Ladera Resort (4.5*)

Nested high above the Caribbean Sea, the Ladera Resort is surrounded by stretches of rainforest and features 9 villas and 23 suites with "open wall", where the west side of each unit is left open to expose the breathtaking view while still maintaining complete privacy. The hotel’s award-winning restaurant Dasheen serves fresh fruits from the resort's landscaped garden.

 

Hotel Details:

  • located on the southern end of Saint Lucia, just outside the port town of Soufrière, approximately 40 minutes from Hewanorra International Airport
  • set on a forested ridge at 1,100 feet overlooking the volcanic Piton Mountains and the Caribbean Sea
  • the main pool and deck area
  • shuttle to and from nearby beaches
  • Saturday morning Soufrière market tour followed by a cooking class with recipes
  • Fitness center with cardio and strength training machines
  • Wi-Fi in all guest rooms
  • fully stocked library located at the main bar


Room Features:

Petit Piton Suite with Plunge Pool:

  • max occupancy 2 people
  • spacious open-air bedroom with a four-poster queen bed
  • seating area with Piton and Caribbean Sea views
  • plunge pool
  • mini bar with coffee & tea facilities
  • in-room safe
  • Ladera's Necessaire Kit - equipped with binoculars, eye masks, slippers and a star chart for night sky enjoyment

 

Gros Piton Suite with Plunge Pool:

  • max occupancy 2 people
  • spacious open-air living room with uninterrupted views of the Piton and Caribbean Sea
  • open-air bedroom in each suite includes a four-poster queen bed and en suite bath
  • plunge pool
  • mini bar with coffee & tea facilities
  • in-room safe
  • Ladera's Necessaire Kit - equipped with binoculars, eye masks, slippers and a star chart for night sky enjoyment

 

One Bedroom Villa with Plunge Pool:

  • max occupancy 2 people
  • open-air living room with day bed
  • open-air bedroom in each suite includes a four-poster queen bed and en-suite bath
  • plunge pool
  • mini bar with coffee & tea facilities
  • in-room safe
  • Ladera's Necessaire Kit - equipped with binoculars, eye masks, slippers and a star chart for night sky enjoyment

 

Two Bedroom Villa with Pool:

  • max occupancy 4 people
  • open-air living room with separate dining room area overlooking the Pitons and Caribbean Sea, plus an enclosed bedroom with a four-poster queen bed and en-suite bathroom
  • open-air, four-poster king bed and adjoining en-suite bathroom are located on the second floor of each Two Bedroom Villa
  • private heated pool with waterfall
  • mini bar with coffee & tea facilities
  • in-room safe
  • Ladera's Necessaire Kit - equipped with binoculars, eye masks, slippers and a star chart for night sky enjoyment

 

Dining:

  • Dasheene Restaurant – features spectacular views and award-winning cuisine focused on sustainable cooking sourced from locally harvested ingredients
  • T'cholit Bar – popular setting for a pre-dinner cocktail or for enjoying a live music show

 

Recreation:

  • island tours including hiking/rainforest walks with local guides, bird watching, day trips to the city of Castries, helicopter tours etc.
  • scuba diving, snorkel trips, sailboat and fishing charters
  • horseback riding
  • 9-hole and 18-hole golf course is available in Castries (one hour and half drive from the resort)

 

NEW! How you can make your stay more authentic, sustainable and memorable

These tips provide the insider’s knowledge on how travelers can engage with local culture, make their vacations more memorable, promote sustainability in the region, and enhance their overall holiday experience.

  • In order to engage with the local culture, travelers are recommended to attend these events:
    • Saint Lucia Jazz (takes place in early May) which has become one of the most anticipated events on the international music festival circuit. St Lucia is a legendary party host, and what started long ago with a performance of one celebrity musician to welcome visitors has now transformed into a party lasting many days. Jazz is the center stage but there is a fusion of R&B, Soul, Pop, Musica Latina, Reggae, Soca, Zouk and other music truly rivalling the Billboard Charts, attracting patrons from around the globe.
    • Jounen Kweyol (takes place during the last Sunday of October). This festival celebrates St Lucia’s African and French Creole heritage and its popular French dialect or patois. Kweyol (Creole) folklore, local food, music and dance, mythical storytelling and games give this festival a really unique flavour. Visitors get a window into the past as the community recreates and showcases the centuries old way of life.
    • Anse La Raye Fish Fry – street festival held every Friday night in the tiny fishing village of Anse La Raye. The residents prepare what they know best: fish cakes, grilled or stewed fish, hot bakes (biscuits), roasted corn, boiled crayfish, even grilled-before-your-eyes lobster. Prices range from a few cents for a fish cake or bake to $10 or $15 for a whole lobster, depending on its size.
  • To help promote sustainability on the island, travelers can visit Our Planet Centre, a new state-of-the-art attraction at La Place Carenage in the Castries harbor that will tap into visitors’ environmental conservation interest in a fun, educational and interactive way.  Opened June 2011, the multi-million dollar Our Planet Centre exhibits on-island conservation programs.  Utilizing cutting edge technology, Our Planet features the largest mirror-sphere in the world, producing a giant kaleidoscopic display for video screening; a hologram recorded specifically for Saint Lucia by Prince Charles; multiple touch screen displays; a simulation hurricane room; as well as a “NASA Room” designed specifically by the NASA team to stream weather information. It’s the first center of its kind in the Caribbean and all proceeds from Our Planet will go to local environmental projects on island.
  • Our local partners recommend travelers to check out these local spots:
    • Sulphur Springs & Drive-In Volcano, where hot water emerging from deep beneath the earth at the Sulphur Springs flows downstream into the famous, open-air Black Water Pool. Here, spa lovers and the curious can lower themselves into this 101.6 degrees Fahrenheit, mineral-rich potion and slather on the nutritious grey mud. This relaxing soak is known to reduce stress, while specialists also chime in that after a rinse in the cold water showers their skin feels silky soft for days. 
    • Mineral Baths – Saint Lucia has a 200-year plus history with spas and wellness.  In 1784, French King Louis XVI had a dozen large stone baths built for his soldiers at Diamond Waterfalls after the waters from the underground Sulphur Springs were found to have curative properties similar to those of Aix-les-Bains in France. Today travelers to Saint Lucia can still enjoy the benefits of these baths now known as the Diamond Mineral Baths built among the ruins of the original 18th-century structure. 
    • Hike the Pitons – Saint Lucia’s majestic twin peaks located on the island’s southwest coast just south of Soufriere, are known to be the symbols of Saint Lucia and were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.  Covered with thick tropical vegetation, the massive outcroppings were formed by lava from a volcanic eruption 30 to 40 million years ago.
    • Debaras Turtle Watching – The Debaras Turtle Watch is an overnight adventure for those nature lovers who want to make a difference. Geared at not only providing the opportunity to view the legendary sea reptiles as they lumber ashore to lay their eggs, the tour also assists in the conservation process for the protection of the giant leatherbacks. The ruggedly gorgeous beach of Grande Anse is the most important nesting site in the region for the ongoing success of sea turtle species. Tour participants watch the beach in shifts and when one of the incredible marine creatures is spotted the team gets together for measuring and tagging. Watchers later in the season can witness and assist the tiny hatchlings to make it to the sea. Tents are provided and the excursion includes dinner and a Saint Lucian breakfast.
    • Mamiku Gardens – Pleated into the hillside behind the small community of Praslin along the east coast of Saint Lucia, Mamiku Gardens offer a soothing stroll through 12 acres of old estate grounds that have been skilfully landscaped to display hundreds of tropical blooms. A moderate trek along the wooded hillside reveals incredible panoramas of the Praslin Bay, a look at indigenous species both botanical and avian, and finally a peek of plantation life from the site of the old house.
    • Maria Island –In addition to more than 80 plant species, the islet habitat hosts five endemic reptile species, the Saint Lucia Whiptail, the near extinct Saint Lucia Racer (a harmless snake denoted as the world’s rarest); and the world’s smallest snake, the Worm Snake. The islets also provide a nesting reserve for numerous migratory and sea birds, and it is an amazing sight to view the hundreds of circling birds during the nesting season.
Please Note: Time restrictions and extra charges may apply for some activities, watersports or facilities. Some restaurants may be open for certain meals only, have a dress code in effect and/or require reservations. While Sparkling Voyages makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, it cannot be held responsible for changes, omissions or errors.