Ti Kaye Resort and Spa

What is Ti Kaye Resort and Spa, and where is it?

Ti Kaye Resort and Spa is an adults-only hillside resort of 33 cottages above Anse Cochon, a quiet bay on the west coast of Saint Lucia between Anse La Raye and Canaries. It suits couples who want privacy, sunsets, good wine and snorkelling or diving, and who are happy to use some steps to reach the beach.

The resort stands on a cliff above the bay, spread over around 15 acres of hillside. It is reached by leaving the main coast road and driving down a track for roughly ten minutes, and there are no other resorts or houses close by. That isolation is the heart of the appeal. The evenings are quiet, the view looks west over the Caribbean Sea, and the nearest crowds are a good way off.

The west coast is the calm, leeward side of the island. It lies between the capital to the north and the Pitons to the south, so it makes a sensible middle base. Our west coast guide explains the villages, bays and viewpoints along the road, and the nearby fishing village of Anse La Raye is the closest place with shops, a Friday fish market and a lively food scene.

Ti Kaye is listed as open and bookable by the Saint Lucia tourist board and UK holiday sellers under the same name. Facilities and packages change from season to season, so confirm the current details with the resort before you book.

Ti Kaye at a glance

Ti Kaye Resort and Spa stands above the bay of Anse Cochon, in the Anse La Raye district on the west coast of Saint Lucia. The nearest village is Anse La Raye to the north, with Canaries to the south and the capital, Castries, further north. The nearest airport is George F. L. Charles Airport in Castries, while most UK flights land at Hewanorra in the far south, so allow for a long, winding road transfer. The style of stay is a hillside resort of 33 gingerbread-style cottages on a cliff, reached by a track from the coast road. It suits couples, divers, snorkellers and wine lovers aged 18 or over, because the resort is adults only. Each cottage has a four-poster bed, an outdoor garden shower and a balcony with a double hammock, and the resort has a dive centre on the beach, a spa on the cliff edge and a large wine cellar. All-inclusive and bed and breakfast plans are both offered.

What are the cottages like?

The 33 cottages and rooms are built into the slope in a gingerbread style, each in its own setting among the trees so that you rarely see a neighbour. Inside, a four-poster bed is the centrepiece, with shutters that open to the sea breeze and air conditioning for the hottest nights. Each cottage has an outdoor garden shower, and a balcony with a double hammock that becomes the favourite spot of the day in the late afternoon, when the sun drops towards the sea.

Some cottages have a plunge pool of their own, so ask which category includes one if that matters to you. There is also a small hillside pool for everyone, with a view that carries out over the bay. Guests must be 18 or over, which keeps the atmosphere restful.

Because the cottages step down the hillside, where you sleep affects how much walking you do. A cottage close to reception and the restaurant is easier on the legs. One nearer the lower levels is quieter and closer to the beach. When you book, ask the resort to place you with your own priorities in mind. Our hotels in Saint Lucia page shows how this kind of stay compares with beachfront and large resort options elsewhere on the island.

How do you get down to the beach?

The beach at Anse Cochon is silver sand in a sheltered cove, and the resort sits on the cliff above it. The path down is a flight of 166 steps, which is manageable for most active adults but worth knowing about before you book. A resort shuttle can take you up and down the hill if you would rather not climb at the end of a hot afternoon.

If you have limited mobility, say so when you reserve. Ask which cottages are closest to the main facilities, and how the shuttle runs, rather than assuming it will suit your needs. This is a hillside resort, and the geography is part of the experience.

The reward at the bottom is a quiet bay with clear water. Snorkelling is possible directly off the beach, and the water is generally calm because the cove faces west and is sheltered by the headlands. If you like to compare beaches before you choose a base, our snorkelling beaches guide explains where else on the island the water is clear enough to be worth the trip.

What is the food and wine like?

Kai Manje is the main restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with a view over the sea. Ti Manje is the beachside restaurant, which serves lunch and a weekly five-course seafood dinner with limited seating, so reserve early if you want a place. There is also a clifftop bar, which is the natural place to be at sunset.

The wine cellar is unusual for a Caribbean resort. It holds more than 3,000 bottles, and tastings take place on several evenings each week. The resort's wine list has also won Wine Spectator awards over a long run of years, which is a serious credential for a small property reached by a track. If you enjoy wine, plan one of the tastings early in your stay so that you can ask for suggestions for the rest of the week.

Packages vary. An all-inclusive plan and a bed and breakfast option are both available, and the right choice depends on how much you want to leave the resort. With no other restaurants near the door, most guests eat in for most meals, and an inclusive rate often works well. If you prefer to explore, take a taxi to Anse La Raye or further afield, and read our food and rum guide to pick out the dishes and drinks worth trying on the island.

Is Ti Kaye good for diving and snorkelling?

Yes, and the dive centre is on the beach itself. Ti Kaye Island Divers runs packages for beginners and experienced divers, and the sites begin in the bay. There are two house reefs, one on each side of the cove, suitable for shore dives and night dives, and the north site is popular with new and training divers because it slopes gently with a sandy bottom and coral-covered boulders.

The best-known site in the bay is the Lesleen M, a 165-foot freighter that was deliberately sunk in 1986 as an artificial reef. It rests in roughly 20 metres of water, is covered in coral and attracts small reef fish, with larger fish patrolling the outside. Rosemond's Trench, a shallow site with winding channels, is nearby and suits divers of all levels. For wider context on the island's marine life and the best sites on other coasts, read our diving in Saint Lucia guide.

Snorkellers do not need to dive to enjoy the bay. The water close to the beach is clear, and the southern side of the bay is often recommended for the best fish life. The resort also has a boat for coastal trips. Always follow the dive centre's advice on conditions and currents, which change with the weather and the season.

Who is Ti Kaye right for, and who should look elsewhere?

Ti Kaye suits couples celebrating a honeymoon or anniversary, divers who want to roll out of bed and onto the reef, and wine lovers who like the idea of a serious cellar at the end of a track. The Kai Koko Spa sits on the cliff edge with two treatment rooms and a Jacuzzi, and its treatments use natural local ingredients, so a spa afternoon fits easily into a stay. Our honeymoon in Saint Lucia guide explains how couples plan the wider trip.

It is not the right choice for families, because guests must be 18 or over. It is also not ideal for anyone who wants a long public beach, lively nightlife or a large resort with a full activity timetable. If you want a livelier north-west base, look at Calabash Cove, which is also adults-only but sits closer to Rodney Bay. If the Pitons are the priority, Anse Chastanet is further south and has its own dive centre and beach.

Keep in mind that the resort is secluded. If you want to explore, you will need a hire car, taxis or organised tours, and the drive down the track and along the coast road is winding. The sense of remoteness is a pleasure for most guests and a drawback for a few.

What is near Ti Kaye?

Ti Kaye is in the Anse La Raye district, and the places closest to it lie along the west coast road. Anse Cochon itself, the bay below the resort, has the beach, the snorkelling and the dive sites. To the north, the fishing village of Anse La Raye has colourful houses along the coastal road, boats drawn up on the shore and a waterfront where food, drink and live music gather. Its Friday night fish fry serves grilled snapper, mahi-mahi and, in season, lobster, but some listings say every Friday and others the last Friday of the month, so confirm the date before you go. Canaries lies a short drive south. Further north, Marigot Bay is a sheltered harbour and Castries, the capital, has the harbour and the cathedral.

Few named restaurants stand on this short stretch, and most guests eat at the resort, where Kai Manje, Ti Manje and the clifftop bar cover the day from breakfast to late evening. For a change, the Saint Lucia tourist board names Roots Beach Bar at Marigot Bay, a relaxed place for sunset drinks and simple food with views over the marina and the hills, a drive to the north. Our guides to beach bars and sunsets and where to eat in Saint Lucia list more, and it is worth asking the resort which places are open on the day you plan to go.

South of the resort, the coast road leads to Soufrière and the Pitons, a longer drive that suits a full day out. The Pitons are the island's best-known sight, and near Soufrière you can visit the Sulphur Springs and the waterfalls and gardens, while the Gros Piton hike is the main climb for strong walkers. Closer to the resort, our hiking and rainforest guide covers walks in the interior, and sailing and boat trips explains how to see the coast from the water. Diving and snorkelling begin at the beach below the resort.

That spread is why Ti Kaye works as a base. You can dive or snorkel in the morning, spend an afternoon at the spa or in a hammock, and still have a day in hand for the Pitons or an evening at the Anse La Raye fish fry. The resort is quiet and secluded, yet the capital, the harbour at Marigot Bay and the sights around Soufrière are all reachable by road in a single day out. Hire a car or book a taxi or tour, because there is nothing to walk to from the door.

How do you get there, and when should you go?

Most UK flights arrive at Hewanorra International Airport at the southern tip of the island, and the drive up the west coast is long and winding, so allow plenty of time. From George F. L. Charles Airport in Castries the journey heads south past Marigot Bay and is shorter. Our getting here guide explains both airports, the road conditions and the transfer options, and a pre-booked transfer is sensible after a night flight from London.

Saint Lucia is warm all year. The drier months from roughly December to May are the most popular and the most settled, which suits a resort built around the beach and the sea. Rain is more frequent in the summer and autumn, and the hillside stays green. Our best time to visit guide sets out the seasons so that you can choose the right month.

Before booking, ask about the exact cottage category, whether you want an inclusive package, the transfer arrangements, the shuttle times and the dates of the wine tastings and the seafood dinner. Pack sturdy sandals for the steps, reef-safe sun cream and a light layer for the evenings on the cliff.

Planning St Lucia holidays around Ti Kaye Resort and Spa

Ti Kaye Resort and Spa is one of the places to stay in St Lucia we cover in detail, and the right choice depends on the kind of stay you want. Our guides to luxury hotels in St Lucia, all inclusive resorts in St Lucia and family resorts in St Lucia help you compare it fairly.

To build the rest of your a holiday in St Lucia, check the best time to visit St Lucia, flights to St Lucia and our St Lucia itineraries. Couples can read about a honeymoon in St Lucia or weddings in St Lucia as well.

Questions travellers ask