It’s morning and the only things you hear are chirping birds and waving palms; there’s some blue in the distance, but up here it’s the green that matters.
The beach is a long walk or a shuttle ride away, but you’re perfect, up in the hills, spending your day with the trees.
This is another side of the Caribbean: the hillside hotel, where the views are different and the sounds are different, where you can engage with the region’s natural beauty in entirely new ways.
This is that rare gem in the Caribbean that isn’t on the beach. And that’s the point.
Here are our favorite hillside hotels in the Caribbean.
Hotel Plein Soleil, Martinique Set high above a lagoon on the Atlantic coast of Martinique, Plein Soleil is the essence of Martinique — fun and sophisticated, anchored by a world-class restaurant. But the biggest reason to come here is the design, with most of the breezy, chic rooms boasting their own private plunge pools, high above the water.
Strawberry Hill, Jamaica A full-fledged mountaintop retreat in the Blue Mountains outside Kingston, this Island Outpost classic calls itself a “mountaintop village,” and that’s precisely what it is, with a mix of airy cottages and one of the best restaurants in the whole country. That’s along with a truly marvelous spa, part of a broad wellness program.
Ladera, Saint Lucia There are few vistas as stunning anywhere in the world as the Pitons in Saint Lucia, and that’s what the legendary three-walled rooms at Ladera are all about. This is a luxury hotel that’s completely, obsessively, passionately focused on providing an authentic Saint Lucian experience, one that pervades every inch of the property — even the carved pillars in your suite.
Montpelier Plantation and Beach, Nevis While the hotel has access to its own beach club, the story here is the charming, elegant, refined hillside location in Nevis. This almost impossibly romantic property, a favorite of Princess Diana, oozes history, and cultivates a wonderfully serene ambience, most notably in its Mill Privee eatery, where you can dine in a centuries-old sugar mill.
Tendacayou, Guadeloupe You fall in love the moment you drive up the hill to get to Tendacayou, a funky, playful retreat in the rainforest above the town of Deshaies that’s equal parts eco-lodge and treehouse. It’s a place for afternoons in hammocks followed by spa treatments, and a deep dive into nature.
Rabot Hotel, Saint Lucia Set on a working farm, this 25-cottage boutique hotel is an instant immersion into the world of cacao, where the cocoa bean takes over every aspect of your hospitality experience. That includes a Beauté de Cacao Spa, a world-class eatery and a host of on-site experiences, including the can’t miss “tree-to-bar” journey. And then there’s the infinity pool, with a jaw-dropping view of Petit Piton.
Jungle Bay, Dominica It calls itself the Nature Island of the Caribbean, but Dominica is really the adventure island of the Caribbean, a waterfall and volcano-filled haven for hikers, explorers, divers, and other thrill-seekers. And at the center of it all is Jungle Bay, a 60-unit eco-resort set on Morne Acouma in Soufriere, overlooking the beautiful southwestern coast of the island.
Golden Rock Inn, Nevis Owned by artists, this 11-room retreat on the foothills of Nevis peak has an ethereal kind of quality. There’s something about the stone walls and the light and the color that manages to take you another place; and in the evening, when you’re in the hills, alone with the volcano, you feel it even more.
Graycliff, Nassau It’s just up the hill from the heart of downtown Nassau, but Graycliff is an oasis: a gourmand’s dream, from its on-site cigar factory to its unforgettable restaurant to one of the largest wine cellars on earth. But even better, it’s wonderfully lush, a sweeping compound that becomes your own private garden retreat high above Nassau.
Sweetfield Manor, Barbados Equal parts historic inn and wellness hotel, Sweetifled is set on a hillside high above Bridgetown, with some of the most spectacular views on the whole island. It’s a charming throwback to another time, quiet and serene, and endlessly warm and friendly.