Villa Henson: A Hillside Hideaway with 75-Mile Sunset Views
A two-suite Colombier eyrie where St. Kitts, Saba and Gustavia's lights all fit in one panorama.
Why Go
Perched 70 meters above the leeward coast on a family domain so private you can only spot the roof of one other villa, Villa Henson is the kind of place repeat guests have been quietly rebooking since 2001 — a two-bedroom sanctuary trading resort bustle for a 180-degree Caribbean horizon and an infinity pool that seems to spill toward Saba.
The Experience
You arrive through Colombier's quiet lanes, climb the drive, and the island unfolds: St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Eustache, Saba, St. Martin and the port mouth of Gustavia all stitched into one 75-mile arc. The 650-square-foot living room opens through three sliding walls onto a terrace built around the heated infinity pool and Bluetooth-equipped spa, with a Gommier tree the owner planted decades ago now shading one corner. The 2021-renovated kitchen — blue granite, island table, everything a cook could want — anchors slow mornings, while evenings drift between the bar, the surround-sound media room, and lounge chairs positioned for the villa's near-mythic sunsets. Two air-conditioned suites, private and equal in comfort, make it work for a couple traveling solo or two pairs sharing the domain. The vibe is unmistakably home-away-from-home rather than hotel — this is a house with a story (its name honors the owners' Henson horses; the land was originally 'La Domaine de Quatre Vaches'), staffed by hands-on owners who answer email personally.
What to Try
Cue up the color-changing pool lights and Bluetooth spa at dusk — locals call this stretch of coast the best sunset seat on the island for a reason. Fire up the terrace BBQ with fish from the morning market in Gustavia, and use the villa as a base to walk the shaded 20-minute path down to Grand Colombier Beach, once owned by David Rockefeller and still reachable only on foot. Ask the owners which of their longtime dining haunts is open — Eddy's in Gustavia and Le Bananier are perennial favorites, and La Langouste over in Flamands is the classic lobster splurge.
Insider Tip
Book the low or summer season if you want the villa's magic at roughly two-thirds the January-to-April rate — the trade winds are steady, the crowds thin out, and the sunsets don't check a calendar. And request the villa up to 11 months out; the loyal repeat clientele books early, so shoulder-season weeks disappear fast.
The Practical Stuff
Location: 200 Chemin du Versant, Colombier 97133 — about 8 minutes from Gustavia harbor and 4 minutes from Colombier village, with the airport a short drive via Saint-Jean. Configuration: 2 bedrooms / 2 baths, sleeps up to 4, on-site parking, heated infinity pool, spa, BBQ, fully equipped kitchen, Wi-Fi, Chromecast, US/French TV, billiards. Rates: roughly $7,000/week high season (Jan 6–Apr 15), $5,500/week shoulder (Apr 15–Jun 30, Oct 1–Dec 21), $4,500/week summer (Jul 1–Aug 31). Direct booking at villahenson.com or via Airbnb/VRBO; email the owners for special dates.
Pair It With
- Grand Colombier Beach — The villa's signature walk — a shaded 20-minute descent to a Rockefeller-era cove reachable only on foot, perfect for a mid-morning swim before returning uphill for lunch on the terrace.
- Le Select, Gustavia — After days of villa quiet, the island's iconic open-air bar and burger joint is the low-key counterpoint — Jimmy Buffett's muse, and 8 minutes down the hill.
- 6e SENS Massage Wellness Beauty Saint Barth Guide — For an in-villa treatment on the terrace overlooking Saba, this nearby wellness outfit slots naturally into the property's spa-day rhythm.
- Absolute Hot Yoga, Gustavia — A morning class in town pairs nicely with an afternoon of pool, spa and sunset back at the villa — active balance to Henson's slow-down energy.
