First Impressions of St Lucia
Before travelling to St Lucia I wasn’t sure what to expect beyond sun, sand and sea. Whilst it certainly has all the trapping of a Caribbean island, I didn’t anticipate it bursting to the brim with so much lush vegetation.
The moment I set my eyes on the Pitons – two iconic volcanic mountains that spiral into the sky, I realised I had wildly underestimated this place. The landscape is extremely diverse for a relatively small island, offering swaying palm trees, banana plantations, dense rainforest, and beautiful beaches.
Why should you visit?
While there are lots of beautiful beaches, the diversity in the landscape is what truly sets St Lucia apart. It’s not just sand, sea and sun. You also get lush forest and stunning mountain views.
This combination makes it arguably more unique than other Caribbean Islands and a favourite among those who like to incorporate hiking into their holiday.
I also firmly believe everyone needs to experience the energy of the Caribbean at least once in their lifetime. Dancing is a huge part of the culture and you’re guaranteed to go home with an extra skip in your step.
I have a hard time believing some people don’t leave their resort when they come to this island, but it happens. Don’t be part of the statistic, get out and see as much of it as you can.
It’s a small island, only 27 miles long and 14 miles wide. In just a few days, you can cover a lot of ground. Though due to its uneven terrain it takes longer than it would typically take to get from A to B.
When is the best time to visit?
December to April – This period is the dry season, offering sunny days, low humidity, and cooler nights, making it ideal for beach activities, sightseeing, and outdoor adventures.
What can you do in St Lucia?
You can be as adventurous or lazy as your heart’s content, whether you’re hiking the Pitons, zip lining through the rainforest, mud-bathing, snorkelling in the ocean or sipping cocktails under the sun.
Trying to get the hang of Zip Lining in the rainforest!
St Lucia is also ideal if you and your companion like doing different things. If you’re the outdoorsy type and your partner prefers to relax on the beach I’m sure you’ll both be able to leave each other for a few hours to do your own thing.
For something romantic, I recommend the boat trip to Lover’s Rock at sunset. It’s a geology extravangza and the film location of Pirates of the Caribbean!
For a full list of the best things to do in St Lucia, I’ve put together my highlights: 13 Fun Things to Do in St Lucia.
How to get around St Lucia - transportation
There are several ways to suit your preferences and budget.
- Hire a car
- Use the bus
- Take day trips from your hotel
- Hire a guide and taxi
Since I was by myself I decided to hire a guide a couple of times and also join a few excursions that ran from my hotel. I loved the intimacy of hiring a guide because he made suggestions, told me about local customs and answered any questions I had about St Lucia.
Had I been with a friend my preference would have been to hire a car because I love the freedom of pulling up to get a closer look at anything that catches my eye.
Hiring a car is also the best way to get off the beaten track and expand your scope for photo opportunities, especially with all the colourful houses that are synonymous with the Caribbean landscape. To compare prices and book online, I recommend taking a look at Rentalcars.com.
The public bus service seemed a bit confusing if you’re not local. Instead of designated bus stops, most people just flagged down buses like taxis. This makes things easier in some ways but less so in others i.e. not having a bus timetable on hand.
What money is used?
Everywhere accepts US Dollar or East Caribbean Dollar (EC) so I took a mixture of both. Doing this worked well because some of the smaller places in Castries market advertised their goods in the local currency, whilst others showed both prices and some only showed US Dollar. By taking both currencies it means you’ll be well prepared.
What language is spoken?
The official language is English, but I also heard locals speak a French based creole referred to as Patois. It developed when the island was colonised by the French. It’s very interesting to hear as it reflects the historical tapestry of St Lucia.
A surprising thing for me is that everyone understood me perfectly. This might not sound like a big deal but I have a broad Yorkshire accent that even English people have difficulty understanding when I travel beyond the region of Yorkshire. As a result, being in St Lucia felt, in some small way, like being at home!
What to eat and drink in St Lucia
Alcoholic beaverages
When you’re in Rome do what the Romans do and drink Rum! I’m not a big drinker but it would be a cardinal sin not to try the island’s most famous drink.
The most popular brand is Bounty followed by Chairman’s Reserve. If you really want to know more you can go on a tour of a distillery.
Beer drinkers should try Piton, the local St Lucian beer named after the island’s most iconic landmark and brewed in Vieux Fort.
Non alcoholic drinks
Non alcoholic beverages offer a range of refreshing fruit juice like mango, lime and grapefruit. Coconut is obviously a standard drink on the island but for something different and unique why not try cocoa tea? With it being neither sweet nor savoury, I can’t say I loved it but I didn’t hate it either! I will definitely try it again if I have the chance before I rule it out.
Snacks
One thing I did love was the Cassava bread, it’s nothing like ordinary bread and you can choose a variety of flavours. Never again will I underestimate something that looks so humble!
My guide and I were driving on a long road with loads of potholes when he pointed to a small wooden building selling it and suggested I give it a try (FYI – the place is called Plas Kassav). If you ever get the chance I recommend banana and coconut flavour. It’s so yummy! The lady said it was made of cassava, water, banana, sugar, coconut and a variety of spices like nutmeg and I’m sure I detected cinnamon.
Seafood
Surrounded by the sea it comes as no surprise when I say the seafood is incredibly fresh and delicious.
I tried Mahi-Mahi for the first time in St Lucia. It’s a white fish that is found in the region. It has a meat-like firmness with a mild and slightly sweet taste. I recommend it!
Lastly, every Friday the coastal village of Anse La Raye has a fête called the Friday-Night Fish Fry which is a fantastic way to come together with locals over dance and food of the fishy variety.
It’s a great time to try St. Lucia’s national dish – Green fig and saltfish. It features green bananas (referred to as “green figs”) and salt-cured codfish. The bananas are boiled, and the saltfish is sautéed with onions, peppers, tomatoes, and local herbs, creating a savory and flavourful meal.
Veggie
If you’re a vegetarian or vegan, make sure to order Callaloo Soup. This rich, creamy soup is made from the leaves of the callaloo plant, a type of green similar to spinach. It’s often cooked with coconut milk, garlic, onions to ensure it pops with flavour. Sometimes it is serves with crab or other meats so make sure you’re ordering the veggie version.
Where to stay in St Lucia
St. Lucia offers a variety of accommodation options to suit different preferences and budgets. Here are some popular areas to stay in St. Lucia:
Soufrière: This charming town is situated on the southwest coast and is known for its proximity to the famous Pitons, volcanic spires that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Soufrière offers upscale resorts, boutique hotels, and a more relaxed atmosphere.
Luxury → If you’re looking for luxury and the best view of the Pitons, than Jade Mountain Resort is your answer.
Affordable → For those after an authentic an memorable experience at a more affordable price point, I recommend staying at Green Fig Resort & Spa This place also has majestic sea views that encompasses the Pitons.
Rodney Bay: Located in the north of the island, Rodney Bay is a bustling tourist hub with a wide range of hotels, resorts, restaurants, and shops. It’s a great choice for travelers who want easy access to nightlife and water sports activities.
Marigot Bay: Nestled along a picturesque bay, Marigot Bay is known for its tranquil beauty and upscale resorts. It’s an ideal choice for a romantic getaway or a peaceful retreat.
Relaxing on my balcony
Mix it up by… If you’re in St Lucia for a week or more, it’s a great island to spilt your time between two places to get a good feel of the island. I’d recommend spending a few nights by the Pitons and the most scenic area of the island in nearby Soufrière, and then a few nights North close to the capital city, Castries.
Dinner at Morgan’s Pier
How to get to St Lucia
Hewanorra is the international airport located south of the island.
Rodney bay and Castries are located in the North so you will have to get a taxi unless you’re picking up a car hire from the airport.
Getting to Rodney Bay, the area that supports most of the hotels, restaurants and bars, will take approximately 1h 30m due to the winding roads. You shouldn’t expect to pay more than 100 US Dollars for a taxi to Rodney Bay.
If you’re travelling solo ask a driver if you can join a group to split the cost, I did this and paid 40 US Dollars. Many hotels are located nearby each other so definitely use this to your advantage when negotiating a taxi. All in all, I found taxi drivers to be very fair and hassle free in St Lucia.
What not to miss
- The Pitons – If you go to St Lucia without seeing the Pitons, you haven’t been to St Lucia.
- Sulphur Springs and Mud Baths
- Marigot Bay and Gros Isle
- Canaries
- Castries
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18 responses
This looks so amazing Shing, especially love that photo of you ziplining! 😀 Really want to go to the Caribbean now!
Zip lining was awesome Sarah, and such a good work out if my aching stomach and arm muscles the following day were anything to go by! You should definitely hit up the Caribbean, I know Lee wants to go too! 😀
I’m very tempted to go to St. Lucia Shing. It looks amazing. As do you lol!
Merry Xmas and Happy Holidays! 🙂
Haha thanks Victoria, and St Lucia really is amazing – I can see you there 😉
Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family!
You tooooo! 🙂
Really enjoyed reading your review of our simply beautiful Saint Lucia! Happy to know you had such a great time here!!
I loved my trip to St Lucia Jonelle, you live in a stunning place and I’m so happy to spread the word!!
The Caribbean never makes it high on my list, might be because it’s fairly accessible from this side of the pond. Glad to see you didn’t stick to the resorts.
Haha, I used to be the same about Europe, but now I feel so lucky I have it on my doorstep! You should definitely take advantage of your close proximity to the Caribbean. You’d be a fool not to 😉
Yep, I feel really strongly about exploring beyond what lies within the resorts, no matter how good they are!
I would so love to go to St Lucia!
I hope you do Amanda, it’s stunning!
I love your photos! It looks like there’s a lot to do there. I’d only heard of people going to the Caribbean to lie on the beach, which doesn’t interest me much– I prefer to be active. How long would you recommend someone traveling solo stay on the island? Or, is it easy and budget friendly to get to other islands from there, for a longer trip? Thanks!
Hi Jess, sounds like we had the same preconceptions of the Caribbean, and whilst I can’t speak on behalf of the other Islands, there’s plenty to do in St. Lucia for those not partial to sunbathing like me and you.
If you’re travelling solo I would probably recommend 5 nights on St Lucia and then another three nights on Dominica. I didn’t go to Dominica myself but I heard it’s very beautiful, very mountainous and less untouched, but it’s less populated so doesn’t have as many eateries etc as St Lucia. There are ferries that run between both islands but they are very infrequent, perhaps two or three a week, alternatively you could also fly…
i am finally catching up on some of your posts! yeeeee.
this is a great and comprehensive guide! i always took for granted that we had the caribbean so close when i lived in the US. granted, i visited quite often, but i took for granted how cool the cultures were and how tasty the food was!
Good job you took advantage of the Caribbean whilst you were there, and didn’t take too much for granted! My lord, yes it’s cool and the people are so cool. I was almost too embarrassed to dance because they are just in another league!!
Your photos are incredible! I love your travel guide, a real and true insight to St. Lucia.
Eight of us are planning to go to St lucia for a ladies trip. It’s so hard to decide between an all inclusive and a house rental. We like to mingle with others on vacay and the simplicity of variations of meals and alcohol plus nightly shows for our group make the all inclusive a +. But the house prices, the ability to have our own late parties, chef and private pool is also tempting . What do you recommend?
Incredible! Just came across your blog while looking up St Lucia (a family member is moving here so looking for my visit), great site!