Why Saint Lucia Should be on the Radar of Every Chocolate Lover

As a chocolate lover, researcher and journalist/author, I’ve spent the greater part of a quarter century traveling the globe in search of the best chocolate travel destinations. St. Lucia — or Sainte-Lucie, as it’s known by the locals — pushes all the right buttons to be considered a top runner for this honor.


ST. LUCIA HAS THE IDEAL COCOA/CACAO GROWING CLIMATE

Its geographical location at 14 degrees north of the equator (between St. Vincent and Martinique) makes St. Lucia an ideal destination for visitors seeking tropical bliss. Add that to the natural elements of rich volcanic soil and a perfect amount of sun and tropical rains to provide St. Lucia with just the right climate for growing high-grade cacao — the primary ingredient for making its own share of the world’s finest artisanal chocolate.

RESEARCH THE WIDE ARRAY OF IMPRESSIVE PROPERTIES BEFORE BOOKING

Hats off to British chocolate-making company Hotel Chocolat for being the first international chocolatier to grow cacao on St. Lucia. Hotel Chocolat takes it to the next level by producing its award-winning, world-class artisanal chocolate on the island with the cacao it has grown there. We stayed at Rabot Hotel (formerly called Hotel Chocolat Rabot Estate). This is a contemporary boutique hotel where we experienced the magnificence of farm-to-table cocoa cuisine featuring banana daiquiris, fabulous cuts of Angus beef served with chocolate port sauce, and cocoa nibs (tiny chunks of roasted cocoa beans) used as the primary seasoning in the on-site Rabot Restaurant and the Cacao Bar. The Rabot Hotel also offers chocolate spa services and immersive, highly recommended Project Chocolat tree-to-bar and bean-to-bar tours. Though not beachfront, Rabot’s jungle location keeps the chocolate experience as the primary reason for choosing this particular property as the base for your St. Lucian visit.

The multi-award-winning Jade Mountain Resort is another stunning property where the individual guest accommodations are referred to as sanctuaries. Each has a private infinity pool and an open-air concept offering you mesmerizing views of the Piton Mountains. I can honestly say that I wept with joy when our major-domo (butler) brought us to Sanctuary JE2, as I’d never seen anything like it. 

I had been invited to stay at Jade Mountain for its chocolate festival back in 2012, which whetted my appetite for the sweeter side of St. Lucia. I’m pleased to see the resort continues to host a number of chocolate-focused events, including its signature Emerald Estate Cocoa Tour, sensory tastings and workshops, as well as its crème de la crème Chocolate Alchemy Package. If you love artisan chocolate and luxury accommodations equally well, Jade Mountain is a great choice for you. Jade Mountain and its sister property, Anse Chastanet (offering direct beach access and an easier hit on your wallet), are both located just north of St. Lucia’s historic former capital of Soufrière in the island’s primary cocoa-growing region.

Along the northern end of St. Lucia’s west coast is the national capital of Castries, near another tremendous property called Calabash Cove Resort and Spa, where we stayed in March 2025. We loved every minute of our stay at Calabash Cove for its fabulous beachside location, heart-stopping beauty and extremely happy and helpful staff and management. Special mention to concierge Kevin, who was responsible for our ultra-private stay in beachfront Cabin 5 following our stay in a lovely suite in the resort’s main building. And for the record, in my nearly 30 years as a professional travel writer, this was only the second time I was brought to tears when entering our assigned accommodations — and pure coincidence that they were both on the island of St. Lucia. The island is truly beautiful at every turn, but also not a destination for the budget-minded.

With an owner originally from Austria, you’ll notice the quality of a high-end European property combined with a strong Caribbean flavor to be found in every aspect of Calabash Cove, whose staff is 100 percent of St. Lucian origin. If there is paradise on earth, this might be it.

CHOCOLATE SPA TREATMENTS ARE A MUST FOR THE CHOCOLATE TRAVELER

Speaking of heaven on earth, there is nothing better than a chocolate body wrap. I had one of my most memorable ones at the Pure Jungle Spa in Costa Rica, and it sent me through the roof with exhilaration as the serotonin from the cocoa worked its way through my body. I was slathered with molten cocoa and then wrapped in warm banana leaves, leaving me to “cook” on the table for an hour, and I was then taken to the outdoor jungle shower to hose myself off. We were fortunate to find that Calabash Cove offers a Chocolate Affair for couples, during which we both received a cocoa body scrub, followed by a cocoa-mint massage. Our spa attendant, Barbara, was very friendly and professional and left us feeling fantastic. In addition to making us feel incredible from the outside in, Calabash Cove tantalized us with deliciousness on the dinner table. The ahi tuna steak was thick, succulent and cocoa-crusted. And our dinner was capped with sea salt caramel chocolate cheesecake, which was so amazing, we had it every day of our stay. 

If the idea of a jungle-based heritage property draws you in, but you’re looking for a more authentic setting that prominently features St. Lucia’s strong connection to the cacao industry, I’d highly recommend the 19th-century, award-winning, eco-friendly Fond Doux Resort & Spa. (Fond Doux translates to “sweet valley,” and we can see why it got that name, as the resort has its own cocoa plantation.) 

Guest cottages at Fond Doux are unique, ranging from the Tree-Top version with 68 vertical steps to reach the “room with a view” to the Ginger Lily cabin we enjoyed on flat ground, with no stairs to climb and a comfortable king bed, outdoor shower and huge yard with cacao trees in our own private jungle. Fond Doux’s Chocolate Heritage Tour and chocolate-making class were fantastic, pumping the immersive chocolate experience through the Richter scale. Unfortunately, Fond Doux’s restaurant doesn’t embrace the cocoa-cuisine concept that we loved so much at the other properties we visited. 

Based on the seven unique St. Lucian properties we stayed at (one included a hilltop Airbnb near Gros Islet and the site of St. Lucia’s Friday Night Street Fest), I wholeheartedly recommend St. Lucia as one of the top destinations for the adventurous chocolate lover who wants more from the experience than just tasting chocolate at a public event. This locale had no connection to chocolate but did have a private pool and a great view of the Rodney Bay Marina.