St. Lucia has it all – a fantastic mix of beautiful beaches, lush and spectacular tropical countryside, fascinating history, incredible natural wonders, super cuisine and welcoming people in addition to world-class luxury resorts. Here, LLM writer Lisa Curtiss takes us through her favoured highlights to enjoy when holidaying at this Caribbean gem.
Majestic Pitons
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the St. Lucia Pitons are a spectacular sight. They are two huge, imposing and steep volcanic plugs towering almost 3,000 feet above sea level next to the small town of Soufrière. If you stay at the wonderful Jade Mountain luxury resort you’ll enjoy an amazing view of them right from your open front sanctuary suite, or you can explore them by hiking up (if you’re pretty fit!) or sailing around them.
Drive in volcano
Yes – you read that right. St. Lucia is home to the world’s only drive-in volcano. It’s just a few minutes away from Soufrière and you can literally drive into the heart of this dormant volcano and then walk within meters of the bubbling and steaming springs with a tour guide. A not-to-be-missed experience when visiting the island – if a little stinky! And do enjoy a dip in the Sulphur Springs mud baths here too – famous for their reputed healing properties.
Botanical Gardens with Diamond Falls and thermal springs
Near the volcano and Soufrière are the beautiful Botanical Gardens and St. Lucia’s famous mud baths. Here, you can meander through shady tropical flower-fringed paths and watch rainbow coloured hummingbirds zip by. Enjoy a dip in the thermal springs you’ll arrive at and continue on to view the very pretty Diamond Falls.
Rodney Bay
A cruise ship and yachties favourite, Rodney Bay is a vibrant and culture-rich town with unique markets, shopping malls, restaurants, and bars all just 10 minutes away from the Harbor Club hotel. Here, you can spend the day marvelling at the wonderful array of souvenirs hand crafted by local artisans, sunbathe at beautiful Reduit Beach, enjoy a fantastic waterside lunch at the excellent Coal Pot restaurant, and once the sun goes down, watch the sun set in one of the many bars with great harbourside views.
Sail away
St. Lucia is a yachting mecca and it’s easy to see why. Being on the water provides some of the most stunning views of the island including the majestic Pitons which tower above you and you can anchor off here and there for a spot of snorkelling on some pristine local reefs. Many resorts offer daytime or sunset cruises and it’s something we’d highly recommend.
Pigeon Island
Pigeon Island National Landmark is one of St. Lucia’s most important historical monuments. A living museum, it’s home to several distinct attractions, military buildings including a fort, and stunning beaches. You can travel here easily from the Harbor Club hotel which is just a 15-minute boat or taxi ride away.
Diving and snorkelling
Last but certainly not least, St. Lucia offers over 22 world-class dive sites and excellent snorkelling spots. There’s incredible biodiversity as well as exciting wreckages to explore.
Factbox
Saint Lucia is easy to get to from the UK – there are daily direct flights with BA from London Gatwick and, during the winter, Virgin Atlantic flies three times a week, direct from London Heathrow.
For all information visit Saint Lucia Tourism at stlucia.org.
