VUE

Jade Mountain, in all its grandeur, is set atop world- renowned hotel Anse Chastanet, essentially making it a resort within a resort. e property, arguably one of the most romantic spots in the West Indies, sits on a 600- acre stretch of lush tropical paradise, with two so-sand beaches and approximately 8,000 feet of stunning coast at its disposal. As you walk the stunning property, you'll come to understand exactly what first hooked its now owner, Russian-Canadian architect Nick Troubetzkoy and his wife, Karolin, back in the early 1970s. At the time, Troubetzkoy came to the island to design a vacation villa, but he quickly became enamored by St. Lucia's landscape, lifestyle and people—so much so that he and his wife packed up and moved to the island for good. Despite having no knowledge on becoming a hotelier, Troubetzkoy purchased Anse Chastanet and reimagined the quaint, seaside retreat, turning it into something that defied the traditional five-star hotel design. With unique room layouts, environmentally-conscious practices and an incredible location, it didn't take more than a few years before Anse Chastanet became a hit with travelers. Aer decades of success, Troubetzkoy opened Jade Mountain in late 2006. However, the hotel's vision was something that he had pictured since his early years on the island. For some time even before coming to St. Lucia, the architect had been a collector of carved jade mountains, many of which resembled the island's topography, specifically the nearby Pitons. Inside the sanctuaries, you'll notice how the infinity pools blend effortlessly with the Caribbean Sea, serving as a spiritual link to the heart of the island—or if you might imagine, a cascading bridge of sea to a jade mountain of your very own. "When it came to naming the new property, Jade Mountain seemed to be the most appropriate choice because it appeared to me that Nick was finally carving his own jade mountain, made from stone and perhaps just a little bigger than some of the jade mountains in his collection," Karolin Troubetzkoy says of the hotel's inception. While it might seem nearly impossible to leave the comfort of your divine sanctuary (and at times, it is), Jade Mountain is at the doorstep of some world-class experiences, including everything from water sports to mountain hikes and rainforest ziplines. Due to its location on the Southwest coast, nearly everything you can imagine is within reach, and your concierge is happy to arrange excursions and tours at your convenience. First, no trip to Jade Mountain is complete without exploring Anse Chastanet's abundant coral reef. This can be done via a snorkeling or scuba diving trip, and the latter is strongly encouraged. In many ways, Anse Chastanet helped make scuba diving popular on the island in the the early '80s—before it was cool. Scuba St. Lucia, the resort's official go-to dive operation, is at the south end of Anse Chastanet Beach. Divemasters are extremely friendly and helpful, and the staff is set up nicely for both shore and boat dives. The bay itself is located smack in the middle of a world- renowned marine reserve, and dives at Anse Chastanet Reef start just 50 feet out from the shoreline. And the reef, you'll quickly notice, is one of the healthiest in the Caribbean, with over 150 species of fish roaming its limits. Out from the shore, among coral canyons, you'll swim with sea turtles, peacock flounders and octopus. Once you're ready for a boat dive— which includes depths beneath the shadows of the Pitons, M A K I N G J A D E M O U N TA I N WHAT TO DO V U E N J . C O M 114

• Cover