It’s a common affliction here at Jade Mountain. And if you’ve been affected (and we’re pretty sure you have), you’ll be happy to know that there’s a name for your condition. We call it Pitonitis: the constant compulsion to take photos of St. Lucia’s twin volcanic peaks.

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Symptoms usually present themselves before you even reach the resort, as tantalizing glimpses of the majestic spires reveal themselves during the drive through Soufriere. They increase in severity as you climb the hillside to the resort, each hairpin turn offering a taste of the visual feast to come. And when you finally check in to your three-walled oasis and take in the unobstructed full-frontal view of the island icons, which now appear so close you could reach out and touch them, that’s when the infection really takes hold.

Galaxy Pool Sanctuary at Jade Mountain
Galaxy Pool Sanctuary at Jade Mountain

From then on, no matter where you go and no matter how long your stay, you’ll be compelled to capture photos of the silent sentinels. At first light, when they’re crowned in a magical mist; in full sun, their brilliant green slopes complementing the mirror-flat surface of the turquoise water surrounding them; in the evening when the glow of the descending sun paints them with a rosy hue.

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During dinner at Jade Mountain Club, you’ll find yourself pausing between courses to capture the Pitons’ evening beauty. When you’re supposed to be deep in savasana during morning yoga on the Celestial Terrace, you’ll surreptitiously reach for your smartphone to catch a sunrise shot. And who could blame you if, back in that same spot for cocktails, you succumb to the desire to capture a sunset shot, too?

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They say that admitting you have a problem is the first step to beating it. And while we agree, we really don’t view Pitonitis as a problem, per se. After all, how sad would it be if we became immune to the charms of St Lucia’s most prominent pair, taking for granted the beauty and magic they bring to our lives every day? We consulted our local Pitons professionals for their expert opinion and prognosis. And they were unanimous in their findings.

The bad news: There’s no known cure for Pitonitis. The good news: Even if there were one, we wouldn’t want it.

Snorkeling with a Piton backdrop


Our Resort Raconteur is a peripatetic soul, living his dream of traveling the Caribbean more than 300 days a year. He finds no greater pleasure than discovering the experiences, places, resorts and people that make this part of the planet so special. And he has a very special place in his heart for Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet.