Jade Mountain is a hillside resort above Soufrière on the south-west coast of Saint Lucia, built so that every room faces the island's twin volcanic peaks, the Pitons. Each of its 29 "sanctuaries" is open on one side: there is no fourth wall, only a 15-foot-high frame around the mountains and the Caribbean Sea.

Jade Mountain sanctuary with a red-tiled infinity pool facing the Pitons in Saint Lucia
A pool sanctuary facing Gros Piton and Petit Piton.

The architecture of Nick Troubetzkoy

Jade Mountain was conceived and built by its architect-owner, Nick Troubetzkoy, and opened in early 2007. It rises on a mountaintop above Anse Chastanet, the 600-acre beachfront resort he had opened decades earlier, and the two operate as sister properties.

The design treats each room like a stage set. Individual bridges lead from the central structure to every sanctuary, the open side frames the Pitons, and the private infinity pools are tiled in ruby, amber or plum. The rooms have no televisions, radios or landline phones; guests get a mobile phone to reach the staff, and internet access is available.

Terraced stone buildings of Jade Mountain with the Pitons behind
The terraced buildings of Jade Mountain above the coast.

Sanctuaries, infinity pools and Sky suites

The 29 sanctuaries sit at different heights and no two are laid out the same way. Twenty-four have their own infinity pool, in four categories:

  • Galaxy: about 2,000 sq ft on average, with a pool averaging 900 sq ft.
  • Sun: 1,800–2,000 sq ft, pools averaging 900 sq ft; corner units have a 270-degree view.
  • Moon: 1,600–1,950 sq ft, pools averaging 650 sq ft.
  • Star: 1,400–1,800 sq ft, pools averaging 450 sq ft.

The five Sky suites, averaging about 1,650 sq ft, have a large whirlpool tub for two in place of a pool. One of them, on the north-east side, has windows and air-conditioning and can be requested by guests who prefer a closed room. Check the official sanctuary descriptions to match the photos you like to the category you book.

Bedroom at Jade Mountain open to a private pool and the Pitons
A bedroom open to its pool and the Pitons.
Bridge leading to the Jade Mountain buildings with the Pitons in the background
One of the bridges that lead to the sanctuaries.

The Pitons: Saint Lucia's twin peaks

The view is the point of the place. Gros Piton (798 m) and Petit Piton (743 m) are volcanic plugs on the south-west coast, linked by the Piton Mitan ridge and standing between the towns of Soufrière and Choiseul. Together with the surrounding land they form a UNESCO World Heritage Site of 2,909 hectares, which also includes a geothermal field with sulphurous fumaroles and hot springs.

You can climb Gros Piton without ropes or mountaineering experience. The round trip takes several hours, and the entry fee includes a local guide trained by the national park. Start early to avoid the midday heat. Petit Piton is steeper and was first climbed in 1878.

Infinity pool at Jade Mountain at dusk with the Pitons on the horizon
An infinity pool at dusk.

Planning a stay

An open-wall room becomes the centre of your day, so leave time to enjoy it: breakfast on the terrace, an afternoon in the pool and sunset over the Pitons. Head down to the beach at Anse Chastanet for a swim, and plan one day for the Pitons and Soufrière. Ask about steps and bridges if anyone in your party has limited mobility, since the resort is built into a steep slope.

If you are travelling as a couple, our couples’ trip planning guide helps turn different preferences into a shared plan. For another hotel shaped by its view, see Mystique in Santorini, high on the caldera cliffs of Hellas, or the much more adventurous Skylodge in Peru.

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