Falling in love with Windjammer Landing

I have fallen in love multiple times, a few with people but mostly with destinations. Adding to my list of things I have fallen in love with is WindJammer Landing, a luxurious all inclusive resort located in St. Lucia. It is approximately a 4.5 hour flight from JFK and a 90 minute drive from Hewanorra International Airport (UVF). 

Dress Links: Halter Yellow Dress | Green Maxi Dress| Black Cut Out Dress 

When offered a press trip to visit Windjammer Landing, I was excited for the opportunity. However, I have to admit that I didn’t know what to expect and I purposefully decided not to research the property. My decision stemmed from my desire of wanting to experience my first time in St. Lucia authentically, without any expectations or preconceived notions of how my experience should be. 

LOCATION AND AMENITIES

“Tucked away on a lush hillside along the cobalt Caribbean Sea, Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort brings to mind the beauty and charm of a picturesque Mediterranean village.”

I stand by my decision because truthfully, going blindly into Windjammer Landing made my experience more special and the views more breathtaking. The resort is located on a 60-acre hillside estate on the north-west coast of St. Lucia Caribbean Sea at Labrelotte Bay. I stayed in villa 412 and I was blown away by how spacious and luxurious it was. The highlight of my specific villa was the plunge pool, which offered spectacular views of the sunrise and sunset. 

Outfit links: Pink Backless Top | Brown Midi Dress | White Sandal Heels

If you know me, you know I have a special relationship with the universe, the moon and the sun. As predicted, I made sure to catch the sunrise and sunset everyday. I admired the sunrise during my meditation and journaling session in the mornings. It was so peaceful to be in tune with my emotions, feelings and thoughts, as I overlooked the ocean.  I always spend the first hour of the day to myself. And honoring my practice even while traveling made me feel more grounded and grateful. Likewise, I enjoyed the sunset from both my views from top of the hills and along the beach.

 The first thing you will notice when you arrive at the resort are the hills. In total, there are 201 Guestrooms (combination of rooms, suites and villas) located by the beach or on the hillside. Each villa is different and special so it just depends on what you’re looking for. Other amenities include 6 swimming pools, 5 restaurants, 4 bars, Spa, Fitness Centre, Kids Club, and Water Sports Programs. 

DINING

There are 5 different restaurants located on the beach or the hillside and serving either local or international cuisine including:

• Dragonfly: Classic à la carte dishes with an island twist.
• Papa Don’s: Mediterranean dishes including pastas, pizzas and Greek specialities served on a hillside terrace overlooking the sea.
• Embers: Barbecued and grilled dishes served in an ‘island casual’ ambience right on the beach.
• Upper Deck: À la carte steak and seafood dishes presented on a multi-level deck overlooking the sea.
• Jammers: a laid-back but lively venue offering all-day dining beachside.
• *Toppers Ice Cream Shack for ice cream, smoothies and sorbets.

I was lucky enough to try all the dining options and they were all perfect in its own right. My advice is to try the daily juice at Dragonfly for breakfast and my favorite was the passion fruit! It was so fresh and delicious that I could still remember the distinct taste as I recall my first sip. I also enjoyed the bolognese pasta at Papa Don’s because you can’t go wrong with a classic pasta dish paired with sangria!

The fish tacos at Embers is definitely a must try. You can opt to also have lunch by the beach, but make sure you stop by Toppers Ice Cream Shack! Additionally, I recommend trying the raspberry tart and lemon cake at Upper Deck as those were my favorite desserts. And I loved the catch of the day at Jammers. I tried the Mahi Mahi, one with creole sauce and one with Cajun sauce, both were equally delicious. Denise Benoit (our amazing tour guide and Reservations Sales Supervisor) raved about the coconut cheesecake at Jammers and she was not wrong so don’t skip out on that either 🙂

ISLAND TOUR AND EXCURSIONS

“Jammin’ Tours have specially selected local companies that deliver the highest quality service. Choose from sailboat tours, jeep tours, off-island tours via plane and catamaran, rain forest zip-line and gondola tours, cycling tours, deep-sea fishing trips, dolphin and whale watching, kayaking, horseback riding, scuba-diving, golf, bird watching, helicopter tours, plantation and historical tours, and shopping tours.”

The property does an amazing job with making sure there’s something for every type of traveler. Windjammer Landing is a place that you must stay in for at least a week. With that being said, you can either spend it leisurely at the property or venture out. However if there’s one experience that the locals recommend is a trip to Soufriere.

SOUFRIERE SAILING TOUR

 Beach Cover Up

My Soufriere Day Sail Experience was a highlight of my trip! Because let’s be honest, what’s more fun than being on a private sailing with the best crew in Saint Lucia? We took a catamaran along to Soufriere where we explored the natural wonders of St. Lucia, including a fresh spring waterfall, drive-in volcano and natural sulfur springs and mud bath.

I was a bit hesitant with the boat ride because I usually get sea sick but the trip couldn’t have gone any smoother. The weather was perfect, the wind was behaving, the music was entertaining and the vibes were relaxing. Upon arriving at Soufriere, we went straight to the natural springs where all the magic happens! 

We immersed our bodies in hot springs with sulfur and also put mud on our bodies. I was told that the mud would make me look 10 years younger and I’m not sure if that’s accurate but it did my mosquito bites wonder! My skin felt instantly smoother and my bites decreased immensely in size and swelling. I was blown away by the power of sulfur and wish we had it in NYC! 

(I will warn you that the smell isn’t pleasant and it does stain your swimsuit. Make sure you wear one that’s dark and preferably one that you don’t care for ruining).

We also made a quick stop at Anse Cochon Beach before heading back to Windjammer Landing. The whole trip was about seven hours. Needless to say, I was extremely tired afterwards but I couldn’t have asked for a better St Lucia experience! 

CHOCOLATE MAKING

If you know me, you know I love chocolate! I can consume chocolate well but I have no knowledge or skills when it comes to making it. As a result, I was excited for this experience when I saw it on the itinerary. 

“Saint Lucia’s lush tropical rainforest and warm climate make it the perfect place for cacao trees to thrive. Beginning in the 1700s, Saint Lucia exported its cacao beans to Europe where it went on to produce some of the finest chocolate in the world.”

This experience began with a tutorial on the production of cocoa, presented by Jason Marcellin, who is from Cocoa Carib We were then instructed on how to make our own a chocolate bar. The process of grinding locally-grown cocoa was tiring but rewarding. My right arm definitely put in work that afternoon, but thankfully, I had immense help from the staff to make the process quicker and easier for me.

We only used four ingredients for our 70% dark chocolate bar, which included cocoa, confectionary sugar, butter and sea salt. I sampled my product several times throughout the process and I thought it was perfect every time I tasted it. This experience is unique and one that I highly recommend. Not only do you get to appreciate how cacao is used in chocolate making, but also feel proud eating a bar that you personally made. Definitely make sure you book this experience through Jammin Tours!

MASSAGE AT THE SPA

I’m probably biased when I say a spa is a non negotiable during a vacation, but I still think it’s very beneficial for your body. Alex Danila, the director of Spa & Wellness gave us a spectacular and informative tour of the spa and the products. He sold me on the amazing benefits of the massage so I requested for a surprise. And boy did my massage therapist, Shanna delivered!

 I had a signature massage that was designed to restore energy, equilibrium and vitality. Shanna used  warmed bamboo, polished stones and essential oils to help relieve the tensions throughout my body and to improve blood circulation. I remember being extremely tight in the beginning of the massage but I dozed off into a mini nap shortly after. I’m pretty sure it was because of how tired I was from traveling but either way, I felt rejuvenated afterwards. The massage concluded with a 16-point acupressure facial massage and it was an amazing way to wrap up my experience. After my massage, I hydrated with coconut juice and felt like a huge burden of stress was lifted. 

I received the massage on the first full day at Windjammer Landing. The timing was actually perfect because it eased my body and mind to the week ahead. I felt like all the stress that came with my New York life was left behind on that massage table. My body needed that massage more than I thought and I am grateful that I was able to experience it.

HUMMINGBIRD YOGA

We also did vinyasa yoga one morning by the hilltop as we listened to the hummingbirds. It was an incredible experience! I really enjoyed moving and stretching my body in ways that I never have before. Markeem Morrison was a very patient and attentive instructor. I usually find that my mind wanders during yoga, but for this particular class, I was laser focused. Maybe it was because the class took place outdoors, and maybe it’s because I was surrounded by St. Lucia’s beauty. Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a great way to start the day.

SUNSET BEACH PICNIC

We ended the trip with a sunset beach picnic. And wow, I couldn’t have come up with a better way to wrap up my first time at St Lucia! The sun must have known it was my last evening because she blessed us with the best sunset of that week. I basked in the views and watched the vibrant big sun say goodnight. You can book this activity through the Ambassador Deck and I highly recommend saving this for your last night of your visit.

Hot Pink Tank Dress

The lights from the villas on the hillside created a perfect ambiance for the evening. We ended up grabbing dinner at Jammers and danced the night away by the beach. I had so much fun and couldn’t describe the freedom I felt. It was in that moment when I fell in love with Windjammer Landing. Everything clicked and I now understood why so many couples and families that I interacted with during the week keep returning back to the property.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Windjammer Landing isn’t just another vacation property along the Caribbean Sea. They have cultivated a strong sense of community, very similar to a family. It’s a resort that values hospitality and goes beyond being a property. Everything from the service to the staff to the amenities was top notch. I could tell that the people who work there don’t just work there. They care and love what they do and it shows. 

If you are looking for a vacation, whether it’s with your partner, with your girlfriends or with your family, Windjammer Landing will not disappoint. I can promise you that. Once you visit, there’s no way you won’t want to return. So here’s your sign to add this to your bucket list and who knows, maybe I’ll see you there the next time I visit!