Things to see and do

The island of St Lucia is known for its beautiful and dramatic scenery. Lush tropical rainforest surrounded by white sand beaches, with the opportunity to explore the sights and experiences produced by the island’s volcanic geography. St Lucia is the largest of our five Caribbean islands with lively nightlife and plenty to do and see during the day. It’s also a great place for sun worshippers with year-round warm and sunny weather.

Getting Around

Take taxis or hire a car. The Reception staff will be happy to organise this for you.

The Pitons

The Pitons are one of St Lucia’s key attractions and located in the south-east. Caused by a volcanic eruption, they are twin spikes that shoot up out of the sea to a height of half a mile.

Soufriere

Soufriere is a charming old West Indian town near St Lucia’s active volcano and there are a number of things to experience here, including the Diamond Falls Waterfall and mineral baths where you can bathe.

Castries

St Lucia’s capital is a great place to shop and absorb some of the island’s heritage. Castries has many fine examples of French Creole architecture and a guided tour will bring St Lucia’s history to life.

St Lucia Jazz

Every May St Lucia hosts an international jazz festival which is one of the most well-established in the world, and certainly the largest in the Caribbean.

Pigeon Island Museum and Interpretive Center

Go to Pigeon Island to learn about St Lucia’s history. Once the home of Amerindians, the Island has been a pirate hideout and a military base. The Pigeon Island Museum is housed in the former British officers’ mess building, which has been restored to its 1808 plans. A modern interactive exhibition brings the sites fascinating history to life.

Whale watching

St Lucia is one of the leading whale watching sites in the Caribbean and more than 20 species are regularly spotted throughout the year, including humpbacks, pilot whales, sperm whales and spinning and spotted dolphins.

Overview

Discovered by Christopher Columbus on 13 December 1502 – the “Feast of St Lucy” – it was named Santa Lucia. Originally owned by the French, who first settled on the island in 1650, it became a British dependency in 1814. In 1979, St Lucia gained full independence and became a member of the British Commonwealth.

St Lucia is mountainous and very pretty, with huge banana plantations. The volcanic peaks are topped by Morne Gimie, the highest mountain at 3117ft, but the island is better known for the Pitons, two dramatic peaks created when Mount Soufriere exploded. Much of the rest of the island is mountainous rainforest. Deep valleys and gorges make for breath-taking scenery set against the backdrop of the Caribbean Sea, golden sunshine and cloudless blue skies.

The island has two airports, Hewanorra in the south which handles international flights and George F.L.Charles (formerly Vigie Airport) in the north for local inter-Caribbean services. If you arrive or depart from Hewanorra be prepared for a 90 minute transfer to hotels like, Royal St Lucian and the St Lucian.

This is an English-speaking island with beaches of both white and black volcanic sand. The people are known for their friendliness and good Creole cuisine. St Lucia is one of the most popular islands in the Caribbean – you’ll experience why from the moment you arrive.