The lush, jungle-covered tropical island of St Lucia is one of the most beautiful in the Caribbean, making it a natural hit with romantics and honeymooners. It is famous for its natural attractions, ranging from the soaring twin Pitons in the volcanic south to the sweeping arc of white sand of St Lucia’s main Reduit Beach in the north. This leads to local beauty spot Pigeon Island, which isn’t actually an island at all, but is joined to the mainland by a causeway.
St Lucia also lays claim to the world’s only drive-in volcano, as well as pungent sulphur springs, and the Diamond Falls where the mineral-rich waters are renowned for their therapeutic qualities and bathers can lounge in pools of varying temperatures.
While Soufriere in the south is home to these natural wonders and more rugged terrain, the north is flatter and less volcanic. Here you will find Rodney Bay with its collection of lively shops and restaurants, and the bustling capital Castries.
St Lucia stands out among the English-speaking Caribbean islands for its strong Creole culture – partly due to the fact that it changed hands between the British and the French a staggering 14 times. The Gallic influence has left its mark in place names, cuisine, style and the French patois of the islanders, which can prove difficult to understand.
Arriving
St Lucia’s cruise port is in Castries, at the north of the island. There are two duty-free shopping areas at either end of the port: Pointe Seraphine, which is closer to Castries, and La Place Carenage, a mall filled with shops and restaurants. One of the focal points of this mall is an animation centre which recounts the island’s history with a video and music.
Walking between the two shopping areas takes about 15 minutes, or visitors can jump into one of the water taxis that run between them and costs around $1 (50p).
The highlights listed below are offered by all the major cruise liners that stop here. Cruise passengers who want to arrange their own tours instead of taking one of the cruise liners’ tours can start at the St Lucia Tourist Board website www.stlucia.org/activity which has a list of local companies offering excursions.
What to see/excursions
1. Pigeon Island and Rodney Bay
This beauty spot isn’t actually an island, but is joined to the mainland by a manmade causeway, and boasts more history than any other part of St Lucia. Originally the home of indigenous Amerindians, it has also been a pirate hideout and military base and is dotted with walking trails and historical remains.
These include an 18th century fort built by the British, and Fort Rodney which Admiral Rodney used as a lookout to spy on French ships during the numerous tussles over the island. There are a couple of pretty beaches and a Pigeon Island Museum and Interpretation Centre, housed in a restored British officers’ mess building, which illustrates the island’s history.
Nearby, Rodney Bay is St Lucia’s main resort; a buzzing hub of shops, restaurants, beach bars and hotels that sit by the island’s main Reduit Beach – a curving stretch of golden sand – and overlook Pigeon Island. Named after the British admiral George Rodney who defeated the French fleet in 1780, this lively resort is a 15-minute drive from Castries and consists of Rodney Bay Village,
a pedestrianised area where the bars and restaurants are located, and Rodney Bay Marina, a prime yachting centre. Sunny Isle Vacations (001 758 450 4435, www.sunnyislevacations.com) offers a two-hour Explore Pigeon Island tour from £25
2. Soufriere area
This is St Lucia’s oldest and most historic town, named by the French after the whiff of sulphur that wafts down from the nearby volcano. Situated in the southern half of the island and in a beautiful setting, it is about an hour’s drive from Castries, which takes visitors along a winding road through steep, jungle-covered terrain.
The town itself still contains some original Creole wooden buildings, but it is most famous for its stunning natural surroundings. These include the famous twin Pitons, the world’s only drive-in volcano and its sulphur springs, plus the Diamond Falls waterfall containing mineral-rich waters.CLCIK HERE SEE NATURAL WORLD,IN THIS WORLD WE LIKE NATRUAL BEAUTY
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