Click on the links below for Ladera “at a glance”. You can also download this information in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format.
Ladera is located on the southern end of Saint Lucia, just outside the port town of Soufrière, approximately 40 minutes from Hewanorra International Airport. It sits on a forested ridge at 1,100 feet overlooking the volcanic Piton Mountains and the Caribbean Sea.
Ladera opened in November 1992 and has since been distinguished by a wide range of international publications, awards and accolades from Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Forbes Life, Caribbean Travel and Life, Brides Magazine and countless others. Ladera was once part of Rabot Estate, one of Soufrière’s oldest plantations, which still borders the resort. In the late 1960′s a parcel of land was sold and developed into a small cluster of condominiums and christened Dasheene, named after the thousands of large, glossy-leafed dasheen plants (also known as elephant ears) harvested on the site. In 1982 it was transformed into a unique resort and changed hands a number of times before emerging as Ladera under the current private ownership. The mission has always been to offer an unparalleled guest experience that is quintessentially Saint Lucian, one that embraces the magnificent views and offers harmony with the surrounding natural beauty and rich bounty of the island. Today, that commitment to sumptuous authenticity is evident in everything from the innovative renderings of fresh local dishes at Dasheene restaurant, to the use of Caribbean timbers, stone and tile work used in the guestrooms and public areas. Yet it shines through most effectively with warm and welcoming Saint Lucian staff.
The 9 villas and 23 suites, each with a private plunge pool, overlooking the famous Piton Mountains, a UNESCO World heritage site, the Caribbean Sea and the Soufrière valley. Ladera is know for its distinctive eco-lodge architecture, built with Caribbean timbers and modeled on luxury tree-house living, and a relaxed, barefoot lifestyle. Villas and suites were intentionally built without a fourth wall, yet are designed to be sheltered, safe, and completely private. The design affords spectacular sunset views and unobstructed star gazing at night. Eight luxurious Dream Suites complement the Villas and Piton Suites. Introduced last year, the Dream Suites are larger, have two levels of living space, they also feature the famously unobstructed views and are designed in Ladera’s elegant tropical architecture, using polished hard woods, crisp white linens and colorful tile and stone work by local artisans. A private deck and a spiral staircase lead to a private plunge pool.
P.O. Box 225, Soufrière, Saint Lucia
Dasheene Restaurant and the T’cholit Bar (pronounced Choleet) offer some of the best dining in the Caribbean and by far the best views. The open-air dining room features breathtaking vistas of the rainforest, the dramatic Piton peaks and the Caribbean Sea below. Dasheene’s elegant decor uses natural fabrics and woods to complement the birds-eye view of the island from the 1,100-ft. ridge in southern Saint Lucia. The menu features innovative interpretations of Saint Lucian and Caribbean specialties, based on local produce, fresh fish and colorful presentations. In response to an increasing number of requests for fresh and more health-conscious entrees, Executive Chef Orlando Satchell has created a new menu, lighter in fare yet base on the same fresh, local ingredients and West Indian favorites. Breakfast (for hotel guests only), 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Dinner, 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday Brunch, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Daily Afternoon Tea (for hotel guests only) 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Room service is available from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Guests from other parts of the island are always welcome for lunch and dinner. Dinner Reservations are required. Restaurant attire is casual yet elegant, gentlemen are requested to wear long pants and collared shirts. Jackets are not required. No shorts, tank tops, or beach footwear is permitted in the evening. In-room dining is available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast and Afternoon Tea are complimentary for registered guests. Entertainment is available five nights a week from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Swimming Pool
The main pool and deck area are located below the restaurant and bar overlooking the Pitons and Caribbean Sea.
Dasheene restaurant’s full menu is available poolside.
The infinity pool was used in the filming of “Superman II” and was the first of its kind in the Caribbean.
Recreation
Ladera is pleased to arrange a variety of activities for guests, including: Island tours.
Hiking/rainforest walks with local guides.
Bird watching.
Jeep or car rentals (driving is on the left side of the road).
Day trips to the city of Castries.
Helicopter tours.
Scuba diving, snorkel trips, sailboat and fishing charters.
Horseback riding.
Golf, a nine-hole and 18-hole course is available in Castries (one hour and half drive from the resort).
Climbing the Pitons.
Complimentary Services
Shuttle to and from nearby beaches.
Saturday morning Soufrière market tour followed by a cooking class with recipes.
Fitness center with cardio and strength training machines.
WiFi in all guest rooms.
A fully stocked library is located at the main bar.
Board games.
Boutique with a wide range of items from tropical clothing and magazines, drugstore items and much more.
Snorkel gear and beach towels supplied at the hotel.
Daily breakfast.
Daily Afternoon Tea service.
Portable DVD players available for in-room movie viewing.
Housekeeping
Daily housekeeping service.
Nightly turndown service.
Electricity
220 volts, 50 cycles (square, three-prong plug).
Adapters and transformers available for guests.
Telephone/Internet
Rooms are not furnished with telephones, however a private phone room is located at reception.
A two-way “FireFly” radio system allows guests to communicate with reception and the restaurant for in-room dining or other requests.
Complimentary WiFi is available in the rooms and public areas.
A guest computer is also available.
Size: 27 miles long by 14 miles wide (238 square miles)
Time Zone: GMT -4 hours. St. Lucia is on Atlantic Standard Time year-round, placing it 1 hour ahead of New York. However, when the United States is on daylight saving time (Apr- Oct), St. Lucia matches the clocks of the U.S. East Coast. Click here for the current local time.
Population: 160,000
Status: Independent Member of British Commonwealth
Language: English is the official language, but St. Lucian’s speak a French Creole (commonly called patois).
Currency: The official monetary unit of St. Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$), which is pegged at EC$2.67 per U.S. dollar (EC$1 = US37¢) (US Dollars are accepted).
Average Temperature: 28° to 31° Celcius (83° to 87° Fahrenheit)
Electrical System: 220 volts, 50 cycles AC. Adaptors and transformers are available for guests.
Piton Mountains, World Heritage designated, 3000-foot volcanic peaks that rise vertically out of the sea.
Diamond Waterfall and Botanical Gardens.
Sulphur Springs, the world’s only “drive-in” volcano.
Louis XVI Mineral Baths.
Tropical rain forest.
Historic military ruins and museum at Pigeon Island.
Travelers returning to the U.S. from the Caribbean are required to hold valid passports. All visitors must have a return or ongoing ticket. Airport departure tax is $21 U.S. dollars. Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) in the south, services international flights. GFL Charles Airport in the north is used for inter-island flights. From the United States: There is service to Saint Lucia from most U.S. gateways via Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, BWIA and US Airways. Flying time is three and half hours from Miami, four hours from Atlanta, and five hours from New York. From London: British Airways, BWIA, and Virgin Atlantic.
From Canada: Air Canada, WestJet, BWIA and American Airlines.
From Paris: Air France to Martinique, then LIAT.
From Germany: Condor.
Contact: Olivier Bottois, Vice President, Sales & Marketing
E-mail:
olivier@ladera.com
Contact: Ermin Josef, Executive Assistant Manager / Sales & Operations
E-mail:
ermin@ladera.com
