Let Her Inspire You - St Lucia
It is said when comparing St Lucia to other Caribbean Islands that “only one island has it all.” The other islands may have something to say about that of course, but it is easy to see why St Lucia can make such a claim.
This small jewel of an island, only twenty-seven miles long and fourteen miles wide, and covered by lush green jungle, sits like an emerald in a turquoise sea. Lovely palm fringed black-volcanic and white-sugar beaches border its coast with the tropical rainforest as a backdrop rolling down to the sea. The coast is marked with fishing villages and coral reefs.
St Lucia has glorious sunsets! A World Heritage site, the iconic Piton Mountains lie to the south of the island near Soufrière and Choiseul. The range is dominated by two peaks, the Gros Piton and the Petit Piton. The mountains, covered in dense jungle, can be hiked by anyone of average ability with the aid of a guide.
Beaches
St Lucia has many beautiful beaches, and every beach on St Lucia is open to the public, including those belonging to the resorts. The western side of the island fronts the calm turquoise waters of the Caribbean making them ideal for swimming and water sports. The eastern side borders the wilder Atlantic making it great for surf and wave-watching.
Some of the beaches have beautiful black sand giving a glimpse of the island’s volcanic heritage. On other beaches, there may be a combination of white and black sand which often form strands and patterns depending on the waves.
Reduit Beach
With a few miles of golden sand, this is a great beach to walk and is one of the busiest beaches. Excellent views across the bay to Pigeon Island. Access is off Reduit Beach Avenue, in Rodney Bay Village.
Pigeon Island National Park
Two sheltered, picturesque little strips of golden sand provide a quiet and peaceful place to sunbathe and swim.
Walk up the hill, and you will have a great view the historic Fort Rodney ruins and views of Martinique in the distance.
Anse Cochon
This magical black sand beach is 200 metres long with the jungle providing the backdrop. One of the best spots to snorkel as the reef is close to the beach.
Anse Chastanet
With one hundred and fifty metres of volcanic sand, Anse Chastanet is one of the best beaches in the south-west of the island. This beach is another great snorkelling and scuba diving spot.
Jalousie Beach
This beach has a stunning location, set right between the Piton’s twin peaks. The white sand, clear water, and stunning setting make this a popular beach for sunbathers. Snorkelers and scuba divers come for underwater exploits as the coastal shelf drops away suddenly where the Piton meet the sea.
Grande Anse
Come here to watch the leatherback turtles emerge from the sea to lay their eggs on the beach against the backdrop of cliffs.
Marigot Bay
This picturesque bay with its white sandy beaches and boats and catamarans is surrounded by trees and is most accessible by boat.
Anse Louvert
No road access to this beach and no facilities means you need to get there on foot and bring your own supplies for the day. Good for privacy.
Where to Stay
Some of the best luxury all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean are on St Lucia. You can base yourself at Castries, the Capital, or Rodney Bay. And Smugglers Cove or Corinth, then there is Soufrière where you will find the eco-friendly resort Anse Chastanet made from local stone and set in a hillside, and its sister resort, Jade Mountain, perched high on Morne Chastanet, with outstanding views of the Piton Peaks. Check with your travel agent for your best location.
Activities
You can admire St Lucia from the air, but some of the most rewarding experiences are when you get close up to your environment. Away from the beach you can mountain bike through the rainforest trails to waterfalls, go zip-lining, or hike up Gros Piton. You can visit a banana, sugar or cocoa plantation, or sail in a pirate ship. Or, you can drive into the crater of a volcano and walk between the bubbling sulfur springs and hissing pools of steam. While on the ocean, you can visit nearby islands, or watch whales and dolphins.
Culture
This most-welcoming of Caribbean Islands has a real diversity of culture coming from a vibrant blend of Carib, African, English and French influence. There is a distinctive French Creole patois spoken by the locals, and the culinary delights come from a delicious mix of West Indian, Creole, and French food, and of course, international cuisine is widely available.
Conclusion
We haven’t even mentioned that St Lucia has been awarded the “World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination” a notable eight times. And like most of the Caribbean, this island loves to party. Every weekend the partying spirit moves onto the streets of the fishing villages and bars of Rodney Bay.
St Lucia is perfect for families or couples whether for romance, adventure or safe swimming at excellent friendly hotels and resorts. Seems like “only one island has it all.” Welcome to St Lucia.
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