St Lucia is a wonderful island to visit, fulfilling all of the Caribbean island clichés: sun, sand, palm trees, lush vegetation, turquoise water, blue sky, bright flowers … you get the idea.
Blessed by nature, St Lucia has geographic and cultural riches with breathtaking beauty.
From a tourist’s perspective, the island is probably best known for its all-inclusive resorts including the many Sandals properties and Sugar Beach.
We fly from Miami to Saint Lucia in 3 hours and arrived at the airport in the afternoon. After some custom checks, we picked up our jeep by the car rental desk, because I have an international driver's license from my holiday in Thailand before I don't need to buy a driver's license here. A driver's permit will cost 20 dollars USD. We checked our car and drive all the way north to Rodney Bay where we will stay for six days.
Year after year the island of Saint Lucia is recognized as being one of the most romantic destinations. Between the famous Piton mountains, sparkling turquoise waters, lush rainforest, and vibrant local culture, it’s not hard to understand why.
The Best Time To Visit St. Lucia
The high season in St. Lucia takes place between December and April during late winter when a lot of people are trying to escape the cold from most of the Northern Hemisphere. You’ll find that the island is busiest and most expensive around this time which is why the perfect window to visit St. Lucia’s sunny shores is between May and June. You’ll be met with gorgeous temperatures in the high 70s and 80s and most hotels, including some of the best, will be offering desirable rates.
Top 10 Things To Do In St Lucia
1. Sugar Beach
The most famous beach on the island, Sugar Beach is spectacularly situated between the two Pitons, ensuring phenomenal views both from the sand and in the water. Like most in the area, it was originally a gray-sand beach the soft white sands are imported from abroad. There are free basic public loungers at the far northern end; alternatively, when occupancy is low, you can rent one of the resort's more luxurious models.
2. Anse Chastanet
Stretched out in front of the resort of the same name, Anse Chastanet is a fine curving beach. The sheltered bay is protected by high cliffs. The snorkeling just offshore is some of the best on the island; hassle-free access is through the resort, which also offers day passes if you want to use the sun loungers and water-sports facilities.
3. Tet Paul Nature Trail
Don't miss this nature trail. During the 45-minute tour, a guide will show you an organic farm and take you to a lookout; the view of the Pitons jabbing the skyline is stunning, but even better are the insights into traditional local life. It’s signposted, 3.1 miles south of Soufrière.
4. Pigeon Island
Pigeon Island is a fun place to explore, with paths winding around the remains of barracks, batteries, and garrisons; the partially intact stone buildings create a ghost-town effect. The grounds are well endowed with lofty trees, manicured lawns, and fine coastal views. Bring a picnic and make a day of it.
5. Rodney Bay & Gros Islet
About 6 miles (10km) north of Castries, the vast horseshoe of Rodney Bay boasts the island’s most diverse tourist facilities. Within the bay is a large, artificial lagoon and marina, flanked by Rodney Bay Village, a somewhat bland assemblage of bars, restaurants, shops, and more.
6. Soufrière & The Pitons
If one town were to be the heart and soul of St Lucia, it would have to be Soufrière. Its attractions include a slew of colonial-era edifices scattered amid brightly painted wooden storefronts and a bustling seafront.
7. Sandy Beach
At the southern tip of the island, Sandy Beach is a beautiful strand of white sand that always has a stiff breeze, which makes it a hot spot for kitesurfers. It’s also suitable for swimming – on a calm day. It’s never crowded.
8. Pitons
The UNESCO World Heritage Pitons are the iconic symbol of St Lucia. From the moment you pass them as your plane comes to land, you’ll see them everywhere on the island - the local beer is even called Piton. So you can’t really come to St Lucia without getting a good view of them yourself. There are tours that take you, accompanied by a guide, to climb to the top of Gros Piton (2,619 feet) which is more of a hike than a climb but it is known for having outstanding views. If you are looking for a more relaxed view of the Pitons themselves, there are numerous viewpoints or bars and restaurants where you can enjoy a drink with a view.
9. Sail Along the Coast
Getting out on the water is a not-to-be-missed activity in St Lucia. Cruises leave from Castries, Canaries, and Rodney Bay, where you can sail along the coast to see St Lucia in all its beauty. Sailing excursions can also incorporate different sights on the mainland such as the volcano or Botanical Gardens (see below), or you can do a Land and Sea Tour, combining a half day on the land and the rest on the sea. Either way, you will definitely get a chance to jump into the water for some snorkeling to see all of the colorful marine life hiding down below.
10. Toraille Waterfall
The mountains, combined with the heavy amounts of rain that St Lucia gets, cause an abundance of waterfalls on the island. Deep within the Botanical Gardens, water bubbles up from underground sulfur springs before streaming downhill.
When to go St Lucia :
Peak season on St Lucia runs from mid-December to April. In these months, accommodation rates are generally significantly higher than at other times of the year, but the weather is usually at its best. Rates are cheaper in the summer and autumn months, when it's stickier and wetter - and note that St Lucia gets more rain than other less mountainous Caribbean islands such as Barbados or Antigua. Also bear in mind that the hurricane season runs from June to November, with September and October statistically the likeliest months for major storms. Taking into account prices and weather, May is a good month to visit - you could time your visit to coincide with the island's major annual jazz festival.
Getting There:
From North America, direct service to Saint Lucia is available on American Airlines from Miami; Charlotte, and Philadelphia; JetBlue from New York and Boston; Delta from Atlanta; and United Airlines from New Jersey and Chicago.
Air Canada and WestJet also fly direct from Toronto year-round, while direct service from Montreal is available at peak times of the year on Air Canada and some chartered services. Virgin Atlantic offers four and five weekly flights from Gatwick and British Airways provides seven weekly flights, also direct from Gatwick. During high season, a weekly service also is available direct from Manchester on Fly Thomas Cook and from Germany on Condor.
Inter-island travel is well-serviced by several airlines including LIAT, Air Caraibes, Air Antilles, and Caribbean Airlines. Check with your travel agent or direct with the airlines for specific dates and availability.
Where to stay:
30 cottage-style suites where everything is included, from champagne to dinner. So you can: Relax on the beach, have a drink in the open-air lounge, wander through the lush gardens, mix a drink at the self-serve swim-up bar, set sail on a sunset cruise, try some watersports, workout on the fitness trail, treat yourself to a massage, and unwind with morning yoga.
Calabash Cove is a romantic hideaway set within tropical gardens, combining luxury and comfort in all of the 26 suites and cottages. Swim-up junior suites have steps down into the resort's infinity pool, water’s edge cottages are complete with private plunge pools, and sunset ocean view junior suites have private balconies with stunning views.
Fond Doux Plantation & Resort is a 19th-century eco-friendly colonial resort nestled in the heart of St. Lucia, known for its romantic,, and private luxury cottages. The resort is situated amidst a 250-year-old working plantation and features an assortment of 15 uniquely crafted cottages, two on-site restaurants, and an outdoor swimming pool.
Why St Lucia?
It’s a diverse and mind-blowing landscape! I also believe everyone needs to experience the energy of the Caribbean at least once in their lifetime.
I have a hard time believing some people don’t leave their resort when they come to this island, but it happens. Don’t be part of the statistic, get out and see as much of it as you can. It’s a small island, only 27 miles long and 14 miles wide which means you’ll be able to cover a lot in just a few days. Though due to its uneven terrain it takes longer than it would typically take to get from A to B.
There are two main cities in St. Lucia – Castries and Soufrière. Castries is the capital, It’s a more developed city with nightclubs, restaurants, shopping, etc. We chose to stay in Soufrière and Rodney Bay because it’s known as the more scenic part of the island. However, Soufrière is incredibly underdeveloped. The buildings in town are in pretty bad shape and the roads are really scary.
Welcome to paradise! St.Lucia is incredible. From the landscape to the people I enjoyed every second! Saint Lucia is a sovereign island country in the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados, and south of Martinique. Because it switched so often between British and French control, Saint Lucia was also known as the “Helen of the West Indies.”
Useful info
Saint Lucia is an Eastern Caribbean island nation with a pair of dramatically tapered mountains, the Pitons, on its west coast. Its coast is home to volcanic beaches, reef-diving sites, luxury resorts, and fishing villages. Trails in the interior rainforest lead to waterfalls like the 15m-high Toraille, which pours over a cliff into a garden. The capital, Castries, is a popular cruise port.
So where should I begin…wow. St. Lucia is a spectacular island. I’d rank it in the top 3 trips of all time. It’s the number one honeymoon destination and I can totally see why.
St. Lucia is a beautiful Caribbean oasis with some of the best weather and luxurious vegetation in the world. The climate is hot and tropical, tempered by welcome trade winds during most of the year. The temperatures range from 21℃ (70°F) to 32°C (90°F). December to May is the driest time of year and rainfall increases during the summer months and towards the year’s end. St. Lucia is also prone to hurricanes from June to November.
St. Lucia uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$) as its currency. However, US dollars are often accepted by taxi drivers and at some establishments. Banks and larger hotels will exchange travelers’ checks without issue. Visa, American Express, and MasterCard are all widely accepted at restaurants, car rental agencies, and hotels. There are numerous ATMs throughout the island where you can get cash
