Luxury St Lucia Holidays

Beautiful and seductive, St Lucia, forms part of the Windward Islands in the Lesser Antilles. Measuring just 27 miles by 14, you can reach it by an 8-hour direct flight from the UK. Mountainous, and of volcanic origin, St Lucia features everything you could possibly wish for in a holiday paradise.

A Caribbean paradise

Surrounded by colourful coral reefs, an emerald rainforest blankets the interior. The most striking feature, green-cloaked peaks of the magical Pitons, rise from the Caribbean shores. There are banana, cocoa and mango plantations and two luxury marinas to please the yachting community. Elegantly luxurious hotels provide first class service; some are uniquely constructed with an ‘open’ fourth wall giving you a fantastic sense of feeling part of your surroundings. There’s tasty Creole food, Jump Up street parties and vibrant music, an abundance of watersports and attractions and the warmest of welcomes by the friendly St Lucians. An award-winning island for romance, it’s oft awarded the world’s leading destination for honeymooners. And two Nobel Prize winners, economist Sir Arthur Lewis and poet and playwright, Derek Walcott, are notable St Lucians.

A Little history

Named Iouanalao and Hewanorra (Island of the iguanas) by native Arawak and Caribs, St Lucia has a long colonial history. Fiercely fought over by France and Britain for over 150 years, it changed hands an astonishing 14 times between 1660 and 1814 when it finally ceded to the British under the Treaty of Paris. Now part of the Commonwealth, St Lucia remained a British colony until it gained internal autonomy in 1967 followed by full independence in 1979.

Heritage

A fusion of African, East Indian and Amerindian ancestry combines with a strong French influence with most villages and towns bearing French names. English is the official language, although French Creole dialect, Kweyol, is widely spoken. British legacies include driving on the left, rum production, afternoon tea, and cricket, the national sport. Although there’s always a convivial relaxed atmosphere, formality, albeit ‘casual formality’ is the norm at dinner in restaurants and hotels.

Island cuisine

St Lucian food is an exciting mix of French, British, African, Indian and Amerindian influences. Local produce includes cocoa, island-grown tropical fruit and vegetables, and freshly caught seafood including lambi (conch), lobster and crab, and chicken, lamb, pork and beef are also popular. Saltfish is the national dish; usually accompanied by unripened bananas known locally as green figs. Pepper pots is a traditional stew using whatever ingredients are handy, and accra, fried fish cakes made with salted cod and mixed spice, is served in most restaurants. Breadfruit, akin to potato but sweeter, are delicious boiled or stuffed and are often accompanied by a spicy sauce. Callaloo is a leafy green soup; sometimes seafood and fish is added for extra flavour. Banana cake is the dessert of choice, cocoa tea a popular breakfast drink, and Piton, the locally brewed beer.

Quick Facts

Time Difference: 4 hrs behind GMT & 5 hrs behind BST

Flight Duration: 8 hrs

Currency: EC$2.7=US$1. Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$). US dollars and major credit cards widely accepted.

Language: English & French Creole.

Dress Code: Casual yet elegant dress in hotels and restaurants with men expected to wear closed shoes, full-length trousers and collared shirts in the evenings.

Climate: Tropical, hot summers tempered by trade winds with May-Nov average max temperatures 84F/29C. Warm and pleasant winters are popular with 8-9 hours of sunshine a day and Dec-Apr average max temperatures 81F/27C. The hurricane season spans from June to November, although as St Lucia is rarely affected.

VISA: Not required by those holding British passports.

Getting around

Car hire is easy and driving is on the left, taxis are plentiful and fares fixed although it’s advisable to confirm prices prior to setting off. Taxis can be booked for island tours. A network of minibuses provides a public transport system for getting around inexpensively. Water taxis and ferries operate on the west side and between the north and south of the island.

The south & west

South of the capital Castries, lies Marigot Bay, a stunning, naturally sheltered bay, home to a state of the art marina of luxury yachts, excellent restaurants in Marina Village, plus a small stretch of beach reached by a passenger ferry. Further south, the coastal fishing village of Soufriere displays its European heritage in its traditional French architecture and enjoys fabulous views towards the iconic UNESCO listed Pitons; the Diamond Botanical Gardens are close-by. Beaches include Anse Chastanet and Anse Cochon, both with offshore reefs perfect for snorkelling and, set between the two Pitons and claiming to be the Caribbean’s most beautiful beach, Anse des Pitons boasts, albeit imported, gleaming white sands. The Tet Paul nature trail is worth a visit whilst, further inland, there’s Edmund Forest Reserve. The island’s second-largest town, Vieux Fort, lies at the southernmost point where the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean meet; great for wind and kite surfers.

The north

In the northwest corner of the island, Rodney Bay is set in a beautiful horseshoe- haped bay with a man-made lagoon, a yacht-filled marina with stylish bars and chic waterfront restaurants, and the pristine mile long Reduit Beach running the length of the bay. From here there’s easy access to historic Pigeon Island Nature Reserve and the fishing village of Gros Islet; renowned for its lively Friday night Jump Up street party of delicious food and lively dancing. On the very northern tip, Smuggler’s Cove, a secluded little beach reached by a long flight of steps, is delightfully relaxing and excellent for swimming and snorkelling.

The east

The beautifully rugged east coast is home to banana plantations and unspoilt villages in the Cul de Sac valley; itself fringed with rainforest vegetation. There’s the fishing village of Dennery, the tropical gardens of Mamiku, and the National Trust Fregate Island nature reserve just off the coast near Praslin village. Swimming is generally not recommended off the east coast, apart from Cas en Bas beach where, shielded by an offshore reef, it’s normally safe to swim. Grand Anse beach is the island’s primary nesting spot for the endangered leatherback turtles and, during nesting season, there are well-organised overnight camps on the beach.

With great food, vibrant nightlife and water sports aplenty, enchanting St Lucia boasts breathtakingly beautiful bays, spectacular mountains and lush tropical rainforest. Visit our blog for a comprehensive guide on things to do in St Lucia

Pitons & trails

Iconic Petit and Gros Piton rise majestically in the southwest. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, hike 798m up Gros Piton (a 4-hour round trip) for fabulous views. There are nature trails ranging from the relatively easy Union Trail to Des Cartiers Rainforest Trail for the moderately fit. North of Anse Chastane, in an old sugar plantation, there’s eight miles of mountain biking trails for novices and those more experienced.

Aerial treks

Soar above rainforests in a gondola near Babonneau, or whizz by wire through the treetop canopy. For additional zipline excitement, there’s Morne Coubaril Estate and Treetop Adventure Park near Dennery.

Watersports & sailing

Water sports abound and many hotels offer complimentary non-motorised activities. There’s world class sailing and yachting and upmarket marinas at Rodney Bay and Marigot Bay plus sightseeing cruises, catamaran sailing, deep-sea fishing, and whale and dolphin watching expeditions.

Diving & Snorkelling

The warm waters and offshore reefs teem with colourful marine life and it’s easy to find PADI centres. Dive highlights include the base of Petit Piton and an intentionally-sunk cargo vessel for wreck-diving off the south coast. The offshore marine park at Anse Chastanet beach is great for beginners and snorkelers.

Birds 7 gardens

St Lucia claims 170 bird species including the once-endangered St Lucia parrot. Wetlands, rainforest trails and a sanctuary in the heart of the island are great for birding. Garden enthusiasts love Diamond Falls Gardens in Soufriere and adore the scented paths and woodland trails of beautifully-landscaped Mamiku Gardens.

Pigeon Island

Reached by sandy causeway, Pigeon Island dates to the 1550’s when wooden-legged French buccaneer, Jambe de Bois, raided treasure-laden galleons. Fortified in the 18th century by British Admiral, George Rodney, today it’s a protected national park with two beautiful beaches and stunning views from the ruined fort.

Drive in a volcano

At the world’s only drive-in volcano, soak in the steaming pools and bubbling mud of Sulphur Springs Park.

Chocolate & shopping

Rabot Estate near Soufriere is owned by Hotel Chocolat; their ‘bean to bar’ tour is a must. In Castries, there’s a vibrant Saturday morning market and two great duty-free shopping areas.

Celebrations & events

There are lively carnivals, flower festivals, an international jazz and arts festival, chocolate celebrations and, each December, the world class ARC yacht race from Gran Canaria to St Lucia.

Beaches

There’s a myriad of gold, silver and volcanic black beaches. In the northwest, Rodney Bay boasts the popular mile-long Reduit Beach and on the north coast, Smuggler’s Cove is an enchanting little hidden beach. In the west, Anse Chastanet and Anse Cochon, feature volcanic sands backed by lush greenery; with a reef just offshore, they’re great for snorkelers. Set between two Pitons, Anse des Pitons, is jaw-droppingly beautiful. In the southeast, Anse de Sable is great for kite and windsurfers, whilst east coast, Grande Anse, is the nesting spot for leatherback turtles. In stunning Marigot Bay, reach tiny Labas Beach by the two-minute ferry crossing.

Dining

First-class restaurants include The Cliff at Cap Maison for contemporary French-West Indian cuisine by Welsh-born Executive Chef, Craig Jones. The Coal Pot serves seafood platters amidst contemporary art whilst The Pink Plantation House offers French Creole cuisine. Rainforest Hideaway enjoys a romantic setting in Marigot Bay, Dasheene lays claim to the finest views, and Martha’s Tables is perfect for real Creole tastes. The bustling food markets of Castries are great for traditional authenticity.

Nightlife

Rodney Bay is great for restaurants and lively bars. Friday evening Fish Fry in Anse La Raye combines tasty lobster and crab cakes with lively music. Gros Islet hops on Fridays with a Jump Up street party of barbecues, spicy rums and dancing and Saturday nights in Dennery Village showcase seafood fiestas with reggae, soca and zouk. St Lucians love country music and line dancing is de rigueur at Nashville Palace, Castries.