Private and exclusive Skye Whirlpool Suite is hidden high up on a hillside within the fabulous 600-acre Anse Chastanet estate in southwestern St Lucia.
Away from the main resort and reached by a bumpy lane from the little town of Soufriere, there is an intimate spa and gym close by the property.
If you choose not to eat in your suite, Guests can enjoy exclusive access to the nearby Jade Mountain Club that offers first-class wining and dining and basks in views of the sea and Pitons and is perfect for enjoying beautiful sunsets.
A 10-minute walk or complimentary shuttle will take guests to the main resort, where there are plenty of complimentary activities, including yoga, food and wine tastings, guided nature walks or exciting jungle biking, and live entertainment on some evenings.
There are four restaurants to choose from, and Gym bunnies are well catered for with a well-equipped fitness studio. Down at the beach, there are plenty of watersports available, as well as a world-class Dive Centre.
Chocolate lovers can visit the little on-site chocolate-making laboratory and take part in a ‘tree to Bar’ chocolate tour, or those who want the real deal, there is a fantastic ‘Bean to Bar Chocolate Experience’ at The Rabot Estate plantation in Soufriere where all of Hotel Chocolat’s products start. For more chocolate, head to the nearby Fond Doux Plantation, which has its own short tour and an incredible chocolate fondue drink that is light, bubbly and refreshing.
The nearby town of Soufriere was the original capital of St Lucia and is surrounded by sandy beaches and is dominated by the Pitons, two giant conical volcanic spires that rise abruptly from the sea.
The Soufriere Estate, which is also known as the Diamond Estate, is now home to the Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens, where you can enjoy meandering among tropical flowers and trees or wallowing in mineral baths that date back to 1784.
Just south of the town is the world's only drive-in volcano – the Soufriere sulphur springs. The landscape is ‘otherwordly’ with hot springs and belching mud pots, and there are thermal pools to bathe in - be warned, though, the sulphur is very smelly!
The St Lucian people are warm and friendly and love to party, and there is always plenty going on; highlights include the Jazz festival held in May and the Carnival season taking place in July.
If you want to sample a slice of retro Caribbean nightlife, head across to the North of the island to the Gros Islet Friday night street party. Locals and tourists gravitate towards traffic-free streets set up with craft stalls and barbeque stalls. Soca and reggae blare from huge speakers as you enjoy a rum punch or beer and decide which fish fry-up to sample, and the party atmosphere continues long after sunset with crowds dancing in the streets.
The Pigeon Island National Park on the northeast of the island is full of history and makes for a great day out. Historically this was a highly strategic point for battles throughout the ages, and there are plenty of forts and military landmarks to discover and learn from. This vast park has plenty of green spaces, signposted hiking trails and two peaks that are a hiker’s delight with the gift of spectacular 360 views waiting at the top.
