Visit the Villas at St. Lucia's Anse Chastanet
I
am captivated by vegetation so tightly entwined that the
tree tops resemble a green carpet cascading down the hillside
where it melds into a hem of tawny colored beach. And
there, the soft sand is caressed by the jeans-blue waters
of the Caribbean Sea.
 |
It's
my good fortune to be lodged in one of five premium hillside
villas at Anse Chastanet Resort, situated on 600 acres
of pristine rain forest on the southwestern coast of St.
Lucia, the second-largest island in the Windwards chain.
The villa is meticulously appointed, with tropical hardwood
furniture personally designed by Nick Troubetzkoy, an
architect with impeccable taste and the owner of Anse
Chastanet. The villa, which redefines the word spacious,
is adorned with original artwork by both local and international
artists, most with an "earthy" theme characterized
by wall murals, painted "sky ceilings," flower
boards, wall plaques, wooden sculptures and burlap compositions.
The sense of openness is further enhanced by the absence
of entire walls, blurring the boundary between the outside
and inside.
The
artistic endeavors and the villas' design suggest the
harmony between man and nature that Troubetzkoy sought
when he engaged in a period of expansion that increased
the number of units from 14 in 1974 to its present state
of 49. In addition to the five premium hillside accommodations,
there are 14 deluxe hillside villas, 14 superior, four
standard and 12 deluxe beachside cottages. And, not surprising,
no two rooms are exactly alike - except in amenities.
But don't expect to find a TV or a telephone in the room.
You'll only be disturbed by natural sounds - the three
little birds on your doorstep singin' sweet songs or the
sunrise filtering through the leaves of the dazzling flamboyant
tree or coconut palms.
Then
you can make yourself a cup of tea or coffee, put your
feet up and gaze at the unparalleled vistas afforded you
by one of the most striking islands in the Caribbean.
It's still called the "Helen of the Caribbean"
because of its beauty.
When
it is time to leave your private space, you'll have plenty
of diversions to occupy your time. There is, of course,
the beach. And who can visit the Caribbean without getting
proper exposure to the sun. At Anse Chastanet, unless
you are beachside, there are 100 winding stairs leading
from the hillside rooms to the beach. It's best to do
it after a hearty breakfast at the Piton Restaurant, which
serves breakfast daily and dinner five times weekly. There
is a casual beach bar that serves lunch daily and dinner
twice weekly. You'll need energy to climb back up the
hillside.(
The beach borders on St. Lucia's finest reefs for snorkeling and scuba diving. The resort's PADI Gold Palm/SSI Platinum scuba center operates a full diving schedule for divers of all levels. A second beach, Anse Mamin, can be reached by resort water taxi. Adjacent to Anse Mamin are the ruins of an old plantation dating back to the 18th century. The resort has turned the estate into a hiking and biking paradise. Mountain biking on Cannondale suspension bikes has become quite the "in" thing, with 12 miles of dedicated trails offering varying degrees of difficulty. After a vigorous day of exercising, guests can unwind and be pampered at the Kai Belte Spa where professionally trained therapists offer a wide range of treatments, including Swedish massage, aromatherapy and reflexology. Services also include shiatsu and Anse Chastanet's own version of La Stone therapy called Wosh Cho, patois for hot stone.
If you yearn to see what the island offers, you'll not be disappointed. Anse Chastanet is located near Soufriere (pronounced Soo-Fray), and there are excursions to an active volcano and the Diamond Mineral Baths, as well as the
opportunity to hike a portion of The Pitons, twin volcanic peaks that are the most recognizable landmark on St. Lucia. The island is 27 miles long and warrants trips to Castries, its capital, as well as Rodney Bay in the north and Marigot Bay, where the original movie Dr. Doolittle, was filmed. Afterwards, you can retreat to your secluded villa and shut out the outside world … for as long
as you choose. |
