I have spent a lot of time chasing my dream of this place called ‘paradise’, and in St Lucia, I feel as though I’ve come very close to finding it. A perfect combination of tropical jungle, white soft sand and crystal blue waters, where life takes on a slower, more relaxed pace. Still relatively undeveloped, St Lucia combines rustic charm with five star luxury making it easy to see why so many people choose to honeymoon in St Lucia. I stayed at Calabash Cove Resort & Spa, an adults-only boutique resort, tucked away, along with it’s soft sand beach, on St Lucia’s west coast. 

The view as you arrive at Calabash Cove definitely has the wow-factor, looking through the lofty lobby to the open restaurant where the blue sea ahead is sure to take your breath away. Full of lush, green, tropical trees cascading down the side of the hill to it’s own private beach. Calabash Cove is, for me, the epitome of St Lucia.  

With just 26 rooms Calabash Cove never feels crowded. You will get to know staff well during your stay, with everyone from the owner to the gardener being on hand to ensure that your stay meets up to their expectations. Make sure to opt for the all-inclusive package so that you can enjoy all of the food and drinks on offer completely carefree.

Rooms

Calabash Cove Resort is designed so that all of the rooms have a view to the Sea. Rooms come complete with four-poster beds, while guests face the tough choice between swim-up junior suites, with direct access to the swimming pool, or waters edge cottages, complete with private plunge pool. We stayed in one of the spacious, waters edge cottages, with a view that felt as though the nightly sunset was a show that had been put on especially for us.

The waters edge cottages have been designed with ultimate romance and relaxation in mind. The bedroom opens out to a sitting area complete with a fully stocked bar and mini fridge. It had its own small library of books so you can really spend the whole day hidden away.

The sitting room opens out to a private terrace which hugged around the cottage and was full of relaxation options; a daybed, dining area, pool loungers and a hammock where you can relax while watching the sunset, perfect for those looking for privacy. I could quickly see why St Lucia is known as one of the ultimate honeymoon destinations.

The swim-up rooms at Calabash Cove open up to the infinity pool so guests can walk straight out of their room and into the pool. The pool bar serves frozen cocktails, while the view from the pool looking out to the sea, is one that never gets old. Think pure relaxation.

Beach

While none of the beaches in St Lucia are private, the beach at Calabash Cove is as good as, being very difficult for outside visitors to arrive at. Far from the massive stretches of watersport-lined beaches, this beach is a more intimate experience, lined with palm trees and visited by turtles. Small wooden huts are perfect for relaxing in the shade away from the warm Caribbean sun.

Paddle boards and kayaks are available for those looking for a little more adventure. The water is so still that I paddled for close to an hour and was soon joined by turtles popping their heads up to say hello. It felt as though the sea was all mine.

One of my favourite experiences of Calabash Cove Resort was waking up early to practice yoga on the small private pier as the sun was rising. There is something really magical about being able to experience sunrise in a relaxed tropical environment, while practicing yoga to the sound of the flowing tide. Other guests were coming to the beach for a morning swim in the warm Caribbean waters or just to take in the incredible views at the start of another day in paradise.

Windsong Restaurant

The Windsong Restaurant has a breathtaking view making it one of the best restaurants in St Lucia. The restaurant is completely open with all tables positioned to give views of the sea. Make sure to start your evening with a drink at the bar as the sun sets in front of you. Three-course fine dining at Windsong really sets Calabash Cove apart from other all inclusive resorts. Menus are varied and full of choice, including vegan and vegetarian menus. Local produce is used as much as possible with vegetables, fruits and herbs being collected from the kitchen garden. 

Breakfast at the Windsong each morning will get you excited for the day ahead. There are so many delicious tropical fruits grown in St Lucia that we were discovering new fruits daily. Sip on fresh coffee while deciding whether they sky is looking like a beach or pool kind of day. You can choose to have your breakfast in your room if you’re looking for a slower start to things.

During the day, the pool bar offers a more relaxed option of lunch. The swim up bar makes it the perfect place to enjoy lunch while laying out in the sun or swimming in the infinity pool. Food can also be ordered to the beach or to your room at no extra cost.

Spa

Ti Spa is designed as a space for you to relax the mind and rejuvenate the body. Treatments can be enjoyed in the spa, on the beach or on the veranda facing out to the water. The adjoining fitness centre also opens out to the sea views ahead, giving quite an impressive view to motivate your workout.

Excursions

St Lucia has got so much to offer visitors, from waterfalls to volcanos, botanical gardens to boat trips. If you’re feeling really adventurous, the UNESCO World Heritage Pitons can be climbed in an eight-hour hike. Otherwise, I recommend the Land and Sea tour with Spice Travel & Tours where you will explore many of St Lucia’s best sights in one day. We visited the Botanical Garden, Diamond Falls, Sulphur Springs geothermal park (described as the Caribbean’s only ‘drive-in volcano’), while stopping at villages and look-out spots along the way. Lunch is at an impressive restaurant facing to the Pitons, before we then took a catamaran to sail back up along the coast, stopping to snorkel in a bay along the way. 

Calabash Cove Resort & Spa definitely is one of the best resorts in St Lucia and should be at the top of the list for anyone looking for the perfect Caribbean spa resort. Whether you’re booking your honeymoon or just looking for a romantic break to a beautiful destination, the boutique feel on the doorstep of it’s secluded beach, combined with one of the best restaurants in St Lucia make Calabash Cove Resort & Spa an absolute must for a St Lucia vacation.