Coccoloba
A hillside villa hideaway with what locals call the best view on Nevis
Why Go
Perched at the end of a private road above Oualie Bay, Coccoloba is a two-bedroom villa built for couples, close friends, or a small family who want the island entirely to themselves. There is no lobby, no other guests padding past your lounger, no set breakfast time ΓÇö just a 50-foot infinity pool suspended between the Caribbean Sea and the silhouette of St. Kitts. It is the kind of place where days blur into a rhythm of morning swims, verandah reading, and sunsets that feel almost embarrassing in their theatrics.
The Experience
Arrival is deliberately quiet: a winding drive up above Oualie Bay ends at a plantation-style villa with wraparound teak verandahs and a design that leans into the trade winds instead of fighting them with air-conditioning walls. Owners Peter and Louise have set it up more like a private home than a rental ΓÇö meaning the kitchen is properly equipped, the living areas open on all sides, and the pool deck is the real living room. The infinity pool is genuinely lap-worthy at 50 feet, and its edge visually pours into the water below, so you can float staring at St. Kitts across The Narrows. Because it is a stand-alone two-bedroom villa (not a resort), the experience is closer to house-sitting a friend's absurdly beautiful island retreat than checking into a hotel ΓÇö you set the pace, cook in or arrange a private chef, and drop down to the beach or into Charlestown when you feel like reconnecting with the world.
What to Try
Start the day with a swim in the infinity pool before the sun climbs ΓÇö the water stays glassy and the view over to St. Kitts is at its clearest early. Walk the 400 or so yards down to Oualie Bay for calm, snorkel-friendly water and a beach-shack lunch, then come back for the villa's headline act: sunset from the west-facing verandah, ideally with something cold in hand. Book a night at Chrishi Beach Club nearby for a long, barefoot dinner, and spend at least one afternoon at 5Trees Bar & Lounge or Drift for cocktails with a view that rivals the villa's own.
Insider Tip
Coccoloba books up fast in high season (DecΓÇôApr) and the owners quietly favour guests who commit to a full week ΓÇö shoulder season in late April, May, and November gives you the same weather, the same views, and noticeably better rates. Ask Peter and Louise in advance about arranging a private chef for one or two nights; it turns the pool deck into the best restaurant table on the island and saves the drive back up the hill after dinner.
The Practical Stuff
Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, sleeps up to four adults comfortably ΓÇö best suited to couples, two-couple trips, or a small family. Location is above Oualie Bay on the quieter northwest coast of Nevis, roughly a 10-minute drive from Charlestown and about 20ΓÇô25 minutes from Vance W. Amory International Airport (or a short water-taxi and drive from St. Kitts). A rental car (or arranged driver) is strongly recommended ΓÇö the villa is elevated and secluded, which is the point. Beach is about 400 yards downhill. Rates are quoted directly by the owners; minimum stays and a booking deposit apply, particularly in high season.
Pair It With
- Chrishi Beach Club Guide — The nearest proper beach-club dinner ΓÇö barefoot tables in the sand, a short drive down from the villa, and an easy sunset booking for one of your Coccoloba nights.
- Drift Restaurant Guide — Elevated, view-forward dining that mirrors the villa's own sea-and-St.-Kitts panorama ΓÇö a good choice for a slightly dressier night out.
- 5Trees Bar & Lounge Guide — Laid-back sundowner spot within easy reach of the villa for a cocktail before heading back up the hill to cook in.
- Oualie Beach — The calm, swimmable bay directly below the villa ΓÇö ideal for a morning snorkel or a lazy beach-shack lunch between pool sessions.