The Best Things To Do in St. Lucia

Much of St. Lucia’s activity happens on the west coast and specifically, in the Soufrière area. The island is wrapped in warm Caribbean waters, offering a variety of swimming and water activities. And thanks to the spectacular mountain peaks of St. Lucia, the island also offers some more adventurous activities, such as hiking and mountain biking.

Whether you consider yourself a beach bum or adventurer, these activities are among the St. Lucia’s best.

Explore The Market

You’ll want to take a trip to St. Lucia’s capital, Castries, for its bustling open-air Castries Market. Locals will be peddling homegrown goods like cucumbers, soursops (a sweet fruit), mangos, eggplants, papaya, curry spices, fresh fish, meats and more. The market has little shops that sell true Caribbean food, such as accra (fish cakes) and plantains. And although the market, which is located at Jeremie and Peynier streets, isn’t open on Sundays, there’s plenty to see during the other six days of the week thanks to the next-door Craft Market where handwoven straw hats and hand-carved wooden knickknacks take center stage.

Hit the Sea

A day sail or sea cruise from Rodney Bay or Vigie Cove to Soufrière and the Pitons is a fantastic way to see St. Lucia. Prices for a full-day sailing excursion to Soufrière run about $100 per person and include a land tour to the Diamond Botanical Gardens, lunch, a stop for swimming and snorkeling, and a visit to pretty Marigot Bay. Half-day cruises to the Pitons, three-hour whale-watching tours, and two-hour sunset cruises along the northwest coast will cost $45 to $60 per person.

Rampage through the rainforest

St Lucia’s interior is green and mountainous, meaning that there are plenty of hiking trails. Given the dense coverage, and the presence of four species of poisonous snake as well as boa constrictors, it’s advisable to go with a guide. 

The Treetop Adventure Park in Dennery offers a range of jungle walks, as well hugely popular zip lines. These involve whizzing through the canopy on wires, soaring above streams and hoping that the harness is strong enough. It’s tremendous fun, surprisingly sweaty work and, with lines of just under 500m, liable to get even the burliest of men screaming like five-year-old girls.

The Soufrière Volcano

The Soufrière Volcano is known around the world, but for locals it’s also known as the Saint Lucia sulphur springs. Feeling adventurous? Visitors are able to drive right into the volcano, the only known drive-in volcano in the world. Don’t worry about volcanic activity while you’re there as the last event, a steam-only eruption, happened many years ago.

The Pitons

You knew I had to save the best for last! Oh, those Pitons, with their awe-inspiring peaks are outstanding examples of cultural and natural heritage.  They also happened to fit the UNESCO World Heritage Committee criteria for a world heritage stamp of recognition. The best-known features are of course the Gros Piton, Petit Piton and the Sulphur Springs.  However, the site contains many other unique aspects that the Heritage Committee deemed important to preserve. The site contains beautiful coral reefs, hawksbill turtles, pilot whales, 168 species of fish, 148 species of plants and 27 species of birds, five of which are found nowhere else in the world.

St. Lucia is a stunningly natural Caribbean island just waiting for you. If you have been I’d love to hear what activities you would add to this last of the best things to do in St. Lucia!

Cheers,
RumShopRyan