JAMAICA

Mocking Bird Hill Port Antonio
Price: Doubles, $255–$370
That warm feeling you get at Mocking Bird Hill isn't from a gentle wind blowing in off the Caribbean. It's from the knowledge that innkeepers Barbara Walker and Shireen Aga opened their ten-room hotel as an eco retreat, and that everything they do here is respectful of the environment (the area is home to several types of fruit trees and more than 40 bird species) and the local people (the resort supports several work and literacy programs). The setting in Port Antonio, in the Blue Mountain foothills in northwestern Jamaica, is ideal for bird-watching, hiking, biking, or paddling down the nearby Rio Grande on a bamboo raft. The property has its own pool surrounded by blue canvas chaise longues, and, for those who prefer sand and surf, some lovely Caribbean beaches are just a few miles away. The restaurant uses organic ingredients from neighboring farms to turn out innovative dishes—jerk-spiced pesto shrimp, callaloo ravioli. Rooms are airy and simply decorated with tile floors and bamboo furnishings. Best of all, they're open to the sound of the sea.
Book: A ground-level Garden room or an upper-floor Superior room for better views—and better breezes (876-993-7267; hotelmocking birdhill.com).
Best for: Nascent naturalists who want to tread lightly and stay somewhere that gives back to the locals.
Rental car: Required. It is at least a two-and-a-half-hour drive to Port Antonio from Kingston, and you'll want your own wheels to explore the surrounding hills and beaches.

ST. LUCIA

Balenbouche Estate, Vieux Fort
Price: Doubles, $120–$190
Entering Balenbouche is like walking into the charming home of a chic environmentalist. In this case, that would be Uta Lawaetz, who with her two daughters maintains four cottages that sit on a historic sugar plantation in the mountainous southwest part of the island. Don't expect a conventional stay: The hotel's practices are as green as the centuries-old trees that cover the property. Air-conditioning is replaced with natural breezes, water is heated by solar power, and towels are changed only at a guest's request. There are beaches a short drive away, one of which is the setting for yoga classes arranged by the hotel.
Book: The Banyan Cottage for dinner on your own veranda (758-455-1244; balenbouche.com).
Best for: Organic fanatics who want to see authentic St. Lucia in all its natural glory.
Rental car: Required—it's cheaper than taking taxis, and you'll want it to get to nearby beaches.

Fond Doux Holiday Plantation, Soufrière
Price: Cottages, $150–$400 Fond Doux Holiday Plantation, one of the oldest working cacao plantations in the Caribbean, is a verdant retreat set in a cool valley between St. Lucia's imposing Piton mountains. You can still see some of its original sixteenth-century features, but the focus here is on the island's natural beauty, the best of which is just outside your door. The world's only drive-in volcano is literally around the corner from the property, as are a host of sulphur springs and warm-water tropical waterfalls. Guests who prefer to stay put on the 135-acre estate can hike one of three trails that wind around ruins and jungle flora or simply laze by the pool. The seven cottages epitomize tropical luxury, with four-poster beds, private baths, and louvered windows to let in the night breezes.
Book: The Cinnamon Cottage has space and privacy that you'll appreciate after a day of exploring (758-459-7545; fonddouxestate.com).
Best for: Travelers looking for nature without crowds.
Rental car: Not required.