Saint Lucia’s Sugar Beach Just Got Sweeter

It’s not hyperbolic to call Saint Lucia’s Pitons—twin volcanic peaks swathed in parakeet-green forest—some of the most stunning natural scenery in the Caribbean, if not the world. At a respective 771 metres and 743 metres tall, the Gros Piton and the Petit Piton have become emblems of this Eastern Caribbean island nation, so it’s unsurprising that most of Saint Lucia’s best hotels are on the southwestern coast, in prime viewing position of the UNESCO World Heritage List site.

Nestled between the two spires on the shoreline of the marble-blue Anse des Pitons bay, you’ll find the legendary Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort. This blissed-out beach resort of swishy palms, thatched parasols, and wraparound verandahs reopened in November after a five-month-long refurbishment. Guests visiting this year (the hotel’s 30th anniversary) will find nine new guest rooms, including four beachfront bungalows—with stress-busting hammocks, free-standing soaking tubs, and panoramic views—plus five new Luxury Cottages, built higher up the mountainside for plenty of privacy.

Refreshes to the already impressive drinking and dining scene include the new open-air Jalousie Grill, where the catch of the day, charred and blistered to perfection on an Argentinian-style grill, is best enjoyed with an icy, locally brewed Piton pilsner or a cinnamon-garnished rum punch.

Though all accommodations come with private plunge pools, the main pool has been rebuilt into an Instagram-worthy vision of lanterns and sugar-white cabanas. The Rainforest Spa, which takes its name from the property’s 100 acres of rain forest, now features a treehouse treatment room balanced atop stilts. Sneak away to this hideaway for citrus body wraps, coconut and spice scrubs, or Tata Harper detox facials.

There’s plenty of escapism to be had off-site as well. Chase waterfalls on the En Bas Saut trail (keep your eyes peeled for tropical birds) or check out the Superman Waterfall, famed for its appearance in 1980’s Superman II. A hike up the Gros Piton will reward you with stellar views of the island’s pastel rooftops and coconut plantations. Or visit the drive-in volcano and mud bath in the geothermal sulphur springs—where else in the world can you do that?