Ladera, St Lucia, Hotel, Luxury, Caribbean, View, Beach

Perched on the mango slopes of St Lucia, one of the most beautiful Caribbean islands, Ladera looks out over the glistening water between the spectacular Pitons - the best view in the West Indies

Ladera is the resort that travelers dream about, located in south-western St Lucia, it is a little paradise two miles from the port town of Soufrière, eleven hundred feet up on the dramatic mango-clad hillside. This lush tropical gem - acclaimed by Conde Nast Traveller as ‘The Best of the Best’ - remains relatively unknown. The view - out over the Caribbean, between the spectacular Pitons - is breathtaking and gazing at it is a major and worthwhile activity.

Each of the six villas and twenty-one suites is open sided and has its own plunge pool, fed by a little waterfall. Guests will find binoculars and a star chart there and for everything else, your own personal butler is just a two-way radio call away. Chef Orlando Satchell’s Dasheene Restaurant is famous for its innovative cuisine and attracts guests from all over the island to indulge in the fabulous local and international cooking. Ingredients are so fresh - directly out of the ocean or home-grown on the slopes of St Lucia - that guests are constantly surprised by the very high standard achieved here in paradise.

Cocktails at the Tcholit Bar, live music most evenings, one can quietly bask in the panoramic views from one’s suite, meander through the gardens or give in to some serious pampering at the The Ti Kai Posé spa. Wonderful treatments are followed by a soak in the outdoor mineral water tubs, dawn directly from their source near Soufrière. Originally built in 1785, just before the French revolution, with funds from King Louis XVI, it is rumoured that Napoleon’s Empress Josephine bathed in these same waters after an exhilarating sport-fishing trip on one of the lodge boats.

Days can be filled with anything from scuba diving and horseback riding to rainforest hikes and market tours. Its mountainous terrain and lush flora make St Lucia one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean and the wonderful blend of French, British and African traditions suffuses the language, culture and cuisine. There is no better time to experience this than at Carnival, from the end of May through to mid-July, but whatever the season, guests will find colour and calypso radiating throughout the island.