Saint Lucia
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Saint Lucia - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Sort by:
19 Recommendations
{{numTotalPoiResults}} {{ (numTotalPoiResults===1)?'Recommendation':'Recommendations' }}
0 Recommendations
Loading...
-
1. Anse Chastanet
In front of the resort of the same name and Jade Mountain, this palm-studded dark-sand beach just north of Soufrière Bay has a backdrop of green mountains, brightly painted fishing skiffs bobbing at anchor, calm waters for swimming, and some of the island's best reefs for snorkeling and diving right from shore. Anse Chastanet Resort's gazebos are among the palms; its dive shop, restaurant, and bar are on the beach and open to the public. The mile-long dirt road from Soufrière, though, is a challenge even for taxi drivers, given its (by design) state of disrepair. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming.
Anse Chastanet Rd., Soufrière, Soufrière, Saint Lucia -
2. Anse Cochon
This dark-sand beach in front of Ti Kaye Resort and Spa is accessible by boat or by jeep via Ti Kaye's mile-long, tire-crunching access road—and then 166 steps down to the beach. The calm water and adjacent reefs, part of the National Marine Reserve, are superb for swimming, diving, and snorkeling. Most catamaran cruises to Soufrière stop here on the northbound leg so that day-trippers can take a quick swim. Boaters and swimmers can enjoy refreshments at Ti Kaye's beach bar. Snorkeling equipment is available at the dive shop on the beach. Amenities: food and drink; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.
Off West Coast Rd., Anse-la-Raye, Saint Lucia -
3. Anse des Pitons
The white sand on this crescent beach, snuggled between the Pitons, was imported years ago and spread over the natural black sand. Accessible through the Sugar Beach resort or by boat, Anse des Pitons (aka Sugar Beach or Jalousie Beach) offers crystal-clear water for swimming, excellent snorkeling and diving, and breathtaking scenery—you're swimming right between the Pitons, after all. The underwater area here is protected as part of the National Marine Reserve. Neighboring resorts provide shuttle service to the beach for their guests; there is also free parking for those with a rental car, or you could take a land or water taxi. Amenities: food and drink; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming.
Val des Pitons, Soufrière, Soufrière, Saint Lucia -
4. Castries Central Market
Under a brilliant orange roof, this bustling market is at its liveliest on Saturday morning, when farmers bring their produce and spices to town, as they have for more than a century. (It's closed Sunday.) Next door to the produce market is the Craft Market, where you can buy pottery, wood carvings, handwoven straw articles, and innumerable souvenirs, trinkets, and gewgaws. At the Vendors' Arcade, across Peynier Street from the Craft Market, you'll find still more handicrafts and souvenirs.
55 John Compton Hwy., Castries, Castries Quarter, Saint Lucia -
5. Morne Coubaril Historical Adventure Park
On the site of an 18th-century estate, a 250-acre land grant in 1713 by Louis XIV of France, the original plantation house has been rebuilt and a farmworkers' village has been re-created. Both do a good job of showing what life was like for both the owners (a single family owned the land until 1960) and those who did all the hard labor over the centuries producing cotton, coffee, sugarcane, and cocoa. Coffee, cocoa, coconuts, and tropical fruits are still grown on the estate using traditional agricultural methods. On the 30-minute Historical Estate Tour, guides show how coconuts are de-husked and dried for use in a variety of products. On the cocoa side, a guide will cut open a cocoa pod, offering samples of cocoa beans, and demonstrate how cocoa is fermented, dried, polished (by dancing on the beans), and transformed into chocolate sticks. They also offer a 40-minute Rum and Chocolate Tasting Tour. The grounds are lovely for walking or hiking, with spellbinding views of mountains and Soufrière Bay. More adventurous visitors will enjoy ziplining beneath Petit Piton and the adjacent rainforest.
West Coast Rd., Soufrière, Soufrière, Saint Lucia758-712--5808Sight Details
Rate Includes: $11 for estate tour; $75 for zipline; $35 for rum and chocolate tour -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
-
6. Barre de l'Isle Forest Reserve
Saint Lucia is divided into eastern and western halves by Barre de l'Isle ridge. A mile-long (1½-km-long) trail cuts through the reserve, and four lookout points provide panoramic views. Visible in the distance are Mt. Gimie (pronounced Jimmy), immense green valleys, both the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and coastal communities. The trailhead is a half-hour drive from Castries. It takes about an hour to walk the trail—an easy hike—and another hour to climb Mt. LaCombe ridge. Permission from the Saint Lucia Forestry Department is required to access the trail in Barre de l'Isle; a naturalist or forest officer guide will accompany you.
Micoud Hwy., Micoud Quarter, Saint Lucia758-468--5649-Forestry Dept.Sight Details
Rate Includes: $20; $10 for guide, Call weekdays 8:30–4:30 -
7. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Directly across Laborie Street from Derek Walcott Square stands Castries's Roman Catholic cathedral, which was built in 1897. Though it appears rather somber on the outside, the interior walls are decorated with colorful murals reworked by Saint Lucian artist Dunstan St. Omer just prior to Pope John Paul II's visit in 1985. This church has an active parish and is open daily for both public viewing and religious services.
Micoud St., Castries, Castries Quarter, Saint Lucia -
8. Derek Walcott Square
The city's green oasis, bordered by Brazil, Laborie, Micoud, and Bourbon streets, was formerly called Columbus Square but was renamed to honor the late Sir Derek Walcott, the hometown poet who won the 1992 Nobel Prize in Literature and one of two Nobel laureates from Saint Lucia. (The late Sir W. Arthur Lewis won the 1979 Nobel Prize in Economics.) Some of the 19th-century buildings that have survived fire, wind, and rain can be seen on Brazil Street, the square's southern border. On the Laborie Street side, there's a huge 400-year-old samaan (monkey pod) tree with leafy branches that shade a good portion of the square.
Castries, Castries Quarter, Saint Lucia -
9. Edmund Forest Reserve
Dense tropical rainforest that stretches from one side of Saint Lucia to the other, sprawling over 19,000 acres of mountains and valleys, is home to a multitude of exotic flowers, trees, plants, and rare birds—including the brightly feathered Jacquot parrot. The Edmund Forest Reserve, on the island's western side, is most easily accessed from the road to Fond St. Jacques, which is just east of Soufrière. A trek through the verdant landscape, with spectacular views of mountains, valleys, and the sea beyond, can take three or more hours. The ranger station at the reserve entrance is a 30-minute drive from Soufrière and 90 minutes or more from the northern end of Saint Lucia. You'll need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to drive inland to the trailhead, which can take another hour. The trek itself is a strenuous hike, requiring stamina and sturdy hiking shoes. Your hotel can help you obtain permission from the Saint Lucia Forestry Department to access reserve trails and to arrange for a naturalist or forest officer guide—necessary because the vegetation is so dense.
Soufrière, Soufrière, Saint Lucia758-468–5649-Forestry Dept.Sight Details
Rate Includes: $10 for nature trails; $25 for guide -
10. Government House
The official residence of the governor-general—and one of the island's few remaining examples of Victorian architecture—is perched high above Castries, halfway up Morne Fortune ("Hill of Good Fortune"), which forms a backdrop for the capital city. Morne Fortune has also seen more than its share of bad luck, including devastating hurricanes and four fires that leveled Castries.
Morne Fortune, Castries Quarter, Saint LuciaSight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
11. La Place Carenage
On the south side of the harbor, near the pier and markets, is a duty-free shopping complex with a handful of shops and a café. It's busiest when a cruise ship is in port.
Jeremie St., Castries, Castries Quarter, Saint Lucia758-457--6100 -
12. Mamiku Botanical Gardens
One of Saint Lucia's loveliest botanical gardens surrounds the hilltop ruins of the Micoud Estate. Baron Micoud, an 18th-century colonel in the French army and governor-general of Saint Lucia, deeded the land to his wife, Madame de Micoud, to avoid confiscation by the British during one of the many times when Saint Lucia changed hands. Locals abbreviated her name to "Ma Micoud," which, over time, became Mamiku. (The estate did become a British military outpost in 1796, but shortly thereafter was burned to the ground by slaves during the Brigand's War.) The estate is now primarily a banana plantation, but the gardens themselves—including several secluded or "secret" gardens—are filled with tropical flowers and plants, delicate orchids, and fragrant herbs. The bird-watching is excellent here; three species of hummingbirds have been spotted on the grounds.
Micoud Rd., Praslin, Praslin, Saint Lucia758-714-4824Sight Details
Rate Includes: $8; $12 for guided tour, Guided tours must be booked at least 3 days in advance -
13. Maria Islands Nature Reserve
Two tiny islands in the Atlantic Ocean off Saint Lucia's southeastern coast make up this reserve, 25-acre Maria Major and 4-acre Maria Minor. They are inhabited by five rare species of reptiles, including the colorful Zandoli Terre ground lizard and the harmless Saint Lucia racer snake, locally known as the Kouwes snake. They share their home with frigate birds, terns, doves, and other wildlife. There's a small beach for swimming and snorkeling, as well as an undisturbed forest, a vertical cliff covered with cacti, and a coral reef for snorkeling or diving. The Saint Lucia National Trust offers tours, including a local fishing boat trip to the islands, by appointment only; bring your own picnic lunch, as there are no facilities.
Vieux Fort, Vieux-Fort, Saint Lucia758-454–5014-for tour reservationsSight Details
Rate Includes: $50 -
14. Marigot Beach
Calm waters rippled only by passing yachts lap a sliver of sand on the north side of Marigot Bay adjacent to the Marigot Beach Club and Dive Resort, across the bay from Zoëtry Marigot Bay and a short walk from Mango Beach Inn. Studded with palm trees, this tiny beach on extremely picturesque Marigot Bay is accessible by a ferry (EC$5 round-trip) that operates continually from one side of the bay to the other, with pickup at the Marina Village dock. You can find refreshments at adjacent or nearby restaurants. Amenities: food and drink; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; sunset.
Marigot Bay, Castries Quarter, Saint Lucia -
15. Pigeon Island Beach
This small beach, within the national landmark on the northwestern tip of Saint Lucia, has golden sand, a calm sea, and a view that extends from Rodney Bay to Martinique. It's a perfect spot for picnicking, and you can take a break from the sun by visiting the nearby Pigeon Island Museum and Interpretive Centre. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; swimming.
Pigeon Island Causeway, Pigeon Island, Gros-Islet, Saint LuciaSight Details
Rate Includes: $10 park admission -
16. Pointe Seraphine
This duty-free shopping complex is on the north side of the harbor, about a 20-minute walk or 2-minute cab ride from the city center. Pointe Seraphine's attractive Spanish-style architecture houses more than 20 upscale duty-free shops, a tourist information kiosk, a bar, a taxi stand, and car-rental agencies. The shopping center is adjacent to a cruise-ship pier and is busiest when ships are in port.
Castries, Castries Quarter, Saint Lucia758-457–3425Sight Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. (unless a ship is in port) -
17. Soufrière Beach Park
This stretch of beachfront on Soufrière Bay was designated Soufrière Beach Park in spring 2019. The park offers beachgoers small restaurants, a smoothie bar, beach bar, pizzeria, souvenir shop, and a tourism information center. You can also rent nonmotorized water sports equipment. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming.
Bridge Rd., Soufrière, Soufrière, Saint Lucia -
18. St. Lucia Distillers Group of Companies
St. Lucia Distillers, which produces the island's own Bounty and Chairman's Reserve rums, offers 60-minute Rhythm of Rum tours that cover the history of sugar, the background of rum, a detailed description of the distillation process, colorful displays of local architecture, a glimpse at a typical rum shop, Caribbean music, and a chance to sample the company's rums and liqueurs. The distillery is at the Roseau Sugar Factory in the Roseau Valley on the island's largest banana plantation, a few miles south of Castries and not far from Marigot. Reservations for the tour are essential.
West Coast Rd., Marigot Bay, Castries Quarter, Saint Lucia758-456–3192Sight Details
Rate Includes: $12, Closed weekends, Reservations required -
19. Toraille Waterfall and Gardens
A mile or so inland from Soufrière and a stone’s throw from the road through Fond St. Jacques, Toraille Waterfall cascades over a cliff and down about 50 feet to a pool. You're invited to don your bathing suit (changing rooms are available) and let the falling water massage your back and shoulders. A nature trail leads through the surrounding lush tropical gardens.
-
{{ (numCurrentPage-1)*numPageLimit+index+1 }}.
{{ item.neighborhood }} | {{ item.first_keyword }}{{ item.review }}
{{ item.address }}{{ item.phone[0] }}{{ item.details.title }} Details
{{ item.details.content.toString() }}View Tours and Activities -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
No sights Results
Please try a broader search, or expore these popular suggestions:
There are no results for {{ strDestName }} Sights in the searched map area with the above filters. Please try a different area on the map, or broaden your search with these popular suggestions:
