The 7 Best Hotels in St. Lucia, According to Our Caribbean-Obsessed Editors

From beachfront stalwarts to sprawling jungle estates, these island hotels are our favorites.Courtesy Rabot HotelWith its glorious gold beaches, dramatic Piton peaks, and thick rainforests offering up waterfalls and wildlife, St. Lucia’s landscape is staggering, even for the Caribbean. Ribbons of protected coral skirt its shores, coves are flanked by coconut-laden palms, and many of the best hotels in St. Lucia have scrambled uphill for front-row seats to those fabled sunsets—a fleeting burst of crimson and orange.The island’s quiet eastern shores are unsullied by tourism, courtesy of its unruly Atlantic waters. Inland, tropical rainforests heave, and organic farms and cocoa plantations whisk visitors off on farm-to-fork and bean-to-bar tutorials. Drenched in rum and sunshine, Rodney Bay in the north is deliciously docile, with the odd evening soiree put on by resorts. And in the south, Soufrière offers a smattering of veranda-rimmed wooden mansions and time-warped shuttered houses under the mystic gaze of two volcanic spires.The majority of St. Lucia’s chicest hotels have found their patch of sand on the southwestern shores, with a calm, scuba-diving-ready Caribbean Sea, plus otherworldly beaches and a tropical backdrop. Here, old-world rhythms of tennis, high-brow breakfasts, and sunset gin and tonics combine with the island’s easy-going spirit. Looking to get a taste of these tropics? Below are our favorite hotels in St. Lucia, from beachside stalwarts with seafood platters under umbrellas to sprawling jungle estates with organic farms.Windjammer Landing Sarah BannermanWindjammer Landing Sarah BannermanOur top picksMore editor-recommended St. Lucia hotelsFrequently asked questionsMore Caribbean hotel recommendationsOur top picks:Best all-inclusive: Jade MountainBest for groups: Windjammer LandingBest for wellness: BodyHolidayJade MountainLuxury can mean different things to different people. For me, it’s about privacy, freedom, and an exquisite sense of space, combined with subtle hospitality that makes you feel effortlessly at home. Jade Mountain embodies this and more. Perched high on St. Lucia’s rugged cliffs, this architectural marvel, crafted from local stone and rough concrete, rises organically from the lush forest. Designed by Canadian architect Nick Troubetzkoy, Jade Mountain frames the breathtaking views of the Pitons from each of its 29 spacious residences (known as sanctuaries). The pinnacle of luxury, Galaxy Sanctuary JE1, features uninterrupted 270-degree views and a 900-square-foot infinity pool with jewel-toned tiles. Here, serenity reigns supreme. —Karin MuellerRead Full ReviewWindjammer LandingWindjammer Landing makes for a luxurious getaway for all. From spacious accommodations for family or bachelor(ette) parties to intimate villas with private pools for couples retreats or honeymoons, this St. Lucia resort has something (and then some) for every type of traveler. Outdoor activities abound—snorkeling, windsurfing, pedal boating, paddleboarding, and kayaking are all included—and ocean views are a given in every villa. Each of the seven restaurants and four bars on the property has its own flair, making them all must-tries, especially if you book the all-inclusive package. —Taylor MeadRead Full ReviewBodyHolidaySince it first opened in 1988, this beachfront all-inclusive has become renowned for its unique approach to health, fitness, and well-being. It's set on a private cove in the northwest of St. Lucia, near Pigeon Island National Landmark, and guests can expect custom-tailored itineraries prior to their arrival, with more than 40 included activities and a 50-minute spa treatment included each day (apart from arrival and departure days). The wellness center, decorated in Jerusalem stone and mosaics, offers Pilates and Reiki and has a heated marble massage table. All five restaurants use local produce, often from the hotel's garden. Rooms have been renovated with standout elements like “noise-canceling walls” and built-in Bluetooth systems, and I appreciate the fact that BodyHoliday has dedicated solo traveler rooms. Chill out in the two-tiered infinity pool, which is lined by loungers and underwater raised stone perches when you feel like enjoying an in-water cocktail. Whether you'd like to vacation at your own pace or go home with a full mind-body tune-up, the wealth of included facilities, activities, and culinary options here makes it ideal for all goals. —Sandra RamaniRead Full ReviewCap MaisonFinely tuned Cap Maison pulls off its Mexican, Mediterranean, and Moorish blend with flair. Strategically positioned above the staggeringly pretty Smuggler’s Cove, mahogany shuttered windows make the most of the coastal views and surrounding tropical gardens. Guests float through a hillside labyrinth of soft lawns, pretty Andalusian-esque courtyards, and borders ablaze with exotic flowers, before dropping beach baskets alongside one of the two photogenic pools, one with sweeping views over Pigeon Island and Martinique. Steps edge down the cliff to Smugglers Cove, where kayaks and Hobie cats await. Owned by a local family, Cap Maison has a distinct home-away-from-home sensibility, with its 49 rooms, suites, and villas donning hacienda-style flourishes (tiles, terra-cotta terraces, and white arches framing turquoise views). But it’s in the restaurants where Cap Maison shows off—particularly The Cliff at Cap, where a creative marriage of West Indies and French cuisine results in some conversation-stopping plates. Rock Maison is the spot for pre-dinner cocktails or Champagne—which is famously zip-lined down to the deck from the restaurant directly above it.Read Full ReviewAnse ChastanetAnse Chastanet is a retreat for active travelers after open-air luxury, whether they want to enjoy a romantic honeymoon, scuba diving in the Soufrière Marine Management Area, or just exploring an eco-paradise. The 600-acre, 49-room property has two soft sand beaches, four restaurants, three bars, and enough options—from jungle biking on the property’s trails to snorkeling with a marine biologist—to keep guests as active or relaxed as they prefer. The resort can also arrange unforgettable romantic experiences like an ultra-luxe private sunset catamaran sailing, or a “Private Castaway” beach dinner. Many of the rooms feature either open-air louvered walls or true open-air walls, with each room individually designed and carefully angled with privacy in mind. Many rooms feature stunning views of the sea, the Pitons, or both. The gorgeous property is located on a steep hillside with many stairs, uneven pathways, and no elevators, so note that access may be a challenge for people with limited mobility. —Kristen PopeRead Full ReviewLaderaLocated in Soufrière on St. Lucia's southwest coast, Ladera is perched on a volcanic ridgeline, 1,100 feet above sea level, with a bird’s-eye view of the Pitons you won't find anywhere else on the island. Rooms and suites all have private heated plunge pools and a three-walled design with hand-carved furnishings, local artwork, and natural materials that add to the effect that Ladera is a Swiss Family Robinson fantasy come to life, reimagined with every luxury. The 25,000-square-foot Lévé Wellness Center and Spa is a spectacular addition to a resort built to harmonize with nature, with treatments drawn from the local landscape. While the Piton views may leave you positively stunned, it’s the friendly service, farm-to-table dining, and total immersion in nature that makes this heritage-driven property one of the most authentic in the Caribbean, if not the world. —Katie RileyRead Full ReviewRabot HotelThemed hotels often struggle to win over the discerning traveler, but Rabot Hotel from Hotel Chocolat appears to be an exception. A vast infinity pool, lined in black quartz, recalls molten chocolate, particularly at dusk, while spa therapists lather on delicious cocoa-infused products for deep-tissue massages and facials. Tours of the cacao groves are highly recommended (with the opportunity to craft your own chocolate bar from freshly plucked beans), as are the poolside yoga sessions. Of the two room types (Lodges and Luxe Lodges), opt for the latter, with double the space and knockout views from the private verandas. An open-air configuration lets mosquito nets do their work, while Caribbean light and whiffs of exotic flowers fill the room. Freshly baked cookies and chocolate from the estate are a welcome touch and a delicious reminder of your location. The cacao theme continues to the kitchens, where the open-air Rabot Restaurant glazes plates of locally sourced pulled pork with a cacao-nib coating and kneads cacao into the dough for the hotel’s famed Cacao Cannelloni. Guests can slink into the Cacao Bar for chocolate daiquiris under the stars.Read Full ReviewRosalyn Wikeley is Condé Nast Traveller's Creative Content Editor and resident ski enthusiast. Former Executive Features Editor at Country & Town House, Rosalyn has written for the Financial Times, the Telegraph, Tatler, The Independent, Suitcase, Glamour, Harpers Bazaar and BA Highlife, and consulted on content for several luxury brands and ... 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