St. Lucia is a truly unique stop in the Caribbean. I have been to this island twice and it is one of the most beautiful islands in this region. With that being said, you have to have a game plan for this island. This is not like a port day in Nassau, Bahamas where you can walk off the boat and there is plenty to do. That is why I put together this port guide of things to do in St. Lucia.
Island Overview:
This West Indies island is found on Southern Caribbean Itineraries in the Eastern Caribbean sea. It is a lush, mountainous island with small fishing villages and volcanic beaches. St. Lucia is known for its two tapered mountains called the “Pitons.” The port is in the city of Castries. This island’s primary sources of income are tourism, oil and bananas.
Top Attractions:
- The Pitons: There are several look outs towards Soufriere of the Pitons. The views are amazing on a clear day. You can also take the Tet Paul Nature Trail.
- Jalousie Beach: One of the things that is really cool about visiting the Pitons is that there is a beach between them that is only accessible by boat. You have to take a water taxi from Soufriere. Once you board a water taxi, it will take you over to this area. It is also known as Sugar Beach. There are chair and snorkel rentals on this beach.
- Diamond Botanical Gardens: St. Lucia is a very lush, rain forest style island. There is a beautiful small waterfall and gorgeous nature sights to be seen here.
- Anse Chastanet Beach: This is a beautiful beach near Soufriere that has good shore snorkeling and rental amenities.
- Sulphur Springs: This is the world’s only drive in volcano. There are hot springs where you can do a mud bath in the natural thermal waters.
- Vigie Beach: This is the closest beach to the cruise port. There are restaurants, beach chairs and other amenities for rental here.
My Tips:
- Hire a Tour or Car Service: Unless you are planning to go to Vigie Beach, get a tour. I personally recommend Cosol Tours as they have a great full-day itinerary that you can see in this vlog of mine. The roads on this island are very narrow, not well kept throughout, and zig-zag through mountainous terrain. If you get car sick, you will want to make sure you sit upfront. The attractions on this island are not close together.
- Don’t Make Plans for After: If you opt to do a full-day tour, do not make a lot of plans after. While these tours are amazing, it is very tiring. You are doing a lot of activities and you will need to recharge for a little bit after.
St. Lucia is a beautiful island. If you plan for it, this stop will be very memorable. I want you to keep in mind a few things. Castries is the capital but it is not a place that I would be wanting to walk around in. There isn’t a whole lot for tourists to do there. Some of the highlights from an all-day tour include going to a banana plantation (their bananas have a honey taste) and trying banana ketchup! I also really enjoyed snorkeling at Jalousie Beach as well. Our whole island tour included unlimited beverages (including rum punch and Piton beers), lunch, and delicious hot bread and cheese at the end.
I hope that you give this island a try and let me know what you think. If you want more of play by play of my first experience with Cosol Tours, check out this post here. Whether you are here on a cruise ship or for a land vacation, you should check them out. I hope you enjoyed this port guide list of things to do in St. Lucia.
Check out my Jamaica island guide for your next sailing!
