Things to do in  St Lucia

Billed as “the Caribbean’s only drive-in volcano,” Sulphur Springs Park is one of the most active geothermal sites in the Lesser Antilles islands. Surrounded by rainforest, the dormant volcano offers an otherworldly landscape to explore, and mineral-rich mud baths to soak in.

One of St. Lucia’s most popular natural attractions, Toraille Waterfall drops about 50 feet (15 meters) from a cliff before falling into a pool that’s perfect for a refreshing swim. The falls, near the town of Soufriere, sit at the end of a nature trail and amid a tranquil tropical garden.

Perched along St Lucia’s southwest coast and protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the dramatic twin peaks of Gros Piton and Petit Piton are among the Caribbean island’s most memorable landmarks. Towering 2,619 feet (798 meters) above sea level, the Gros Piton, the larger of the two, is also a popular challenge for avid hikers.

Deep in a sheltered gorge at the foot of the Pitons, the Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens is part of the Soufriere Estate, one of the oldest and best-preserved estates on St. Lucia. The gardens sit at the edge of Sulphur Springs Park, and the rich volcanic soil nourishes an incredible collection of tropical plants and flowers.

American novelist James A. Michener called Marigot Bay “the most beautiful bay in the Caribbean” for its dream-like appeal. The bay is a postcard-worthy stretch that offers small white sand beaches, swaying palms, turquoise waters, and verdant green hillsides—exactly the kind of tropical paradise that the writer described.

The 44-acre (18-hectare) Pigeon Island is a nature reserve on St. Lucia's northern tip, where travelers can trace the island's colonial past, and sunbathe and swim on its beaches. Not only one of the most beautiful spots in St. Lucia, the park is also one of the most historic sites in the Caribbean, holding both national landmark and national park status.

One of the first sugar and banana plantations in St. Lucia, the 18th-century Marquis Estate—along the northeast coast near Soufriere—offers a view into St. Lucia’s history and its stunning natural beauty. Visitors can explore the estate, from the ruins of historic buildings to the coast, on an all-terrain vehicle.

“Luck” is the French name of this hill and military heritage site south of Castries in northwest Saint Lucia. Visitors will find the historic ruins of a former French military outpost overlooking the bay and the harbor below it. They will also find French and British burial sites and memorials for soldiers who met their unlucky ends in battles during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

The dormant La Soufrière volcano (also known as the Qualibou caldera), is described as “the world’s only drive-in volcano.” It’s home to Sulphur Springs Park, the most active geothermal area in the Lesser Antilles, where tourists and locals alike who come to bathe in natural hot springs and enjoy the health benefits of the mineral-rich volcanic mud.

Located on a sheltered cove with a view of the island’s emblematic Pitons peaks, Anse Chastanet is one of the most beautiful beaches on St. Lucia. A reef just offshore teems with life, making it a great place to scuba dive or capture underwater photographs of mixed coral and large schools of tropical fish.

The 18th-century Morne Coubaril Estate in St. Lucia features the (now restored original plantation house plus a replica of the worker’s village that depicts the plantation’s history of cotton, sugarcane, cocoa, and coffee production. Crops like coconuts and manioc (cassava are still grown here via traditional methods and are used to make products.

The rugged hinterland of St. Lucia offers stretches of tropical rainforest, teeming with lush vegetation and local species such as the rare Jacquot parrot. Trails through Edmund Forest Reserve take you through the thick jungle of the southwestern interior, with wonderful views of mountains, valley, and the sea—all under the shadow of Mount Gimie, the island’s tallest peak.

Reduit Beach is an inviting stretch of sugar-soft sand along Rodney Bay, and it’s one of the largest and most popular beaches in St. Lucia. Visitors can sunbathe, swim, take part in watersports, and enjoy the convenience and amenities of the nearby town. Plus, catch views of the verdant peaks of Pigeon Island National Park from across the bay.

Billed as the first open-water sports park in the Eastern Caribbean, St. Lucia’s Splash Island Water Park is a popular recreation spot for families and kids. Located right off Reduite Beach and affiliated with Bay Gardens Beach Resort, the water park offers an inflatable obstacle course, climbing wall, water volleyball area, and several other aquatic games and activities.

On the northern tip of St. Lucia’s windward shore, Cas en Bas Beach is one of the best kite-surfing spots on the island, with regular trade winds blowing onshore and a protected cove where the water stays calm and glassy. It’s also the spot for horseback riding trips.