Villa l'Enclos: A Three-Bungalow Sunset Perch Above Colombier
A hillside hideaway where each room opens onto the Caribbean and every evening ends with a technicolor sunset.
Why Go
Colombier is the quiet, windswept nose of St Barth — the corner most repeat visitors quietly hope you never discover. Villa l'Enclos sits high on that hillside, split into three independent bungalows so that couples, friends or a small family each get their own private wing without ever tripping over each other on the way to the pool. It's the rare 2-bedroom rental on the island that feels architecturally considered rather than just decorated, and the sunset view from its terrace is worth the airfare alone.
The Experience
You arrive through a discreet gate and the property unfolds down the slope in stages: a main living pavilion with West Indies-style dark wood and rattan, then two separate bedroom bungalows, each with its own private terrace and balcony floating over the sea. The heart of it all is a long stone terrace with a pool set right at the edge of the view, sunbeds heaped with cushions, and an outdoor lounge that turns into a cocktail bar around 5pm. Mornings are for espresso in your robe watching the light change over Colombier Bay; days are for the ten-minute drop down to Flamands or the boat trip around to Colombier Beach; evenings are quiet — no thumping beach club noise up here, just the trade winds and the occasional gecko.
What to Try
Hike the coastal trail from Petite Anse down to Colombier Beach (about 20 minutes on foot from the villa, or a 15-minute walk to the trailhead) — it's the only way in besides a boat, which is precisely why it stays empty. Come back for a swim in the villa pool before driving five minutes into Corossol for a plate of fresh-caught fish at a low-key local spot, then head to Flamands for sundown. Book the villa's pre-arrival provisioning so the fridge is stocked with rosé, French cheese and Ligurian olive oil the moment you land.
Insider Tip
The two bedrooms are in separate bungalows connected by outdoor pathways — brilliant for privacy, less brilliant if it's raining and you forgot which building your book is in. If you're travelling as one couple, take the upper bungalow: it has the cleaner sunset line and slightly more breeze. If you're two couples, flip a coin fairly, because the lower one has the better direct pool access.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Colombier 97133, St Barthélemy. 2 bedrooms, both air-conditioned with en-suites and private terraces. Private pool, outdoor lounge, full kitchen. Roughly 10 minutes by car to Gustavia and St-Jean; 5 minutes to Flamands and Corossol beaches; about 15 minutes to Rémy de Haenen Airport (SBH). A rental car is essential — the hillside road is steep and there's no walking into a village from here. Typically from ~USD 857/night depending on season; high season (mid-Dec through early Jan) books out 9–12 months ahead.
Pair It With
- Absolute Hot Yoga Guide — A 15-minute drive into Gustavia for a morning class before the heat sets in — a favourite ritual of Colombier regulars.
- 6e SENS Massage Wellness Beauty Saint Barth Guide — Book an in-villa massage on the terrace at golden hour; they'll come to Colombier with notice.
- Abyss Restaurant Guide — An easy dinner detour on the way back from Gustavia when you don't feel like cooking in the villa kitchen.
- 4 Sea Zone St Barth Guide — Charter a boat around to Colombier Beach or Île Fourchue — the best way to see the coastline your villa overlooks.
