Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is a beautiful green mountainous island in the Windward chain of the Caribbean famous for it’s ‘twin peaks’.  St Lucia is a popular honeymoon destination with a great range of adults only luxury getaways and family resorts, surrounded by stunning scenery. It is also possible to hold weddings here. Saint Lucia is 90 miles northwest of Barbados and 21 miles south of Martinique. Average temperatures are around late 20sC and the heaviest rain is June – November.

The capital is Castries and there are direct flights from London with BA or Virgin. The town is a bustling commercial centre with a vibrant local market and a grand natural harbour. Enjoy a Heritage Walk through this colonial city.

The ‘twin peaks’ of the Piton Mountains dominate the south and look over a rugged coastline with small bays and inlets.  The mountain bases are deep underwater, making this a great destination for snorkelling and diving. There are over 20 species of whale which regularly visit the waters here including Humpbacks, Pilot and Sperm Whales.  Turtle watching is an attraction between March and July when Leatherbacks come ashore to lay their eggs.

Near the Pitons, visit the pretty town of Soufriere and see Diamond Waterfalls and the botanical gardens, here there is the world’s only ‘drive in’ Volcano.  For a day out take a picnic to Pigeon Island, joined by a causeway to the main island at the northern tip, this was once home to the Amerinidians and has also been a military base and pirate hideout.  Another excursion is the Fond Doux Estate, a working fruit plantation where you can see how these plants are grown and same traditional Creole lunch with a local rum punch and fruit juices.

This is a great place for wildlife and adventure as well as romance, jeep safaris, zip-wires, horse riding and plenty of water sports.  There are walking trails though rainforests to the mountain tops and through old plantatinos and along beaches. Birding is great here too. Windsurfing is popular at Cas en Bas on the north east and Vieux Fort on the south east.

Food and culture feature highly on St Lucia. One of the world’s leading jazz festivals takes place where and there is everything on offer in the way of nightlife from street parties and reggae music to romantic beach side cafes.  The nightlife ‘hub’ is at Rodney Bay Village with a variety of bars and clubs. There are some world class restaurants on Saint Lucia – take the ferry to the secluded lagoon of Marigot Bay for a rainforest hideaway that offers Caribbean fine dining at its best. The local brew is called ‘Piton Beer’.

There are luxury and ’boutique’ properties with spas for a bit of pampering, also all inclusive resorts for families and groups. Check out the new Hotel Chocolat luxury hotel. If you are planning to get married overseas, Saint Lucia has plenty of options and with it’s tropical climate, gorgeous beaches and stunning landscape makes it a great choice.

Whether you want a family Caribbean holiday, a natural history break or a wedding or honeymoon on Saint Lucia, contact me to arrange the perfect tailor made Caribbean Holiday!