St. Lucia

St. Lucia

St. Lucia's iconic Pitons are a pair of volcanic spires that vault upward from the Caribbean Sea & define one of the region’s most romantic destinations. But it’s not just these towering peaks that will catch your attention from the rainforest-covered interior to the rolling verdant hills St. Lucia’s striking landscapes leave a lasting impression. Simply put, the island looks the way the Caribbean is supposed to look.

Castries, the island’s capital, is a busy hub of island commerce and culture. In the buzzing cruise-ship port, visitors can invest a few hours in the two duty-free shopping pavilions along the waterfront. The local galleries showcase an impressive collection of paintings and sculptures by native and international artists. Just a few steps from the harbour is the market, where vendors have gathered for more than 100 years to sell a bounty of fresh produce alongside fishermen hawking king mackerel, mahi-mahi and wahoo.

Most of St. Lucia’s resorts are found north of the capital along the west coast where there are several white sand beaches, notably Rodney Bay. With accommodations ranging from massive all-inclusive to luxury resorts to family-run inns, there’s something for almost any taste or budget. Nearby Rodney Bay Marina serves as a base for many of the charter yachts heading south to the Grenadines. While the best beaches are found in the north, few come to St. Lucia without taking in the magnificent natural beauty of the island’s southern coast.

St. Lucia’s spectacle continues below sea level, where the underwater landscape often mirrors the mountain slopes above. Much of the coastline is under the protection of the Soufriere Marine Management Area, which prohibits fishing. The result is a submerged fantasy of colourful fish and some of the most pristine coral reefs in the Caribbean.

The Sulphur Springs
Take a boat or jeep tour along the west coast of Soufriere, the towering Pitons. While there, spend a day exploring the town of Soufriere, a cluster of brightly painted arcaded buildings set against the jungle vista, with some wonderful restaurants and shopping.

Diamond Waterfalls and Sulphur Springs
Take a trip to the breathtaking Diamond Waterfalls, set within the fragrant Diamond Botanical garden, which contains a dazzling array of sub-tropical plants and flowers. Known as the world’s only ‘drive-in- volcano’, the soothing waters of the Sulphur Springs are perfect for a day of pampering and relaxation.

Beach
Visit some of the gorgeous, white-sand beaches on St. Lucia’s beautiful north coast. These sandy shores offer a wide range of water sports, including jet skiing, snorkelling and sailing, surfing, parasailing and windsurfing among others.

Diving is particularly excellent in St. Lucia. The protected waters off the coast play host to an underwater world teeming with life, where divers can behold the breathtaking views of the coral reefs and shoals of kaleidoscopic fish.

Boat Trips
A number of tour operators offer holidaymakers the chance to spot some of nature’s giants on a whale watching boat trip. St Lucia is said to be one of the best whale watching spots in the world where over 20 different species can be seen off the coast, including mastodon sperm whales and humpbacks.