Best Things to Do and Where to Stay on St. Lucia
In this article, Bubbly Tourist highlights the best things to do and where to stay on the stunningly beautiful island of St Lucia. Check out our article on these tips as well as where to eat and what else to know about your travel to the island of St Lucia.
Yah mon, go to St. Lucia! Don't think twice about it. This beautiful island is known for its two Pitons which as volcanic mountain peaks are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The island beer, piton, is even named after them. It's also known for its tropical rainforests, incredible weather, and amazing snorkeling in its warm waters. Not too far from the equator, it's located in the Lesser Antilles of the southeastern Caribbean Sea, and is much closer to Venezuela in South America than it is to the United States. The year-round temperatures average between 75º and 86º F (24º and 34º C) keeping the sea temperature an average of 81º F (27º C) year-round. So, if you're looking for a break from the cold winter temperatures or just a break from the routine and desire a beautiful island with plenty to offer, look no further than St. Lucia. And by the way, for those living on the US East Coast, it is a real alternative to going to Hawaii. Direct flights, yes please! Read on to learn more.
Best Things to do on St Lucia
1. Têt Paul Nature Trail Hike
See both the Gros Piton and Petit Piton from up above on the Têt Paul Nature Trail. It's not a long hike nor a strenuous one and the views are incredible. It's an easy to follow trail that has some steep parts but not for very long. Bubbly Tourist is in decent shape and we'd consider it moderate. However, if you're not in the best of shape, the steep parts will require a little rest. But no worries, the views are worth it! There even is a vendor in a small shed up top selling refreshments and fresh coconuts (they'll chop them for you) to help you rest. The actual hiking part can't be more than 30 minutes, but we gawked and took photos so the trip took us only about an hour in total.
Bubbly Tip: Têt Paul has its own parking that is right out front of the trailhead and is safe. It's free and there are free guides waiting for you in case you want or need one (we didn't). Têt Paul accepts credit cards and cash. Price is around $10 US per person.
2. Snorkel Anse Chastanet
The snorkeling at Anse Chastanet beach is truly incredible and the best on the island. The cove ("anse" in French) is protected from the sea so it's not choppy water, it's deep and clear, there's a variety of live coral and fish, and there's plenty of space to navigate all the people and boats. It's got a nice beach which you can relax on afterwards too. Bubbly Tourist preferred snorkeling at Anse Chastanet over Sugar Beach, Devil's Hole and Turtle Reef. Sugar Beach is a close second, so you really can't go wrong with either snorkeling destination. Devil's Hole is nice as well and definitely less crowded but accessible only by boat. We had the least amount of luck snorkeling Turtle Reef (located within walking distance of both Anse Chastanet and Anse Mamin) because the water was less clear due to the surf that day, but snorkeling with turtles is always the best when you can see them.
Bubbly Tip: You can reach Anse Chastanet by a chartered boat or on foot. We did both. It's free to snorkel at the Anse Chastanet Resort and sun on the beach as all beaches on St Lucia are public. Driving by car takes 15 minutes once you leave Soufrière, but keep in mind that reaching the resort requires a 4x4 vehicle due to the treacherous and very steep terrain. Parking is free just outside the entrance gates for guests. It's less than 10 minutes to walk to the pier where snorkeling occurs (left side of the beach looking out to sea).
3. Diamond Falls Botanical Garden and Mineral Springs
Trifold benefits here as the Botanical Gardens include the gardens, which are quite beautiful with plenty of information regarding the local flora; the Diamond Falls (no bathing); and for a small surcharge, a mineral bath (either private or public). Allow an hour for the gardens and falls and about 30 minutes for the mineral baths. The gardens are beautifully done and follow the milky river that emerges from the springs and falls. The gardens date back to 1785 and were funded from King Louis XVI of France. It is said that Josephine Bonaparte, wife to Napoleon, bathed in these mineral baths. This is fun, relaxing experience.
Bubbly Tip: This venue requires payment in cash. It can be in USD. Parking is free. Also, the mineral baths have changing rooms but nowhere to store your clothes or belongings.
4. Relax on Anse Mamin Beach
Anse Mamin beach is arguably the nicest beach on St Lucia. It gets the nod over both Anse Chastanet beach (even though it's the same resort) and Sugar Beach because it doesn't have the amount of people or the boats that either of those two beaches have. If relaxing is your goal then go to Anse Mamim Beach and just lay around and soak up the sun. There's less people and it can be deserted at times. There's even a little bit of shelling you can do that will likely net you some shards of sea glass. There's also a grill where you can order your lunch and/or a drink and just chill for an afternoon looking out at the beautiful Caribbean waters with tropical landscape and blue green waters all about.
Bubbly Tip: You can bring your own beach chairs and umbrella or rent the thatched umbrellas with loungers from the resort. It's about a 10 minute walk from Anse Chastanet beach and almost a 20 minute walk from the car park.
5. Snorkel and Chill at Sugar Beach
The sand at Sugar Beach is perhaps the nicest on St Lucia. It's nearly pure white like its name implies. The beach is also quite large and you don't have to be a guest at the Viceroy resort to be able to use the beach. As mentioned earlier, all beaches are public in St Lucia. This one has the extra beauty of caressing the side of the Petit Piton and offering some incredible snorkeling there. You'll find the marked off snorkeling area on the right side of the beach (looking out to sea) between the dock and the Petit Piton. There are a handful of vendors there too (but not too many) selling island products from their sheds and even tropical drinks you can buy out of a boat (look for the flags). Walk towards your left towards the Gros Piton, around the corner, and past the moored sailboats and the beach opens up quite a bit just past the Jetty Burgers bar on the pier. You'll find a some somewhat deserted sand beach with stunning views of both the Gros and Petit Pitons.
Bubbly Tip: If you drive to the Viceroy resort, you'll be asked by the guards at the front gate to park in the guest lot by the tennis courts. It's a 15 minute walk down a very steep hill to get to the beach. To avoid walking back up the hill, buy food at one of the beachside restaurants (including the Jetty Burger) and show your receipt to the receptionist at Bonté restaurant and they'll direct you to the shuttle to take you back up. Note: they have a policy to spend at least $100 USD to use the shuttle even though we hadn't quite spent that much..
6. Explore the Island by Water
There are plenty of charters that are willing to take you out to sea on a water adventure. Whether it be for a champagne sunset, a snorkeling/diving experience, or a water taxi, it is a beautiful way to see the island. We booked through our hotel so it was easy and convenient. They picked us up from the hotel and then took us out to sea for a couple of hours. This is the second time on St Lucia that we've done that and frankly try to do it whenever we're on an island where the snorkeling is good.
7. Explore Waterfalls
For transparency, the only waterfall we saw was the Diamond Falls at the Botanical Garden. They were nice, but not something we would go exclusively for. The milky waters and mineral deposits you see from the volcanic sulphur makes it unique. We were given the inside scoop on the best waterfalls to see on the island and so here is the list... Top of the list was Spyke Falls because it has the highest cumulative drop in water plus you get to meet a colorful local who goes by the name Schlong Dong (we didn't ask) who takes you across his property to the falls. The next on the list was the Toraille Falls and Piton Falls. Piton is a short walk right off the road where you can soak in the mineral baths and will cost you around $3 USD to see. Toraille has a swimmable water hole and a 50 foot water drop and will also cost you around $3 USD. It also has on-site toilets and a changing room.
Where to Stay on St Lucia
Bubbly Tourist recommends staying near Soufrière which is only about an hour's drive from the Hewanorra International Airport on the southern tip of St Lucia. Unless you're coming in from another island, you will more than likely arrive at Hewanorra. This is important because although the island is relatively small, the roads are single lane and you're never traveling faster than 40 mph (~70 kph). Therefore, traveling short distances takes a while. For example, traveling the 20 miles (38 km) from Soufrière to Castries takes 1h15m. Since the Pitons, rainforest, best resorts and best snorkeling are all near Soufrière, minimize your drive time and maximize your island experience time by staying near Soufrière. There are several really nice resorts on this part of the island that we discuss here. Note: Bubbly Tourist is not compensated for any recommendations we make.
As always, we recognize there are many factors by which you use to determine where to stay. Use the Bubbly Tourist process in finding a hotel to help find and narrow down the list of lodgings that best fits your needs. This list is sorted by traveler ranking from TripAdvisor.
Ladera Resort
Bubbly Tourist looked long and hard at this resort. Situated on top of the mountain with stunning views of the Petit Piton, it is beautifully done and all the rooms offer private pools. It does, however, come with a hefty price tag. It also has a main pool and a couple outstanding restaurants. The reviews of Ladera are always top of the list for the entire island. You cannot go wrong with its romantic and private rooms. It is not on the beach but does offer a 15 minute shuttle service a few times per day to Sugar Beach.
Green Fig Resort
Bubbly Tourist ultimately chose Green Fig for our stay on St Lucia. Its location above Soufrière looks down over the colorful town and directly across the bay at the Petit Piton. It's proximity to everything makes it an ideal location. It's reviews put it into the Top 5 on the island. The staff are extremely pleasant and helpful. The narrow and steep stairs to and from the individual buildings makes it a challenge for those with physical disabilities, but the relative affordability of the hotel and meals paired with its stunning views made it a no-brainer for us. Highly Recommended.
Jade Mountain Resort and Anse Chastanet
These two hotels share the same property and share the island's best snorkeling and best relaxing beach on St. Lucia. The reviews of both Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet are in the Top 10 on the island. The rooms at Jade Mountain are all open air with stunning views from up above Anse Chastanet. Both are luxury hotels with heavenly price tags. Jade Mountain, for your information, is the most expensive on the island. But if price is no object, then by all means fully take advantage of the amenities these hotels have to offer.
Bubbly Tip: The only road from Soufrière to the resorts requires a 4x4. It is very steep, rocky, and narrow in parts. It's also 15 minutes to get to with nothing in between but a few rental homes. Make sure you have proper transportation.
Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort
Located way below Ladera on the water, the beach and its extensive accommodations with amenities make the Viceroy an option worth looking at. Its reviews are not as good as the other hotels on our list, but its beach is simply incredible. It contains six restaurants and bars and the snorkeling at Sugar Beach is truly remarkable. Not nearly as expensive as Jade Mountain, the price tag at Viceroy is still hefty. It makes Ladera and Green Fig worth another look.
In Search of Bubbles and Bites on St Lucia
In an ongoing segment by Bubbly Tourist, we always search for a location - if not the best location - to have some champagne wherever we go.
Green Fig Restaurant
Let's discuss bubbles first! Since we were staying at the Green Fig Resort, we had multiple occasions to partake in some sparkling. They have on menu several sparkling wines and champagnes at various price points. What made the Green Fig restaurant so spectacular were the views over Soufrière and of the Petit Piton, especially at sunset. It never got old! Just stunning views that we took advantage of daily. The jerk chicken and local catch were very good. Nightly entertainment is also provided. Highly Recommended.
Dasheene at the Ladera Resort
The views from Dasheene at the Ladera Resort are simply stunning. You simply cannot go wrong with a meal or some bubbly here. We've eaten here a few times over the years and it is spectacular. The food is good, the staff is great, and the views are incredible.
Bubbly Tip: Make your reservations in advance, even for lunch. If you're not a guest at the resort, the guard will let you park in the gated lot with a reservation.
Treetop Restaurant & Bar
This Indian fusion restaurant is simply stunning. Treetop offers a set three course menu and a welcome drink upon arrival. The restaurant has been built over years into the tree tops like a tree fort and all the furniture hauled in and strapped in (to protect against seasonal winds) painstakingly over time. The decor is incredible, the staff are delightful, the food is really good, the cocktails are excellent, but the wine list is just okay. Amazing food with a spectacular view over St Lucia that includes the pitons and the sulfur springs makes this restaurant absolutely worth it. See for yourselves.
Island Chef
If you would like some casual local food with healthy local ingredients, then we suggest you try out Island Chef in Soufrière. The mastermind and chef behind Island Chef is a man called Speedo who serves rich, hearty vegan meals and fresh local fish that are exceptional. Seating is outside in a parking lot on plastic chairs with plastic tables and utensils along the water of Soufrière, so trust us when we say you're not there for the views or the ambiance. He requires you to pay in cash, so make sure you have some cash before going. FYI, you can pay in USD and he'll give you the bank conversion rate.
Things to Know About St Lucia
Is the wait long for clearing customs in St Lucia?
No, but maybe it depends. We arrived at Hewanorra Airport around 2pm and for us, we got straight through customs with no more than 15 minutes of processing time. There might have been one plane before us but it certainly wasn't crowded and we didn't need any "fastpass" that we also saw advertised.
Bubbly Tip: What helped expedite our arrival was having filled out the mandatory online customs form before arrival. We saw many people filling out their form manually in the airport. Note: It has to be filled out less than 72 hours before your arrival.
Driving on St Lucia is slow going and on the left
Having once been a British island, driving is on the left. The main roads are single lane and you're never traveling faster than 40 mph (~70 kph) because of all the twists and turns. Traveling short distances takes a while. For example, traveling the 21 miles (35 km) from Hewanorra Airport to Soufrière takes an hour. It's another 1h15m from Soufrière to Castries.
Should I rent a car while on St Lucia?
Bubbly Tourist rented a car because we like the flexibility of going where we want when we want. We read many reviews that people shouldn't rent a car here because they said that once you get off the main road, the roads and drive can be steep and unpaved with potholes making them at times quite challenging. This is true but only in select areas like the road to Anse Chastanet from Soufrière, the driveway up to Green Fig, and the road up to the Treetops restaurant, for example. There are plenty of driver services and taxis though if renting does not interest you. If you get out twice a day, you'll likely break even on cost.
Water Taxis do exist on St Lucia
One thing to consider for transportation on the island are water taxis. If you're not interested in the slow going travel by road or if you think it's too expensive to rent a car or use a service to get to and from your hotel, then maybe a water taxi is a legitimate option for you. It's also another way of seeing the island by water. We did not use a water taxi but heard from other hotel guests that a water taxi from Soufrière to Sugar Beach was $80 USD roundtrip for two and from Soufrière to Hewanorra Airport was $75 USD per person.
Should I get cash for St Lucia?
It's good to have some cash while on St Lucia and they accept cash in USD. It's not a cashless society like Scandinavia. If you're staying on a resort or eating at most restaurants, you won't need cash and can use credit cards. However, some tourist sites and smaller restaurants will require cash and will give you market rates for the USD. FYI, the local currency is Eastern Caribbean (EC) dollars, and 10 EC $ is roughly 4 US $.
What Time Zone is St Lucia?
St Lucia is on Atlantic Standard Time. That means it's 1 hour ahead of US Eastern Standard Time or 4 hours behind Greenwich Standard Time between March and November before daylight savings kicks in. St Lucia does not observe daylight savings.
The beach in Soufrière is not really swimmable
There is a beach in Soufrière but it's mainly used by boats. We heard from other guests that sewage was being dumped into the water there. Regardless if that's true, the beach isn't the best area because it's not particularly clean. There is some garbage, but in general, it's not setup to be a swimming spot. We say this because you should think twice about renting a place in Soufrière with the thought of swimming on its beach.
Bubbly Bon Voyage!