Nicknamed 'The Helen of the West' in reference to the great beauty of Helen of Troy, St Lucia is a picture perfect oasis of mountains, rainforest and white sand beaches, perfect for honeymoon couples and families alike. Renowned as the most welcoming island in the Caribbean, St Lucia presents an exciting mix of different cultures. Interesting characters are a given; the island has produced more Nobel Prize winners per capita than any other country in the world.
The Pitons rise from the sea to dominate the south west corner of the island. Between these iconic peaks lies the charmingly colourful town of Soufriere and the famous Sugar Beach. Just south of the capital city of Castries, Marigot Bay is a picturesque harbour surrounded by steep cliffs protecting it from the tropical storms that can hit the region. To the north is Rodney Bay, home to numerous restaurants, bars and hotels.
77 percent of the island is covered in tropical rainforest. If tourists need a change from snorkeling or scuba diving, they can venture inland to hunt for wild orchids and bird life such as the rare St Lucia parrot. St Lucia plays host to numerous visitors seeking out its natural spa. Sulphur Springs owns the strange distinction of being the world's only drive-in volcano. Tourists can drive right to the heart of the volcano, where the mineral rich waters and mud have healing properties for those who can stand the rather strong sulphuric odours.
Port of Call - Castries
St Lucia's capital Castries owes much of its existence to the many cruise ships that dock in its deep water port. The town is attractive enough, but apart from shopping has little to offer visitors. St Lucia's real charms are revealed in day trips away from Castries, into the glorious hinterland and along the scenic coastline. The local people are famously friendly and the weather perpetually sunny.
Cruise ships docks at quays on both the north and south sides of the harbour. The two sides are linked by water taxis. The north side is called La Place Carenage and is closest to Castries. Passengers exit through a duty-free shopping centre into Castries old town. The south quay is closer to a larger duty-free shopping centre at Pointe Seraphine across the water.
Overview of the Attractions in St Lucia
The pristine beaches and emerald waters of St Lucia draw in hordes of visitors every year. The island has earned the title of the world's leading honeymoon destination no fewer than eight times and with good reason.
Most guests arrive on cruise liners at the island's main port, Castries, where they can go hunting for souvenirs at the Castries Central Market. Many then head for the white sands of Sugar Beach and enjoy snorkeling in the crystal clear waters.
More adventurous souls can enjoy a mountain bike ride beneath the dense rainforest, or brave a zip-line tour through the tree canopies. A visit to the fascinating Soufriere Volcano with its bubbling sulphur springs is not to be missed. Likewise the UNESCO-listed twin peaks of the Pitons, which await the daring hiker. Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens offers a stunning retreat from the world, with its astonishing variety of tropical fauna and flora, hot mineral springs, and rainbow-colored waterfall. The Pigeon Island National Park is popular among travelers for its pristine beaches. For the best panoramic views of the island, visitors can head up to the old town of Vieux Fort.
Not just the domain of the newly weds, St Lucia has plenty for the whole family. Children can enjoy attractions such as the safe swimming beach of Anse Chastanet, and pirate-themed sea adventures.
Pigeon Island
Pigeon Island, north of Castries, is St Lucia's first national park, reached from the mainland across a causeway. The islet has a romantic past, having been the hide-out of Jambe de Bois, the much-feared peg-leg pirate who preyed on Spanish galleons. It was also from here that Admiral Rodney set sail in 1782 to destroy the French fleet in one of the most decisive sea battles in European history.
Pigeon Island features two white sand beaches and an interpretation centre, where a multimedia display explains the local history. The centre includes the Captain's Cellar Olde English Pub, a re-creation of an 18th century English pub. The island is ideal for nature walks and has numerous marked trails which bypass historical sites, like the remains of an 18th century British fort.
Soufriere
Soufriere in the south is the oldest settlement on the island, having served as the French capital in the 18th century. The deep-water port stands at the base of St Lucia's main landmarks, the two towering extinct volcanoes known as the Pitons, rising to 2,619 feet (798m) above sea level. The town itself is pretty, with a cluster of colourfully-painted arcaded buildings against the backdrop of dense jungle.
Most visitors, however, are drawn by the nearby attraction of the 'drive-in' volcano, Mount Soufriere, where it is possible to enter by car into an ancient volcanic crater filled with sulphur springs and steam geysers. Also at Soufriere are the Diamond Mineral Baths, the Diamond Waterfall and the Diamond Botanical Gardens.
Vieux Fort
St Lucia's second largest town is on the south coast, adjacent to the island's busy Hewanorra International Airport on the southernmost tip of the island. At St Lucia's most southerly point just outside the town is the Cape Moule, a Chique Lighthouse, which offers one of the best panoramic views of the island. The town has a beach called Anse de Sables which is popular for windsurfers. Near the beach is the Maria Islands Interpretive Centre, which contains a small natural history museum and an office where visitors can book trips to the Maria Islands about half a mile offshore.
Beaches
St Lucia may not have coral reefs, but it does have perfectly clear emerald waters and brightly coloured tropical fish, perfect for snorkelling and other aquatic activities. All of St Lucia's beaches are public and travellers can pop onto any of the island's most famous stretches of sand. Some of St Lucia's best beaches include Anse Cochon or the solitary beaches on Anse Comerette. Anse Louvet is one of the best beaches for snorkelling, while the sheltered bay at Anse Chastanet is great for younger and more inexperienced swimmers.
Jungle Biking
Although St Lucia's mountain bike trails may not be the easiest in the world, they are definitely some of the most beautiful. An attraction geared more towards older children and adults, jungle biking is a great way to see the island and get outdoors with the family for a fun-filled day. Bikers will ride past the ruins of an 18th-century French-colonial sugar mill, an old church, and a reservoir. There are plenty of great locations to stop for a picnic, and seasoned bikers can take the Tinker's Trail for a thrilling ride. Children's bikes and helmets are available to rent.
Diamond Waterfall
Located in the Diamond Botanical Gardens, the Diamond Waterfall is a popular attraction and a great walk for the whole family. This waterfall is created by the water from the bubbling sulphur springs of the Diamond Mineral Baths and changes colours a few times a day, from yellow to black, then green and finally grey.
Sulphur Springs
Known as the 'world's only drive-in volcano', Sulphur Springs - located near the gorgeous town of Soufriere - is a popular tourist attraction for visitors to St Lucia. Sulphur Springs is a dormant volcano (some scientists say that it is due to erupt within the next 100 years), and the on-going physical and chemical processes at the site are at once thrilling and deeply interesting to experience.
The first thing you'll notice as you approach Sulphur Springs is the overwhelming smell of sulphur in the air - in fact, the presence of sulphur is so strong in the area that you shouldn't wear any silver jewellery in case it gets discoloured. Once inside, from the safe confines of a boardwalk tourists can gawk at seething, bubbling mud pots and their 50-foot steam vents rising from the volcanic crater, and admire the strange orange, purple and green streaks left on the surrounding rock by mineral deposits.
The highlight of the visit is the chance to take a hot bath in the sulphur-enriched mud - which supposedly does wonders for your sinuses. A unique and exciting attraction, budget at least two hours to take it all in.
The Pitons
The Pitons - two volcanic plugs that stand like sentinels on the headland outside the St Lucian town of Soufriere - are not only UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but provide active visitors with a glorious opportunity to do some hiking in what are uniquely picturesque surrounds.
Gros Piton, with an elevation of about 2,500 feet (770m), is the more popular to climb, as it is not as steep at Petit Piton, and boasts a richer variety of plant and animal life as well as superior views from its summit. The trail that leads up Gros Piton begins at an elevation of about 600 feet (180m), and ascends quite sharply through dense tropical vegetation, broken here and there by cool caves and rocky outcrops that provide outstanding views of Petit Piton rising from the expanse of the Caribbean Sea below.
The climb takes about four or five hours in all, and can be undertaken by fit visitors with little or no mountaineering experience. Local guides, trained in emergency medical procedures, are available for hire and will enrich your hike by pointing out interesting flora and fauna along the way.
Travel guide by wordtravels.com © Globe Media Ltd.