktail while watching the sun set behind the horizon.
Mike Toy/Courtesy Cap MaisonhotelCap Maison
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023Top amenities: Private dining deck, hiking and running club, wind surfing, a Champagne zip line
What’s nearby: Participate in the Friday night local Jump Up party in Gros Iset, only minutes from Cap Maison and a real St. Lucian fêteHaving just completed a top-to-bottom renovation, this boutique resort now offers one of the most sophisticated stays on the island. Studio IDC, who specialize in luxury hotels and residential homes in the Caribbean, took on the project and delivered a hacienda-style resort with 50 guest rooms and suites that match the expectations of the resort’s loyal clientele of celebrities and in-the-know couples alike. The resort has implemented many measures to minimize its impact on the surrounding natural areas during the renovation, adding solar panels, reducing single-use plastics, and installing a sewerage treatment plant, which they recirculate as irrigation water. Cap Maison’s cliff top location boasts unobstructed views across Pigeon Island National Park and offers access to a private beach for lounging, swimming, and water sports. Located in a secluded cape in the north of the island, you’d never know that the lively Rodney Bay is just minutes away, with its abundance of restaurants and bars—like the atmospheric Buzz Seafood and Grill. Back at the resort, don’t miss a private dinner on the Caribbean’s first dining deck out in the sea, serviced by a Champagne zip line.
Courtesy Sugar Beach ResorthotelSugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
$$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Top amenities: Kids club, sailing, art installations
What’s nearby: The resort is located right at the base of Petit Piton, making it very easy to exploreWhile St. Lucia is best known for its romantic and adventure travel, Sugar Beach has recently added programming that makes the resort perfect for the whole family. As of this summer, Sugar Beach created “V Team Kids,” a club with locally-rooted, experience-based activities like guided nature walks and the planting of coral reefs just off the shores of the property’s beach. But it’s not all about the kids. While the youngsters are off creating memories, adults can take advantage of the resort’s more luxurious offerings. Each room has access to butler service to help plan grown-up excursions like sailing, rum tasting, and waterfall chasing. Back at the property, there’s a treehouse spa with treatments that use nourishing ingredients from nearby volcanic springs, plus six restaurants. Hidden among the resort’s 100 acres of jungle and white sand beaches are art installations from the likes of Jeff Koons, Andy Warhol, and Damien Hirst.
Courtesy Ladera ResorthotelLadera Resort
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023Top amenities: Nature trails, horseback riding, “Fish Friday,” a weekly party in a nearby fishing village
What’s nearby: Project Chocolat, a tree-to-bar chocolate-making experienceA stay with a slice of history, Ladera Resort was once part of the Rabot Estate, one of St. Lucia’s oldest cocoa plantations. Today, the 37 rooms and suites reflect its history with covered verandas and tall white-painted slat ceilings, yet each of the three-wall accommodations boasts contemporary standards of luxury, like tablets, Nespresso machines, and keyless entry wristbands. Situated on a UNESCO World Heritage site, the setting is unlike any other, on a volcano ridgeline 1,000 feet above the Caribbean Sea. Soak in these views from the private dipping pools included in each room. The resort prides itself on its sustainable ethos—the property is constructed from locally harvested tropical hardwoods, stone, and tile, while all of the furniture is made locally by St. Lucian artisans. The resort has eliminated single-use plastics on-site, and the staff-led Ladera Green Team meets weekly to participate in community efforts like planting trees at a local school or cleaning up roads.
Courtesy Anse Chastanet ResorthotelAnse Chastanet Resort
$$ | Readers' Choice Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023Top amenities: Coral planting, jungle biking, chocolate making
What’s nearby: Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens & Mineral Baths is nearby, and a great day activity for learning about the island’s flora and faunaAnse Chastanet Resort sits just below Jade Mountain Resort and is also owned and operated by the Troubetzkoys. Anse Chastanet offers the perk of being a little more laid-back and is located right on the soft beaches of a secluded cove. Boasting highly curated art and furniture by local artisans, most of the 49 rooms and cottages—with room for two to six guests—promote the pleasant trade winds with their octagonal design, wraparound balconies, and jalousie windows. Both resorts have recently partnered with Scuba St. Lucia to establish two new coral nurseries. The focus is primarily on the conservation of two of the Caribbean’s most critically endangered coral species; in addition to fostering the growth of the corals, the nurseries function as an educational hub, where guests can participate and explore with hands-on courses. Also offered on property: art classes taught by Naja Misaki Simeon (aka Sakey), one of Saint Lucia’s up-and-coming artists and trained art teacher; jungle biking through over 12 miles of the resort's private trails; chocolate sensory tastings, educational estate trips, and truffle making classes—there are over 2,000 cocoa trees on the property.
