Where Balenbouche and Fond Doux give guests a taste of vintage plantation life, this boutique hotel dials it up a notch or three to plantation luxe. We're talking preloaded iPods, open-sky rainforest showers, and a black-quartz infinity pool. But a stay at the Boucan is much more than just high-thread-count sheets; it's a big dip in a vat of silky St. Lucian chocolate, almost literally. Run by Hotel Chocolat, the British chocolatier, Boucan was built on a vintage St. Lucian rainforest estate that under new ownership has been reborn as a working cocoa plantation. This means you get daily supplies of chocolates and cookies in your room, and cocoa-centric food at the hotel restaurant dubbed "cacao cuisine." It also means that, in the interest of chocolate education, you should consider the signature 3-hr. "Tree-to-Bar" tour, which includes a stroll through the cocoa groves, harvesting cocoa pods, and making your own chocolate bars or truffles (Mon–Fri 9am–noon; $61 hotel guests, $88 non-guests).
The rooms themselves—a collection of open-air bungalows—come in two categories: Lodge and Luxe Lodge. Both have fourposter beds with pillow-top mattresses, iPods and docking stations, and London-based REN toiletries, but the larger Luxe Lodge units (750 sq. ft.) have private verandas with views of both Pitons. All reside around 1,000 ft. above sea level, sans air-conditioning but built to take advantage of the natural ventilation. The Rabot Estate has a number of nature trails with sweeping mountain and sea vistas. Beach lovers can take the free 10am shuttle down the mountain to Sugar Beach; the trip takes 20 minutes, but know that the Sugar Beach resort charges a hefty surcharge for the daily use of a sun lounger.
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Boucan Hotel
Rabot Estate, Soufrière
Our Rating
Neighborhood
Soufrière
Phone
758/572-9600
Prices
Winter $550 lodge double, $800 luxe lodge double; off-season $450–$535 lodge double, $725–$775 luxe lodge double; rates include full breakfast, welcome bottle of wine, and beach transfers; dining packages/plans available; ask about Christmas holiday rates; children 11 and under not permitted
Units
14
Amenities
Restaurant, bar, pool, room service, walking trails, spa, Wi-Fi (free)
Web site
Boucan Hotel
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Map
Rabot Estate, Soufrière St. LuciaNote: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.