Saint Lucia
Capital:
Castries
Description:
Saint Lucia is an Eastern Caribbean island nation with a pair of dramatically tapered mountains, the Pitons, on its west coast. Its coast is home to volcanic beaches, reef-diving sites, luxury resorts and fishing villages. Trails in the interior rainforest lead to waterfalls like the 15m-high Toraille, which pours over a cliff into a garden. The capital, Castries, is a popular cruise port.
Major Cities:
Castries
Anse La Raye
Vieux Fort
Micoud
Dennery
3★+ Accommodation Starting At:
$55
(Per Room, Per Night)
Atlandis Top 3 'Things to Do'
The Pitons
Adventure seekers will find plenty of things to do on St. Lucia. Ziplining, climbing the Pitons, hiking the many marked nature trails, horseback riding, sightseeing cruises, and exploring the island's active volcano are popular island activities. Diving is excellent on the west side of St. Lucia, with a rich diversity of corals, sponges, and reef fish.
After all the action, you can relax under rustling palms on St. Lucia's golden beaches or soak in the island's healing hot springs. For more ideas on things to do and places to visit on this idyllic island, read our list of the top attractions in St. Lucia.
Tet Paul Nature Trail
Looking for a break from the sun, sand, and sea? Thanks to the island's dramatic topography, hiking in St. Lucia can be especially rewarding, and the Tet Paul Nature Trail, near Soufrière, offers some of the most spectacular views in southern St. Lucia.
Winding through tropical forest in St. Lucia's World Heritage-listed Pitons Management Area, this easy to moderate hike takes about 45 minutes. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Martinique and St. Vincent.
Along the gentle trail, you can learn about medicinal plants and trees, sample exotic tropical fruits, and discover the traditional Amerindian art of cassava production. You'll see plenty of pineapples growing along the way as well. The highlight is the "stairway to heaven," steep steps leading up to a 360-degree panoramic view of the surrounding countryside.
Sulphur Springs Park
Named for the sulfur once mined at this site, Mount Soufriere (also known as Sulphur Springs Park) is the most active geothermal area in the Lesser Antilles. A road traverses the edge of the 274-meter crater making it possible to actually drive in a volcano - one of the most unique things to do in St. Lucia.
Though the last major volcanic eruption in St. Lucia occurred about 40,000 years ago, this volcanic pit continues to vent sulfur into the air, and heat pools of water above boiling.
You can view the bubbling pools and hissing fumaroles from observation platforms. After exploring the park, you can soak in some nearby therapeutic springs and take a mud bath. Make sure you wear an old swimsuit!
'Things To Do' information provided by Viator and TripAdvisor. Contact Atlandis Vacations for the best prices.