On
St
Lucia man and nature have created a heady
island cocktail. Dramatic mountains rise above rain forests and vast banana
plantations. Coral sand beaches hug rugged shores dotted with splendid resort
hotels. And a lively Anglo-French colonial heritage and Creole culture add an
exotic garnish.
WHAT
TO SEE
Castries
Visit
St Lucia’s lively waterfront capital, set beneath green Morne Fortune, to see
colourful Castries market. It’s at its best on a Saturday
morning, when farmers bring their fresh produce and spices to town.
Morne
Fortune
High
on
the southern side of Castries rises Morne
Fortune, setting of the Victorian Government House and one of the most heavily
fought-over sites in the Caribbean during the
18th and 19th centuries, still covered with old fortifications, gun emplacements
and cannons.
The
Pitons & La Soufriere
Volcano
View
the majestic twin peaks of St
Lucia’s landmark Pitons en route to the
tropical botanical gardens of the historic Soufriere Estate (setting of the
Diamond Waterfall, where you can bathe in a mineral pool). The quaint town of
Soufriere boasts
the world's only drive-in volcano, with bubbling sulphur springs.
Marigot
Bay
One
of the Caribbean’s prettiest natural harbours, where parts of the original film
Doctor Doolittle were shot in the
late 1960s and a popular anchorage.
Pigeon
Island
On
the north-west coast and connected by causeway to the mainland, Pigeon Island
was once a pirate hideout and then a strategic point during the Anglo-French
struggle for control of St.
Lucia. It is now a national landmark. It’s a
venue for concerts, festivals and other events.
Bounty
Rum Distillery
Take
a tour of St. Lucia Distillers to learn the history of sugar and rum, the
distillation process and, of course, to sample some rums and
liqueurs.
Maria
Islands
Nature Reserve
On
two tiny islands off St.
Lucia's south-east coast, are inhabited by rare reptiles
(the colorful Maria Island ground lizard and the harmless
grass snake) that share their home with frigate birds, terns, doves, and other
wildlife
Fregate
Island
Nature Reserve
A
guided tour by boat takes you to two small islets where you can normally view
the frigate birds that nest here from May to July.
Marquis
Estate
Learn
the story of St. Lucia's main crops of today (bananas and copra) and yesterday
(coffee and cocoa) on a trip that also includes a visit to an old sugar mill, a
boat trip on the Marquis River, and plantation house lunch.
Morne
Coubaril Estate
Take
a journey into the island’s past on a visit to this fascinating estate
overlooking Soufriere, now transformed into an
open-air museum.
WHAT
TO DO
Sports
The
island’s west coast offers the calmest waters for waterskiing and windsurfing,
and there’s parasailing at Rodney Bay. The ruggedly steep coasts make
snorkelling and diving popular. Game-fishing enthusiasts are well catered for,
too. See also the At a Glance section
for more information on scuba-diving and golf.
Boating
& Sailing
Get
the best views of St
Lucia’s ‘wow’-full natural beauty on a half or
full-day’s sail. Or take a sunset cruise past the Pitons, complete with
Champagne.
St
Lucia
National Rain
Forest
St
Lucia’s
dense tropical rain forest is home to a wealth of exotic flowers and plants, as
well as rare birds. In the Edmund Forest Reserve you can enjoy an escorted hike
through the lush landscape, with spectacular views of mountains, valleys, and
the sea beyond.
Barre
de L’Isle Forest Reserve
Explore
the island’s stunning scenery on an escorted walk along a mile-long trail
through this reserve, with fantastic sea and mountain views.
Helicopter
Tours
No
question but that these are a thrilling way to see the rain forest and
spectacular scenery of the island, including the crater of Soufriere.
Shopping
Pointe
Seraphine, a harbour-front shopping complex offers a fabulous selection of
boutiques. Castries’ best duty-free outlets - highlight
perfumes, china and crystal, while the outdoor market, particularly vibrant on a
Saturday, is the place for spices and hot pepper sauces, hand-screened batiks
and handwoven straw items. The nearby Craft Market also offers pottery and wood
carvings. Several galleries feature local artwork. You
can watch original silk-screen patterns being created at Bagshaw's
Studios.
Nightlife
Music
and dancing - in hotels and local bars and clubs - are rarely far away on
St
Lucia. Many popular nightclubs can be found in
the Rodney
Bay area. The island also
features some rather special regular parties. Best-known is the pulsating Gros
Islet Friday Night Street Party - a
must-stop for any visitor who loves to party. Then there’s the Anse-la-Raye
Seafood Friday where this west coast fishing village regales visitors with the
fruits of the sea – and will get you grooving to a wide variety of Caribbean music. On the east coast there’s the Dennery
Fish Saturday – where the sea offerings prepared by the villagers are
accompanied by Soca, Dancehall (reggae) and some R&B. Canaries village
celebrates Canaries Creole Pot on the last Saturday of every month with a menu
featuring an array of authentic local cuisine like bouillon and green fig and salt fish –
all served in a party atmosphere.