Zoëtry Marigot Bay

What is Zoëtry Marigot Bay?

Zoëtry Marigot Bay St. Lucia is an all-inclusive, all-suite resort on a hillside above Marigot Bay, on Saint Lucia's west coast, a short drive from Castries. Part of Hyatt's Inclusive Collection, it has 124 suites, a marina, a spa and seven dining venues.

Marigot Bay is the reason to come. Steep, forested hills close around the water on three sides, and the inner harbour is sheltered enough to serve as a hurricane hole for boats. It sits about four miles south-west of Castries, so you get a quiet, enclosed bay without being cut off from the capital. The author James Michener once called it the most beautiful bay in the Caribbean, and the 1967 film Doctor Dolittle was shot here, which tells you how long people have been struck by the view.

Our own guide to Marigot Bay covers the village, the ferry across the water and the beach at La Bas. This page deals with the resort itself.

Zoëtry Marigot Bay at a glance

Zoëtry Marigot Bay stands on a hillside above Marigot Bay, in the Castries district on Saint Lucia's west coast. The nearest town is Castries, about four miles to the north-east. The nearest airport for regional flights is George F. L. Charles Airport in Castries, while UK flights land at Hewanorra International Airport, roughly an hour away by road. The style of stay is an all-inclusive, all-suite resort with butler service, a marina, a spa and seven dining venues. It suits couples, honeymooners, sailors and groups who want private suites with a harbour setting. Dining and drinks are included on the all-inclusive plan, and you should confirm the exact inclusions when you book.

Has the resort changed its name?

Yes, more than once, so it is worth knowing before you search. The property was known as Discovery at Marigot Bay, and in 2014 an operator announced it would be rebranded as Capella Marigot Bay Resort and Marina. In December 2022 it reopened as Zoëtry Marigot Bay St. Lucia, the first Zoëtry in Saint Lucia, and it was converted to all-inclusive at the same time.

The change matters for two reasons. Older reviews, forum posts and some printed brochures describe the Discovery or Capella years, with a different board basis and a different service style, so they are a poor guide to what you will find today. And the marina, which carries on under the same hillside, has kept its place at the heart of the resort. If you are comparing it with other hotels in Saint Lucia, judge it on its current listing rather than on what you read about the old names.

What are the suites like?

Every one of the 124 rooms is a suite, and the buildings are terraced up the slope so that most look out over the bay or the marina. Junior suites are the entry point, and above them sit master suite residences and penthouse residences with room for larger groups. The suites are laid out with living and dining areas, full kitchens, double vanities with rain showers, and a private plunge pool, balcony or terrace, with butler service included.

Because the resort follows the hillside, the setting involves steps and slopes between your suite and the main areas. That is part of the character, and the views repay it, but anyone with limited mobility should ask which suites sit closest to the lobby, the restaurants and the pools before booking. The resort also describes a no fixed check-in or check-out time approach, which suits late flights from London, though you should confirm how it works for your dates.

For travellers weighing this against the luxury resorts in Saint Lucia that sit among the Pitons, the difference is the harbour. Here you are among the boats and the village, with sheltered water and a lively marina, rather than on an open volcanic coast.

What is there to eat, drink and do?

Dining is included on an all-inclusive basis, with seven restaurants and bars plus 24-hour dining in your suite. The venues include 1461, a more formal restaurant with a private wine cellar called La Cava, Le Bateau for Caribbean cooking with a view across the marina, The Cove, a poolside grill with wood-fired pizza, and the Rum Cave, an open-air lounge built around rum and live music. Saint Lucia makes good rum, so it is a natural fit, and our rum and distilleries guide explains what to taste.

The Spa Village draws on local tradition, with treatments inspired by Saint Lucia's volcanic landscape, including volcanic mud baths, in cabin-style rooms with their own plunge pools. There is also a treetop-style space for wellness sessions and private dinners, a 24-hour fitness area, and a programme that has included sunrise yoga on paddleboards, Pilates, meditation and Creole lessons.

On the water, the resort lists paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkelling, scuba diving and a sunset cruise to Castries Harbour. If the sea is your priority, read our guide to diving in Saint Lucia and ask the resort which dive operators it works with. Two infinity pools overlook the harbour, and a pontoon takes guests across to La Bas beach.

What is near Zoëtry Marigot Bay?

Within the bay itself, the nearest neighbour is the Marigot Beach Club and Dive Resort, which has a PADI dive centre and arranges snorkelling trips by water taxi to sites along the shore. Its Doolittle's restaurant and bar is known for Saint Lucian seafood, Caribbean curries and an evening live band, and it is a pleasant place to watch the sun go down over the water. Our snorkelling beaches guide and sailing and boat trips guide show what else you can do on the water, and the resort's own sunset cruise runs to the harbour at Castries. For a wider choice of places to eat, see where to eat in Saint Lucia.

North of the resort lies the capital, a short drive away. Castries Central Market dates from 1891 and sells produce, crafts and clothing, and artisan markets and crafts explains what to buy. Derek Walcott Square, named after the Nobel Prize-winning poet, sits in the middle of town beside the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, and our guide to Saint Lucia's Nobel laureates tells the story of the poet and the island. Above the town, Morne Fortune carries Fort Charlotte, an eighteenth-century fort with cannons and wide views, and a small museum and art gallery. Read about the island's historic forts and ruins before you go. Vigie Beach, just north of the centre, is a quieter place to swim, and Pointe Seraphine, the cruise port, is known for duty-free shopping.

South of Marigot Bay, the road runs down the west coast past fishing villages such as Anse La Raye towards Soufrière and the Pitons. The botanical gardens and waterfalls near Soufrière are a day's outing, and our waterfalls and gardens guide describes them. On the water, a sunset trip on a catamaran is a natural evening out, and the yachts that fill the harbour are part of the view.

The location makes a strong base for travellers who want calm in the evenings and variety by day. You can spend a morning in the market and fort at Castries, an afternoon on the water, and an evening at the resort, all without a long drive. A day on the Pitons is possible, but it is a long day, so keep it as a single outing rather than the centre of the trip. Note that this section describes places by direction and character, and times vary with traffic, so ask the resort for current travel advice.

Who does it suit?

Zoëtry Marigot Bay suits couples who want privacy with some life around them, and it is a strong choice for a honeymoon in Saint Lucia because the suites are private and each comes with butler service. It also suits sailors and yacht owners, since you can arrive by boat and tie up at the marina below the resort, and groups of friends or family who want a penthouse or connecting suites under one roof.

It is less suited to anyone who wants a long, open, surf-washed beach on the doorstep. The beach here is a short pontoon ride away rather than at the foot of your terrace. For beach holidays with lots of activity, the north of the island is the better fit, and our guide to Sandals Regency La Toc shows a more traditional beach resort a little closer to the capital.

Families should check the resort's current policy on children and the facilities for them, because the information we found did not state an age limit. Ask directly and get the answer in writing before you book.

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

Most visitors from the UK fly into Hewanorra International Airport in Vieux Fort, in the south, and transfer by road. The drive to Marigot Bay is about an hour, and it is winding in places, so daylight arrivals are more comfortable. George F. L. Charles Airport in Castries is much closer, but it handles regional flights rather than long-haul services from London. Our getting here guide sets out the airports and transfer options. Some visitors arrive by yacht or even helicopter, which the resort promotes, though that is an indulgence rather than a requirement.

The island is warm all year. The drier months from roughly December to May are the busiest and the most reliable for sunshine, while the wetter months bring quick showers and a greener landscape and usually lower prices. Our best time to visit guide explains the seasons and the hurricane window in plain terms.

Because the resort is all-inclusive, work out what the price covers before comparing it with a room-only rate. Confirm whether drinks, spa treatments, excursions and gratuities are included, and ask about transfers.

• Book a suite with the view you want, not simply the category, and ask about steps from the lobby.
• Plan one day trip south to the Pitons, but keep the rest of the stay unhurried.
• Check the child policy, the marina arrangements and the board basis in writing.

Is it worth the trip south to the Pitons?

Marigot Bay is a long way from the southern landmarks, but not so far that you cannot visit them. The Pitons, the sulphur springs and the botanical gardens are a day out rather than a short walk, and most guests combine a morning in the south with an afternoon back at the resort. Read our guides to Soufrière and the Pitons before deciding how much of the day to spend on the road.

If you want to stay among the Pitons rather than visit them, compare this resort with Sugar Beach on the south-west coast, which is built around a very different landscape. Details, room types and prices at all these resorts change, so confirm them with the resort or your travel agent before you book.

Planning St Lucia holidays around Zoëtry Marigot Bay

Zoëtry Marigot Bay is one of the St Lucia hotels 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 holidays to 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