Luxury Beachfront Resort Named One of Top Three in the Caribbean

Rising dramatically out of the Caribbean Sea, the emerald twin peaks of Saint Lucia's Piton mountains have been compared to the Matterhorn and called the eighth wonder of the world. The Anse Chastenat Resort is the only hotel on the island with views of both volcanic spires. This iconic backdrop is just one of the many reasons why the luxury resort, nestled into a steep hill on a private 600-acre estate, has been a fixture on so many prestigious awards lists, including Condé Nast Traveler’s Top Three Caribbean Resorts.

A marine reserve rests at the foot of the hotel, giving guests access to the best snorkeling and scuba-diving opportunities on the island. Located just 10 yards beyond the water's edge, the coral reef brims with octopuses, turtles, and more than 150 species of fish. Those looking for more leisurely afternoons can stomp sand castles at one of two beaches or indulge in hot-stone massages at the beachside Kai Belté Spa.

The estate’s 49 guest rooms are individually designed to complement their surroundings. Tucked into the hills and surrounded by lush rainforest, the octagonal standard rooms feature wraparound porches and hand-carved native-wood furnishings. Hillside deluxe rooms mingle madras fabrics and local art and fill with ocean breezes that drift in from large louvre windows or open fourth walls.

Executive Chef Jonathan Dearden oversees the resort's dining quarters. Each restaurant uses organic produce from the hotel's privately owned farm to craft innovative-and-healthy cuisine. At Treehouse Restaurant, sample a blend of international flavors in an open-air dining room that looks out on the ocean. For vegetarian specialties, head to Emerald’s.

Saint Lucia: French-Inspired Cuisine and Spectacular Volcanoes

Located in between Martinique and Saint Vincent in the eastern Caribbean, Saint Lucia was coveted by the British and French, who quarreled over the island for more than a century. Although English is now Saint Lucia's official language, the French seem to have left a more noticeable influence on its arts and cuisine. Along the coast, a string of marinas exhibits a cultural blend through restaurants ranging from fried-fish shacks to upscale French eateries. Grab a table to sample meaty pepperpot stew, spinach-like callaloo soup, or the country’s national dish of green fig—a Caribbean term for small, unripe bananas—and salt fish.

With several beaches, Saint Lucia attracts those looking for snorkeling excursions, dolphin-watching tours, or deep-sea fishing trips in search of blue marlin, barracuda, and mako shark. Crowds descend on the popular Reduit Beach at Rodney Bay, not too far from the 18th-century British forts at Pigeon Island National Park. For a less hectic scene, head south down the coast to Anse Chastanet, a more secluded beach with giant palm trees and undulating green hills.

A vacation in Saint Lucia is not complete without a visit to one of its volcanoes. Considered the country’s unofficial symbol, the Pitons are two vegetation-covered volcanic plugs rising more than 2,000 feet above the western coast. Nearby Saint Lucia Volcano is considered "the world's only drive-in volcano," as you can drive your car close to the volcanic crater to see its steaming sulfur springs.

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