Ace-Holiday

Holiday: Fantasy Caribbean Island

Sculptress Tanya Brett finds fertile ground on the verdant Caribbean island of St Vincent

Sculptress Tanya Brett finds fertile ground on the verdant Caribbean island of St Vincent
Built against a backdrop of lushly verdant mountains on the volcanic island of St Vincent, Buccamont Bay is the stuff that dream are made of. It comes as no surprise to discover that this where much of the Pirates of the Carribean franchise was filmed, and it doesn’t take much to imagine Johnny Depp thrashing around in a ripped silk shirt in the undergrowth!

Nestling on its own powdery white-sand beach (the rest of the island’s beaches are black) it’s the island’s newest luxury all-inclusive retreat complete with daily yoga classes and Espaholistic beauty treatments..

No detail is overlooked. On arrival we wereinstantly greeted by friendly staff brandishingcold hand towels and delicious fresh fruit smoothies, which we drank while dangling our tired legs in one of many spa pools. Instantly revived, we walked to our accommodation, a huge two-bed sea-front villa, with chic interiors, a plunge pool and a vast plasma TV screen. Not that we stayed inside to watch television very much. There is something for everyone at Buccamont: six restaurants, top yoga teachers,the state-of-the-art spa plus the Liverpool Football Club International Football Academy Soccer School, Pat Cash Tennis Academy, the Harlequin Performing Arts Academy, diving and water sports by Indigo Dive.

Pampering treatments

That evening we had been booked in to sample the signature Espa treatments. I had the deep relaxation stone massage, which was an astonishing experience, and certainly one of the best massages I have ever had. This was followed by an amazing sea-food dinner where we were served lobsters the size of my forearm. The meat was unbelievably sweet, and was perfectly complimented by the amazing fresh fruits and vegetables. As you can imagine, we slept well that night.

Health classes

The following morning we were greeted with the largest fruit platter known to man, which had been delivered to the door of our villa; delicious It was the perfect preparation for another day of sheer indulgence.My first appointment was for a two hour ESPA hydrator facial, which plumped my skin,and readied it for the tanning to come.But first I had an appointment with Norman, the endlessly energetic ex-army fitness trainer who held open yoga classes in the mornings and evenings, which I attended daily. All group exercise classes are complimentary to guests and include Thai beach kickboxing, spinning, yoga, beach bootcamp, cardio sweat and tone circuit, group running and power walks. Most of my fellow sybarites were couples on romantic escapes, but there were also a handfulof families, exhausting their children with theendless sports activities and boat trips.Personally, I relished the seclusion of the resort’s nature trails, where I saw an abundance of colourful wildlife and picturesque waterfalls

“Free exercise classes include yoga and kickboxing”

Natural beauty

It would be easy not to leave the resort for a whole week, but I did venture beyond the luxurious confines while my partner brushed upon his back hand at the tennis academy. I headed off on a day trip to the magnificent botanical gardens founded in 1765 and full of hundreds of rare and exotic flora. It was truly beautiful and the smell of the flowers was intoxicating.

However, my favourite expedition was our boat trip to the Tobago Cays. It was our last day and we were woken early and headed down to the beach front to be met by a speed boat. Seeing St Vincent from the water totally changed my perception of the island. It is world famous for its extraordinary rock formations, with many different types of rocks all piled up together for no apparent reason. Geologists come from all over to study them, and I am no geologist, but they were stunning. Even more fascinating was a bat cave that we came upon, full of screaming bats flying in and out. This would not be everyone’s cup of tea but I loved it. At the Cays themselves the water suddenly calms and the whole thing looks like a mirage of tiny islands, wilting palm trees and crystal glass waters. This is a national marine park, and where the turtles live, so only a few boats are permitted in at any one time so as not to disturb the wildlife.

I’ve seen turtles in a number of places but this was by far the most exciting sighting I’ve ever had. They were everywhere, along with giant stingrays and coral reefs teaming with the brightest of fish. It was totally magical. Arriving back at the resort, sun kissed and windswept,we headed straight to the beach bar for our regular tropical juice and watched the sunset. All in all it was a fantastically healthy and romantic break, and four weeks later I found out I was pregnant… a fertile island indeed.

Health and Fitness Travel (0845 544 1936, healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers seven nights at Buccament Bay from £1,790pp (saving 25 per cent) all-inclusive including all activities, return flights and transfers.

If you liked that, try this!

3 of our favourite paradise island retreats

THAILAND

Anantara Rasananda Retreat on the stunning island of KohPhanga is the ultimate beachfantasy. A five star retreatdiscreetly nestling on the palm-fringed crescent of Thong NaiPan Noi beach, it offers chic accommodation (all with private plunge pools), delicious healthy food and a dreamy spa built into the cliff side.

Go to rasananda.com or call 00 66 7723 9555

HAWAII

Hawaii Island Retretat is an eco-boutique hotel and spa and a place of intentional peacefulness, set among the towering evergreens and ocean breezes of Hawaii Island’s North Kohala coast. Opt for one of their intensive yoga retreats or a pampering spa break and unwind in 50 acres of gardens,wild groves, and ancient valley trails.

Go to hawaiiislandretreat.com or call 001 808 889 6336.

BRAZIL

The Island Experience is a unique adventure spa, yoga retreat and fitness vacation programme that takes place on the spellbinding island paradise of Ilha Grande,just off the coast of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The exclusive wellness spa programme combines outdoor fitness activities (rainforest hiking and sea kayaking); yoga, meditation and holistic massages, together with a natural detox diet.

For details call 001 347 4 6517 or go to theislandexperience.com