Balenbouche Estate

My friends and I have been visiting this place for years for retreats and shared moments of togetherness. Every stay is exceptional, thanks to the stunning surroundings and the unique architecture of the cottages. A must-visit in Saint Lucia!

Our 6th time back at Balenbouche! This place still retains the magic that made us fall in love in the first place. The evening chorus of insects, the beautiful beaches, the charm of our favorite cottage, Waterlily…it’s hard to imagine Saint Lucia without thinking of the marvelous times we have spent at Balenbouche. Thank you as always for having us! We will be back as soon as we can.

My friends and I are regular visitors of Balenbouche. We all love spending weekends over there. This place has something magic that is hard to describe with words. The cottages are simply beautiful and full of character. The family of Uta, Verena and Anitanja always offers us a super warm welcome. They are also very helpful for anything you might need during your stay. Also the dogs are extra friendly and loving. The estate is clean and lavish. The nature is luxurious. The whole atmosphere is capturing you. Don't miss a chance to visit Balenbouche if you are in beautiful Saint Lucia...

Beautiful spot for exploring St Lucia in the middle of a former plantation estate. The owner Uta was very welcoming. The cottages are rustic and open to the air. We stayed her during a wetter period and there were lots of mosquitoes and biting inspects so do take lots of repellant!!! The houses were pretty, spacious and well equipped. We loved the animals, especially the friendly dogs, the cows that we fed mangoes to and the tortoises. Lots of wildlife, birds, frogs and bats. Enjoyed dinner there on one night and ate in nearby Laborie on the other nights where there is also a lovely sandy beach. Great spot from which to visit the pitons.

The host, Uta, is a gem a very inspirational soul with a passion for the estate. The estate itself is beautiful with trees, blossom and a variety of animals, we were amused by the dogs, cats, cattle, birds, butterflies, fireflies and a possum. The beaches black sand are remote and accessible but challenging for swimmers due to the waves and under-currents. The steps to middle beach are steep and challenging, the beach itself was only really useable when the weather was calm. Little beach is quiet and secluded, if scruffy in true west indies style. We started in Frangipani, a rustic bungalow, which seemed fine but our issue was with the fact that its entirely open to the air, so if you can’t cope with bugs, then its not for you. Due toother issues we were switched to a first floor modern appartment, Moringa, which was lovely with a fantastic view of the rear paddocks, great for bird spotting and fireflies, but again open to all comers so if you cannot cope with bugs at night and the odd roach or vermin, again, not for you. If you want peace, quiet and the natural world all around you, it’s a good’un. Piaye is walkable but a good hike at that, with its locals bar, fruit stalls and a surprisingly good roadside BBQ stall at the weekend. Laborie is a gem, with food options, again local style, not high-end and a pretty beach with easy access and safe swimming.

We had a fantastic time in St Lucia, and the 4 days we spent at Balenbouche Estate were particularly special. After staying in Soufriere and visiting other places, we can say that Balenbouche is like an oasis in St Lucia. The lady who owns the place is such a beautiful person, caring about the guests and staff, animals, and the environment. We felt so welcomed and at home there, and loved the canine company - especially TipTip, who slept at our place one night! We stayed at the Almond Cottage. The place is rustic but comfortable. The beds were made every day, we appreciated that!, and the mosquito nets were a bliss!! Needless to say, the beaches there were just amazing! We were often alone bathing at the two secluded local beaches, just a short walk away! Thank you and all the best to all at Balenbouche!