Set on a cliff overlooking St. Lucia’s iconic twin volcanoes, the Pitons, and the Caribbean Sea, Jade Mountain Resort boasts one of the most spectacular views on earth.

Before visiting, I spent years swooning over photos of the famous Infinity Pool Sanctuaries, which intentionally have just three walls to encourage interaction between guests and nature. But it wasn’t until I stayed here myself that I truly understood why the property has been named one of the best resorts in the Caribbean by Travel + Leisure readers for more than 10 consecutive years.

After a flight and an hour’s drive to the island’s southwestern coast, my husband and I arrived at the resort just in time for sunset. The entirely open-air concept means every aspect of the typical hotel experience has been reimagined. Hallways have been replaced with personal suspended “sky bridges” that lead guests directly to their sanctuary, where the check-in process is completed with your Major Domo, or butler.

It’s no surprise the resort is a hit among couples. Despite being completely open to the elements, the lack of development in front of the property ensures guests have complete privacy, even while skinny dipping, sipping Champagne, and bird-watching in the massive infinity pools. According to the hotel, the longest a couple has stayed in their sanctuary without leaving is five days. As our private butler explained all the different in-suite services — from multicourse dinners to massages — that could be arranged, luxuriating forever seemed a pleasant possibility.

Before Jade Mountain Resort became a reality in 2006, owner Nick Troubetzkoy spent 25 years dreaming up an organic architectural marvel that showcased St. Lucia’s natural beauty. As the story goes, he came to the island in 1970 to work with a Canadian architectural firm and never left. His first resort was Anse Chastanet, Jade Mountain’s beachside sister property, which debuted in 2000 with a series of open-air bungalows that quickly became a successful proof of concept for Troubetzkoy’s barrier-breaking designs.

The experience is taken to a new level at Jade Mountain Resort, which sits on the upper portion of the 600 acres and caters to adults looking for utter tranquility. (Children under age 16 are not permitted.) The mountainside complex is an engineering feat: its free-form structure was created almost entirely from materials found on-site. Each room has an individual layout and design, and all the water used to fill the pools comes from a system of reservoirs that flows into an on-site water treatment plant. Sustainability has been important to the property since day one. Today, it weaves that ethos into everything from food and beverage programming to on-site activities.

“Many experiences at Jade draw from our Emerald Estate regenerative farm, from bean-to-bar cacao harvesting tours and chocolate making to vegan and Creole history cooking workshops,” says Karolin Troubetzkoy, Jade Mountain Resort’s co-owner and executive director.

When we weren’t in our sanctuary, we relaxed on the property’s two beaches, snorkeled among turtles and colorful fish, and indulged in farm-to-table cuisine (including nightly truffles made at the on-site chocolate lab).

Here, my review of Jade Mountain Resort covers everything you need to know about the rooms, activities, spa, and more. 

The Rooms

Among the 29 sweeping suites are two dozen Infinity Pool Sanctuaries that feel more like floating works of art than traditional rooms. These spaces range from 1,400 to 2,000 square feet, with the Galaxy Sanctuaries on the property’s southwest corner offering the most spacious layouts, panoramic vistas, and the largest pools at around 900 square feet. Surfaced with iridescent glass tiles, each pool has its own color scheme, which extends to the rest of the interiors, including the platformed bathroom, complete with a mounted chromotherapy whirlpool for two. At night, the pools are illuminated with colorful lights — guests can select the shade or opt to have the system automatically cycle through a spectrum of hues.

On the lower level, five Sky Whirlpool Suites feature deep-soaking tubs for two but no infinity pools. One of these suites has air conditioning (which can be requested), while the rest of the rooms have several large ceiling fans. Thanks to the 15-foot ceilings and absent fourth wall, it usually feels quite breezy. With a mix of sustainably sourced tropical woods, local stone, pink blush-colored coral plaster from Barbados, and custom wood furniture, the suites have a warm and eclectic feel that complements the natural environment.

Food and Drink

With its own organic farm and an on-site chocolate lab, it’s safe to say Jade Mountain Resort takes its culinary programming seriously. The Jade Mountain Club offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the upper level by an infinity pool overlooking the Pitons.

Catering exclusively to Jade Mountain guests, the hilltop dining room has a tranquil and refined atmosphere, with live music on select evenings and a great wine list. It’s easy to spend hours here — partly because the tropical-inspired “Jade Cuisine,” created by James Beard award-winning chef Allen Susser, is just that good. While the daily changing menus make it tempting to dine here each night, don’t miss the other restaurants at sister resort Anse Chastanet. Halfway down the mountain, Treehouse Restaurant serves Caribbean cuisine and offers a separate vegan menu for dinner. You’ll find a restaurant at the main beach serving Creole specialties for lunch and Saint Lucia-East Indian fusion for dinner. Another standout spot for lunch is the Jungle Bar and Grill on the second beach of Anse Mamin, where we ate burgers, ceviche, and rum cocktails under a palapa.

Those seeking a more intimate meal can opt for the multi-course “Six in Your Sanctuary” room service experience. Private dinners can also be arranged on the beach at Anse Chastanet or on the rooftop Celestial Terrace above the Jade Mountain Club. Both resorts offer a calendar of specialty culinary events, from weekly Lionfish Beach Dinners that aim to help control the invasive species to programming around seasonal events like Creole Heritage and Chocolate Month in October and mango season in June.

Activities and Experiences

St. Lucia is an unsung adventure paradise with hiking trails, coral reefs, volcanoes, waterfalls, and mud baths to explore. Jade Mountain Resort is within easy reach of many of the island’s natural and cultural highlights, thanks to its position on the southwest coast. The property has an on-site scuba center with PADI-certified guides to help you reach dive and snorkel sites, including some reefs directly off the shore. A range of complimentary activities are offered, including Creole history classes, cocktail receptions, chocolate sensory tastings, and guided daily walks. We especially enjoyed the Plantation Tour with veteran guide and herbalist Meno, who covers the history of the property’s colonial-era plantation ruins and the island’s traditional medicinal plants. Adrenaline seekers will love the custom-designed jungle and mountain biking trails. And those inspired to hike up Gros Piton can arrange to do the arduous climb with a guide.

If your stay falls on a Thursday, don’t miss the Jazzy Sunset Cruise aboard the resort’s 60-foot, double-decker catamaran, Miss Babsie. While sailing past the Pitons and listening to a live saxophonist, we were greeted by dozens of pilot whales. Guests can also arrange to visit the Emerald Estate organic farm, which offers cooking classes, tree-to-bar chocolate tours, and beer tastings at the on-site microbrewery.

The Spa

Guests can choose from various spa treatments in their sanctuary or one of the property’s two air-conditioned spas. Kai en Kiel (which means “house in heaven” in Patois/Creole has two treatment rooms at Jade Mountain Resort, while the beachside Kai Belté (meaning “house of beauty”) offers three treatment rooms and a nail and hair salon. There’s also a seaside cabana for those looking to pair their massage with the sounds of the ocean. The property’s in-sanctuary rituals are a standout and range from chocolate-infused body treatments to Ayurvedic chakra-balancing massages. Other highlights include the facials using Voya’s products, which are made from hand-harvested seaweed and aromatherapy treatments.

As part of its spa offerings, the resort has a robust yoga programming, with complimentary sunrise and sunset classes led by resident instructors. It’s worth waking up early to catch the class at 7 a.m. on the Celestial Terrace before the heat of the day, but private sessions can also be requested.

Accessibility and Sustainability

As the first resort in the Caribbean to receive the LEED Gold certification status in 2016, Jade Mountain Resort has long been a leader in environmentally conscious practices. Among its biggest feats is its water management, which harvests and purifies more than 12,000 gallons daily, reducing the burden on the town of Soufriere’s water supply. The property also supports the community through workplace health clinics, internships, work experience programs, and charitable programs. Ocean stewardship is a growing concern, so the property offers guest experiences such as coral reef restoration dives and PADI Dive Against Debris programs.

With its many stairs and steep slopes, Jade Mountain Resort is not fully ADA-compliant or recommended to those who use wheelchairs.

Location

The 600-acre property sits on St. Lucia’s south-western Caribbean coastline, about an hour’s drive from the Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) and a 75-minute drive from the inter-island airport, George Charles Airport (SLU.) The hotel can arrange a transfer from the airport to the property by car or helicopter (yes, the property has its own helipad) for an ultra-scenic and speedy arrival.

The location offers guests easy access to some of the island’s best hiking trails, reefs, and geological wonders, including the world’s only drive-in volcano, Sulphur Springs. The closest town, Soufriere, is a 10-minute drive away, where you’ll find brightly painted buildings, a bustling market, and several local restaurants.

The island is warm year-round, though bouts of rain can be expected between June and November. Since St. Lucia is situated in the southeastern part of the Caribbean basin, just south of the region’s main “hurricane belt,” weather systems tend to be weak. Still, it’s a good idea to check the forecast before your stay if you’re visiting in the summer or fall.

How to Get the Most Value Out of Your Stay

The resort offers a range of room rates, including an all-inclusive meal plan, which about 70 percent of guests choose, says Troubetzkoy. Those booking with an American Express Platinum Card can score some extra perks like early check-in and a room upgrade (when available), daily breakfast for two, a spa credit, and late check-out. Packages catering to honeymooners, scuba divers, and adventure enthusiasts are offered year-round, which can lead to additional savings on activities or the option to get the fourth or fifth night free. Trust us, you’ll want to stay longer than a weekend.