From up in a plane, the teardrop-shaped island of St Lucia looks like a precious piece of jewellery dropped into the eastern Caribbean Sea. The mountains are emerald green, the beaches golden and the clear waters sparkle diamond-bright in the hot noon sun.
Image Credit: Tom Williamson
Yet despite its obvious attractions, St Lucia is somewhat remote. Consequently, visitors are far fewer in number than those of the other Caribbean islands - which, in a way, is all the more reason to go. From climbing the vertiginous volcanic Pitons to lazing on the powdery sands of Anse Chastanet beach, here’s a rundown of the island’s highlights:
Climb the Pitons
Image Credit: Serge Melki
The twin Pitons are volcanic plugs created by magma cooling on top of a volcano. Though Gros Piton (2617 ft) is taller than Petit Piton (2460 ft), it’s in fact an easier climb. Through Real St. Lucia Tours, you can book a six-hour guided hike of the mountain. It’s a fairly demanding trek that involves narrow switchbacks and steps carved from volcanic stone, so, to avoid disappointment, you do need to be confident you are reasonably fit. You’ll be rewarded with bewitching views from the top, and then you can descend for refreshment with a nice cold Piton beer, the island’s local brew.
Spot the St Lucia parrot
St Lucia’s national bird, the St Lucia parrot, is as colourful as the forest it inhabits. With a vivid blue head, green wings and yellow tail, the endangered bird is only found here on the island. Walk the jungle-shrouded Des Cartiers Rainforest Trail, in the southern interior of the island, to spot one of the 500 or so remaining parrots. The birds love mangoes, so any time you see a mango tree you’ve got a chance of spotting those bright feathers flitting past. The trail is located 1.5 hours from the capital, Castries; pick up a map of the 2.5-mile trail from any local tourism center. Don’t forget your binoculars.
Kitesurf Anse des Sables
When the wind is up, the waters off Anse des Sables (Sandy Beach) are dotted with colourful sails as kitesurfers skim the waves. The steady winds, smooth waters and lack of dangerous obstacles make this a world-class destination for kitesurfers from across the globe. Join them with a lesson from The Reef, which offers private classes as well as kiteboard rentals.
Make the pilgrimage to Pigeon Island
Almost 500 years ago, the island’s first French settler, Jambe de Bois (Wooden Leg), used Pigeon Island as a pirate base. Nowadays, a manmade causeway links the island to the rest of St Lucia. You can trek to the 40-acre island, now a national park, to visit the vine-choked ruins of an ancient French fort and lounge on the sugar-white beach. A lookout at the top of the fort gives a superb panoramic view of the surrounding coastline.
Zipline the rainforest
Fly through the dense green canopy of the St Lucia rainforest with a zipline tour by Rain Forest Adventure. You’ll glide from platform to platform (18 in total), taking in the leaves, flowers and animals of the forest as you breeze by. For even bigger thrills, there’s a nighttime tour, where you’ll traverse the jungle under inky skies by the light of the moon. If however, you’re not so Tarzan-esque, there’s a slightly tamer (but still exciting) aerial tram tour.
Snorkel Anse Chastanet
Hidden away on the southern part of the island, these volcanic cliffs tumble down to the dramatic silver sandy beach. Apart from the jaw-dropping location, Anse Chastanet is one of St Lucia’s best snorkeling spots. You can rent gear from the beach’s resort and paddle just offshore to find a reef brimming with crayon-colored tropical fish flitting here and there. There’s also a dive shop on site if you want to get really close up to the sea life.
Dance the night away at the St. Lucia Jazz Festival
The St. Lucia Jazz Festival (stluciajazz.org) in April/May is a very important entry on the island’s calendar, attracting some the world’s best performers each spring. Past performers include Herbie Hancock, Harry Belafonte, Amy Winehouse, Diana Ross, Branford Marsalis and many more marquee names. There are venues throughout the island and the sounds of jazz, R&B, blues and calypso fill the air from morning til night. Unsurprisingly, hotels book up fast around the festival, so if you plan to get jazzy, plan ahead.
St Lucia Carnival
Hot on the heels of the Jazz Festival, comes the joyous, blindingly colourful Carnival celebration. Unlike most Carnivals, St. Lucia’s takes place at the beginning of June so as not to conflict with similar celebrations on the other Caribbean islands. St. Lucia’s capital, Castries, shuts down for nearly a week as the streets erupt with singing, dancing and Calypso-drumming and rum-happy locals and tourists parade in skimpy costumes.
Eat haute cuisine, Caribbean-style, in Castries
At home, most islanders tuck into fish stews, chicken pie, macaroni and other hearty local favourites. However, if you’re looking for something fancier, the dining scene in Castries offers more elevated fare. From the veranda of the century-old Pink Plantation House, you can gaze down at the city while tucking into Creole cuisine with a twist – such as fresh fish with tomato salsa, pumpkin soup and guava cheesecake. A bit further afield in Marigot Bay, Rainforest Hideaway offers the island’s most innovative cuisine.
Title Image Credit: Jean-Marc Astesana (Image Cropped)