Click here for more photos of my recent St. Lucia trip!
The island of St. Lucia is not only one of the most romantic and exotic islands in the Caribbean, but the island is full of sites and activities to see and do. Many clients I work with want some beach time, but worry about becoming restless and want things to do “off resort”. St. Lucia is a great destination for those who want it all – beach AND interesting excursions.
The most popular attraction on St. Lucia is the famous Pitons which just cannot be ignored even if you try. These volcanic plugs rise up above the rest of landscape in dramatic fashion. The Pitons are located on the southeast end of the island where upscale resorts like Ladera, Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet are located. There is even a local beer named after them. You can actually hike up the Pitons, but you must arrange this with a reputable tour or excursion company as guides are required. Gros Piton is the easier of the two to climb and most people take approx. 2 ½ hours to make it to the top.
Other activities available for adventurous folks are, zip lines, ATV’s, scenic trail hikes through the island’s rainforest and horseback riding. Another popular excursion on the island that I really liked, was one that included some snorkeling, a visit to the Drive In Volcano, sulphur springs, waterfalls and finished off with a nice authentic creole lunch served up in the hillside above the capital of Soufriere. You can book most of these tours through Island Routes.
On the Northern end of the island where a large majority of the resorts are located such as the three Sandals “Couples Only” Resorts, you have town of Castries. The Gros Islet Street Party on Friday nights can be a lot of fun with music, lots of food like kebabs and fresh fish and of course vendors with local wares. Another interesting site to see is Fort Rodney. If you are staying at Sandals Grande St. Lucian, the park is right next door. It’s only $5 USD to enter the park and the short hike up to the point features historic cannons, as well as AMAZING VIEWS.
We have three St. Lucia Specialists in our office and we are happy to help you with accommodations and activities. Just give us a call at 1-800-321-7907 or you can email me at patty@totemtravel.com.