St. Lucia: The Pitons, Jade Mountain & a Spa Retreat That Changes Everything

St. Lucia stops you in your tracks. Every other Caribbean island has beautiful beaches and warm water and trade wind breezes — but only St. Lucia has the Pitons. The twin volcanic peaks of Gros Piton (771 meters) and Petit Piton (743 meters), rising almost vertically from the sea on the island's southwest coast near the village of Soufriere, are one of the most recognizable and genuinely awe-inspiring landforms in the entire Caribbean. They are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Where to Stay: St. Lucia's Most Extraordinary Resorts

Jade Mountain (jademountain.com) is the most architecturally remarkable resort in the Caribbean. Nick Troubetzkoy's extraordinary open-plan sanctuaries — no fourth wall, each with its own private infinity pool cantilevered above the jungle — are built into the hillside of his Anse Chastanet estate directly facing the Pitons. Waking up, walking to the edge of your private pool, and finding the two volcanic peaks framing your view is one of those travel experiences that restructures your sense of what a hotel stay can be.

The Jade Mountain Club restaurant serves the island's finest cuisine with an extraordinary wine list — the Sunday Champagne brunch featuring locally grown cocoa, fresh tropical fruits, and free-flowing Champagne is a St. Lucia essential. Sanctuaries from $1,100/night. jademountain.com.

Anse Chastanet Resort (ansechastanet.com), sister property to Jade Mountain, offers 49 open-air rooms perched above two of St. Lucia's most beautiful beaches. The Treehouse Restaurant, open-sided above the jungle canopy, is one of the most atmospheric dining rooms on the island. Rooms from $450/night.

Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort (viceroyhotelsandresorts.com/en/sugarbeach) occupies a former 18th-century sugar plantation in the World Heritage Zone between the two Pitons. The 96 villas and cottages are scattered through the jungle with private plunge pools, and the black volcanic sand beach flanked by the Pitons is unlike any other in the Caribbean. Villas from $900/night.

The Wellness Dimension: Volcanic Hot Springs

St. Lucia's volcanic geology gives it something no other Caribbean island has: natural hot springs and sulphur baths. The sulphur mud baths at Soufriere's Drive-In Volcano are said to have extraordinary skin benefits. The spa programs at Jade Mountain and Sugar Beach incorporate locally produced cocoa butter, sea salt scrubs, and hot stone therapies using volcanic rocks.

What to Eat and Drink

The Friday Night Fish Fry at Anse La Raye is St. Lucia's great community food event — grilled fish, fresh lobster, jerk chicken, and local rum punch. For refined dining, the waterfront at Chateau Mygo in Marigot Bay serves superb fresh seafood and the island's best cocktail selection.

Getting There

St. Lucia's Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) is served by direct flights from New York JFK, Miami, Toronto, and London Gatwick and Heathrow. Jade Mountain offers helicopter transfers from the airport (20 minutes vs 1.5 hours by road).