From the picturesque mountains and pristine beaches to the luxury resorts, Saint Lucia really is somewhere to go for ‘treat yourself’ vibes.
It’s natural beauty and scenic landscape frequently draw in couples annually from across the globe and it deservedly has built a reputation as the ultimate honeymoon destination in recent years. However, if you are someone traveling solo, you’ll also find the island to have plenty to offer, whether you’re looking to unwind or experience some adrenaline pumping adventure, this should be somewhere to pop on the female solo-traveller’s bucket list.
I spent five days in two beautiful luxury resorts while trying my hand at zip-lining through the rainforest, ducking my head under waterfalls and bathing in some natural volcanic hot springs. The perfect mix of relaxing and adventure for one!
My first nights were spent in the beautiful and chic Landings Resort, tucked away in Rodney Bay along the West coast. Its crown jewel is the white sand beach that stretches across the back of the property with that shimmering turquoise water we all want from a luxury destination. When you think ‘Caribbean’, an image of this beach is what springs to mind.
It also has its own marina in the centre of the resort for guests with boats and yachts to dock in as they explore the Caribbean.
You could easily spend your day here, stretched out on a lounger on the private beach but if you fancy a little more activity in your day, there is plenty to do and see. I took a 10 minute walk to pigeon island, a beautiful destination for a day trip with hikes, great views and plenty of restaurants and bars. I also took advantage of the luxury spa and health club with saunas, steam rooms, a well-equipped gym and swimming pools - you have plenty of choice to help you kick off your holiday.
The rooms at the Landings are also jaw droppingly beautiful. I was treated to a stay in the beautiful Ocean villa suites overlooking the private beach. The bedrooms are spacious and have beautiful en-suite marble bathrooms. There was a full kitchens, powder rooms, flat-screen television and washer/dryer, which was ideal for me as I had been travelling for over a month and really wanted some home comforts.
On my second day in Saint Lucia I said goodbye to the beautiful Landings resort but was off for a day of zip-lining in Babonneau. This was such a great and fun way to experience the Saint Lucia rainforest.
The Babonneau zip-lining experience has 18 platforms, each higher than the last with spectacular views of the canopy (if you can keep your eyes open) as you swing from tree to tree.
In the evening I was transferred to the next luxury resort of the trip, Jade Mountain and this was a truly breathtaking experience.
‘Resort’ may even be the wrong word to describe this place, it's a completely unique experience staying here and is a perfect honeymoon destination.
You’ll find Jade Mountain in the southwestern part of the island. It was designed by architect, Nick Troubetzkoy with a focus on celebrating Saint Lucia's most iconic mountains, the Pitons. A visit to Saint Lucia is not complete without setting eyes on these extraordinary volcanic structures.
Jade Mountain sits above Troubetzkoy’s other resort, Anse Chastenet - A stunning 600 acre estate with a perfect beachfront and beautiful clear water near the town of Soufriere.
In his design, the russian-canadian architect focused on ensuring the resorts worked in harmony with the caribbean landscape without damaging the natural environment.
Jade Mountain’s rooms are divided into three styles of ‘sanctuary’ called Star, Moon Sun and Galaxy. Every sanctuary has a perfect view of the Pitons. I was upgraded from my accommodation in Anse Chastenet to Jade Mountain.
A luxury occasionally offered to honeymooners booking Anse Chastenet, if they are lucky. On arrival, I was told by staff, ‘we have a surprise for you’ before I was driven up to Jade Mountain. The resort itself is a beautiful architectural fete, the best way I can describe it is everything feels very intentional. There is an individual bridge just for guests of the Star Sanctuary, JE2. I was shown to my room where a heavy door was opened to reveal the most extraordinary space.
The room guides you to a large four poster bed to the right, moving to a living space and an extravagant infinity pool. What makes the space exceptional is Troubetzky’s decision to remove any potential hindrance to the guest’s view of the Pitons - there is no fourth wall in the sanctuary. The room works as a frame for your unspoiled view of the most iconic sight on the island. I may be bias but I believe the aptly named, Star sanctuary where I spent two nights has the best view of the Pitons and was also a magical place to stargaze while swimming in a private infinity pool. While the Galaxy sanctuaries are larger, I think the view from JE2 can't be beat.
The temptation to spend most of my time there was strong but exploring this beautiful island is a must. The staff at Jade Mountain kindly put an itinerary together for me to maximise my time. It included a scenic rainforest cycle, snorkeling and a ‘jazzy cruise’ to see the sunset over the Pitons.
One of my highlights of Saint Lucia was visiting the sulphur springs, about a 20 minute drive from Soufriere. There you can learn about the volcanic springs and also cover yourself in some exfoliating volcanic mud before washing it off in the hot spring water.
The Superman waterfall is about a ten minute drive from the springs and you can climb down for a quick, exhilarating dip under the flowing water. Not a bad spot to wash off any remnants of volcanic mud from your natural spa experience at the Sulphur Springs.
Transport in Saint Lucia:
Taxis: Registered taxi driver are very friendly and knowledgeable.
Francisco Jean-Piere. Tel +1 758 285 7470.
Activities:
Ziplining from 55US$ per person. Rainforest Adventures: https://rainforestadventure.com/st-lucia-travel-tour/
Sulphur Springs from 11US$ per person for tour and baths.https://www.stlucia.org/en/
Accomodation
The Landings:
The lead in rate for a one-bedroom apartment is £400 per night which includes breakfast, based on two people sharing - http://www.landingsstlucia.com/.
Jade Mountain:
Nightly rates at Jade Mountain start at US$ 1,100 (£835*) in a Sky Sanctuary based on double occupancy. Rates are subject to 10% service charge and 10% VAT. To book visit www.jademountain.com *Prices in pound sterling correct as per today’s exchange rate. For Anse it's from $600 per night room only basis.
