What were Caribbean hotels like before the trade winds were replaced by blasts of air conditioning, when morning exercise was a walk on the beach and not water aerobics, and when you sat watching the sunset instead of cable TV? You can still find out at the Anse Chastanet Resort on St. Lucia's unspoiled southwestern Caribbean coast.

Anse Chastanet has 49 uniquely designed rooms 37 of which are scattered about a flower-decked hillside, and 12 of which are located within a tropical garden at beach level.

All rooms have fridges, electric tea/coffee makers, in-room safes, and wall mounted hairdryers. Deluxe and Premium rooms have irons and ironing boards. The furniture in all rooms has been individually designed and handmade in the region with the exclusive use of the island woods such as teak, mahogany, green heart, purple heart, red cedar and wild breadfruit.

Facilities at the Resort include 2 restaurants and bars, excursions and car rental desk, 2 beachside boutiques, the Kai Belte Mini-Spa, and a SSI Platinum /PADI scuba facility, Scuba St. Lucia.

The dive facility is located on the beach below Anse Chastanet Hotel. Just feet away from this full service facility is the Anse Chastanet Marine Reserve which is part of the Soufriere Marine Management Area (SMMA). This reef, which is home to more than 150 different species of fish is comprised of a marine plateau and dramatic slopes that fall away to a depth of more than 130 ft.

A great range of corals (finger, brain, boulder, leaf, flower, soft) and a tremendous variety of sponges (tube, barrel, vase, encrusting) give an unparalleled mix of color and texture to the reef and provide shelter for the many reef inhabitants (crabs, lobster, sea lilies, basket stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, shrimps) as well as a dramatic back drop for the schools of reef fish, chromis, Bermuda chub, bar jack, snappers and many more brilliantly colored fish.

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