Must Do in St Lucia

Our blog article on St Lucia Attractions offers an unbiased overview of many of the things to see and do in St Lucia (over 80 activities to be exact). The following article is our personal recommendations on the "must do in st lucia" list.

St Lucia really offers something for everyone, and at the same time, it’s not overly touristy. Balenbouche is an ideal starting point to explore the best St Lucia has to offer. We are located in the South of the island, only 20 minutes from the International airport, and 30 minutes from the town of Soufriere. Although known mostly for its nature and heritage, the island also offers great beaches, restaurants, resorts, water sports, events, shopping and nightlife.

St Lucia Top 5 Must Do

  1. Hike at least one st lucia rainforest trail and visit a waterfall and/or hot spring (can be combined)
  2. See the Pitons up close (either walk the Tet Paul Nature trail or climb one of the Pitons)
  3. Visit a historic plantation and learn a little about St Lucia’s history and culture (Balenbouche Estate, Morne Coubaril, or Fond Doux Estate)
  4. Go on a boat ride (the island is stunning to look at from the water)
  5. Go snorkeling or diving (St Lucia is still a pretty good place to see fish and some healthy coral)

Continue reading for more things to do in st lucia…

The South

The two most beautiful beaches in the South are Laborie beach and Sandy beach in Vieux Fort.

Laborie is one of our most loved communities. There, you can enjoy a swim in the calm, palm fringed bay, stroll through the friendly village, and experience true local life. Above the village, the Morne Le Blanc Viewing point overlooks the south.

Further south, the second largest town of Vieux Fort offers grocery shopping, banking and a Saturday Morning Farmer’s market. Anse de Sable beach, a short walk or drive from town, is a long white sand beach with beach cafe’s, wind surfing and kite surfing. Above Vieux Fort, the Moule a chique lookout opposite the lighthouse offers another spectacular view of the island and the St Lucia Pitons.

Just to the north of Balenbouche Estate is the small village of Choiseul with its impressive church, fish market and traditional arts and crafts. If you drive through Choiseul and follow the scenic coastal road via la Pointe Carib, an old Amerindian settlement, you will get to Anse L’Ivroigne, a beautiful secluded beach at the base of the Gros Piton. This road passes by the Gros Piton Trail at Fond Gens Libre (Valley of the Free People) small farming communities and and cocoa plantations before reconnecting with the main road shortly before the tet Paul Trail (about 8 min from Soufriere)

Other than the Google St Lucia Map (which for driving directions isn’t always very accurate) there are several free tourist maps available on island and online. By far the best physical St. Lucia map published overseas is by a small company in Hungary called Gizi maps. It can be ordered online for $14.95 (it’s not available on island). This is a worthwhile investment, especially if you plan on renting a car (there are few road signs). Skyviews maps has a good interactive map of St. Lucia. You can get the printed version for free on the island. The best downloadable online map we found is from mapsland.com These tourist maps can also be found at many locations on the island. Finally, if you’re looking for an official detailed topographical map, you can obtain this from the St. Lucia Maps and Surveys Department for a small fee.

West Coast

Soufriere offers some of the most popular st lucia tourist sites. Our favorites are the Tet Paul Trail, a mud bath at the Sulphur Springs (you can skip the tour), the 30 minute hike to Sapphire Falls, the New Jerusalem Hot Springs, Coubaril Estate Plantation (a beautiful site and also a great place to zip line), Sugar Beach and Anse Chastanet/Anse Mamin.

For a special treat, dine at Hotel Chocolat. Fond Doux Estate and Hotel Chocolat also offer tours, and Ladera is a stunning location for a sunset drink. The town of Soufriere offers a number of small restaurants, bars and shops. We suggest taking a water taxi to Anse Chastanet or Sugar Beach, the best places for snorkeling and diving.

The Diamond Falls Botanical garden should not be missed, but go early or late to avoid the crowds. For a real rainforest adventure, the Edmond Forest and En bas Saut Waterfall are our favorites (4 wheel drive required).Further up the West Coast road, La Plas Kassav offers amazing baked cassava bread in many flavors (cocoa, ginger, banana, coconut, cinnamon etc.). This is a must stop if you are driving past!

Next on our to do list is a free rum tasting at the rum distillery (the tour has to be booked in advance and is pretty good too). Marigot Bay is worth a brief stop for the view, but it’s not worth driving down to the marina (too touristy and dirty, which can also be said for the capital Castries).

North

A visit to the capital Castries, as well as Rodney Bay and Gros Islet further north, is not obligatory but it does complete the full St Lucia experience. Our suggested places to visit are the Castries Market, Pigeon Island, Gros Islet village, the Rodney Bay Marina, and Cas en bas beach. If you are staying in the north or spending more than a day there, you might also want to check out Lucian Country Life, Fond Latisab, and the Desbarras Turtle Watch.

If you enjoy a nice hike and are up for an adventure, take a drive through Monchy village until you reach the northeast coast. A 4×4 is a must as the road turns to rock and dirt eventually. There is a hiking trail going north along the coast toward Conrad’s and Cas en Bas beaches, and another, shorter trail going south toward Esperance Harbour. Somewhat tricky to find without a guide, please contact us to arrange to go with someone who knows the area and flora and fauna intimately. You can also book a horseback ride along the northeast coast with Sandy Hooves, Trim’s Riding Stables, or the International Pony Club.

East Coast

Along the East coast, we suggest stopping at Mamiku Gardens near Praslin, which offers an abundance of tropical plants and splendid views. Latille waterfall is another great spot set within a charming organic garden just after the town of Micoud. The family owned st lucia tourist site is powered by hydro from the waterfall and has fish that clean your feet. A little further South, you can book a guide to take you on the Descartiers Rainforest Trail, a good place for spotting the St Lucia parrot. If you like hosebackriding, Atlantic shores just north of Vieux Fort offers a spectacular beach ride. Another great experience is to rent kayaks to paddle across to Praslin island, a protected area with beautiful sandy beach and shallow waters. Finally, the Fond D’Or Nature Park just north of Dennery offers a history and nature tour of the remains of a sugar factory, and nearby farming and cultural practices. You can also walk the expansive Fond D’Or beach. Careful, swimming on many of the beaches on the Atlantic Coast is not advised due to strong rip currents.