Long considered one of the Caribbeanโs most romantic islands and a top honeymoon destination, Saint Lucia also boasts some of the most jaw-dropping scenery in the West Indies.
The iconic twin peaks of the towering Pitons, idyllic white sand beaches and lush banana plantations are just some of the highlights scattered around the mountainous island, making this country the kind of place that was made for fun, unique adventures and photography.
From swimming under waterfalls to bathing in a volcanic mud bath (yes, really!), here are 10 of the best things to do in St Lucia.
Explore the capital, Castries
The colourful capital is a hub of activity, particularly during the lively Saturday street market or when there are cruise ships in town.
Day trippers typically make beelines for the beach or a fun excursion, but itโs definitely worth spending some time wandering through Castriesโ narrow streets to get a taste of what everyday life is like in Saint Lucia.
There are plenty of great hillside perches to photograph the former naval port from, including at the Morne Fortune lookout across from Governor Generalโs mansion.
Play in Rodney Bay
Castries may be the capital, but Rodney Bay is where most of the fun happens. Many Saint Lucians live in or congregate in this northern part of the island, inspiring some to joke โif Saint Lucia was a floating barge, weโd sink!โ
The town is the countryโs entertainment hub, home to a casino, bars and nightclub. The charming streets are lined with pastel-hued shops, leading towards a bustling harbour where the well-heeled crowd docks their boats.
Nearby, both Reduit Beach and Pigeon Island are popular beach spots with locals and tourists alike, framed by the hills of Pigeon Island National Park. This is also where you’ll find the only St Lucia overwater bungalows, at the Sandals Grande St Lucian.
Walk back in time at Pigeon Island National Park
Formerly serving as a military staging point during battles between the English and French for control of the island, this picturesque landmark is now like a living museum.
Found in Gros Islet on the northern tip of the island, the crumbling barracks are surrounded by 44 acres of protected reserve, framed by two beaches and the sparkling sea.
Those who donโt mind working for the perfect shot will want to hike up to the lookout point at the top of the fort, which affords unobstructed views of the coastline and one of the best beaches in St Lucia.
Soak in Sulphur Springs, Saint Lucia’s drive-in volcano
One of the most fun things to do in St Lucia is heading to Sulphur Springs, home to the world’s only drive-in volcano.
The Soufriere volcano is on the west coast near the the Pitons, the historic town of Soufriere and some of the countryโs most exclusive resorts.
Instead of the typical pointy cone shape, this volcano is cratered in and a road leads right into it making this the worldโs only drive-in volcano.
The St Lucia Sulphur Springs found inside are renowned for their therapeutic properties, with the mineral waters said to have health benefits like helping to reduce inflammation, detoxify, and soothe sore muscles.
Visitors take a quick dip, then coat themselves (and each other!) in mud before letting it back for about 10 minutes. Head back into the pools to rinse off, and feel how baby soft your skin feels.
For even more fun, some people continue down the road to the Toraille Waterfall and stand right underneath for an exfoliating shower. Click here to book
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Admire the view from Mandele Lookout Point
Located along the main road near the airport, the Mandele Lookout Point is typically where St Lucia sightseeing starts since it’s the first place most visitors catch a glimpse of the islandโs vantage points.
Situated on a bluff along the east coast, this spot overlooks Dennery, a colourful fishing village framed by the shores of the turquoise Caribbean Sea.
Feel like a celebrity at Jade Mountain
A long windy, dusty road leads up the hillside towards Jade Mountain and its sister property Anse Chastanet, and persistence pays off for for those who make the trip.
Jade Mountain is truly one-of-a-kind, and an architectural feat where each suite is accessed by a private walkway leading into huge, open-concept rooms with gorgeous vaulted ceilings, canopy beds and sparkling infinity pools.
Their most notable feature at this five-star resort is that there are only three walls, allowing for sunshine and fresh air to stream in and making guests feel at one with nature from the privacy of their sanctuary.
Shutterbugs will love photographing the multi-level stone walkways framing aqua-marine pools, koi ponds and vibrant tile displays.
The rooftop terrace and open-air restaurant offer some of the best vantage points, serving up panoramic views of the lush foliage, dazzling sea and the famous Pitons. With that backdrop, it’s no wonder this spot ranks high on the list of things to see in St. Lucia.
Visitors to the island who arenโt staying at Jade Mountain are still welcome to visit the property, either through a guided tour or by booking a reservation at the restaurant.
Hike up the Tet Paul Nature Trail
Climbing up Gros Piton guarantees epic views, but the gruelling hike isnโt for the faint of heart.
If youโre not up for the hours-long steep trek, head to the Tet Paul Nature Trail instead which has equally gorgeous panoramic vantage points but only takes about an hour round trip.
The pathway leads past a farming community where food including cashews, guava, avocados and pineapples are grown. There are numerous lookout points along the way, granting unobstructed views of the towering Pitons and postcard-worthy beaches, as white sailboats leave trails in the waves as they zip around the outskirts of the island.
Those who venture up the so-called Stairway to Heaven are rewarded with 360 degree views, and on a clear day visitors can even see the neighbouring islands of Martinique and St. Vincent.
Globe Guide tip: Be sure to stop in at the traditional house located near the end of the pathway, to get a glimpse of what life in Saint Lucia was like in centuries past.
Get a birds-eye view of the island by tram or zipline
Go on an eco-adventure by hopping on an aerial tram or taking a high-adrenaline zipline ride, which are some of the best things to do in St Lucia thanks to the great views.
Rainforest Adventures offers a few options, including this tour that starts with a guided aerial nature tour of the lush tropical forest, clipping into a harness to zoom through a 10 line canopy tour, and finishing off with a hike through the rainforest. Click here to book
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Visit the Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens
Wandering through the St Lucia Botanical Gardens feels like youโve stumbled into a secret gardenโespecially if you beat the tour groups by arriving before 11 AM and get the whole place to yourself.
Located near Soufriere, the gardens are spread out over six acres and are part of the original two-thousand acres of land given to the Devaux family by King Louis XIV of France.
The king himself funded the construction of a dozen stone baths, so people could bathe in the therapeutic waters that stream down from the Diamond Springs. The baths have been restored a couple of times since, and are now open to the public.
The gardens are overflowing with lush, tropical blooms, thick ferns and towering palms that stretch toward the sky. Admire them as you follow the path toward the piรจce de rรฉsistance: the Diamond Falls Waterfall.
Watch a gorgeous sunset
Thereโs nothing quite like the feeling of a light breeze blowing through your hair, as you sit back and watch the sunset with a cocktail in hand.
Saint Lucia truly shines during the golden hour, and is the perfect place to capture the vibrant hues of the Caribbean canvas as the sun disappears over the horizon, casting an enchanting glow over the island.
Grab a drink, sit back and relax as the sky dances with blush, purple and gold hues, which is one of the top things to do in Saint Lucia.
YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY:
- Sandals Saint Lucia reviews: Grande St. Lucian, Regency La Toc & Halcyon Beach
- Sulphur Springs, St Lucia: Mud baths and a drive-in volcano
- Resort review of Sandals St Lucia overwater bungalows
- 10 unforgettable things to do in St Maarten (and St. Martin)
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Your shots are gorgeous! I love it when people are able to collate and present the best spots to go for getting amazing pictures because sometimes I see all these superb shots and just cannot figure out from where they were taken! Saint Lucia is beautiful!
Thanks Medha, glad you found it helpful ๐
Wow.. I love your list of amazing spots! As someone who likes to document most of the places I visit, it’s definitely a must to know where the great spots for photography are ๐ For one, Pigeon Island National Landmark looks like a cool place to take photos, with the barracks and it’s overall set-up. I’ve also seen several lookout points too, and Mandele can definitely compete with the rest. Such a nice welcoming view upon your arrival and holds an amazing promise to the beauty of Saint Lucia! ๐
St Lucia sounds exotic. And your photos esp the Jade mountain and Nature trail make these areas look really tempting. Caribbean definitely on my travel list, dont know when I will get there though, too far from India.
It’s far from Canada too! lol
I love your shot over the National Landmark ๐ I think it is really worth the hike all the way up there for a photo op.
It was nice how you get to share what could have been available at Saint Lucia. All your photos speak for itself ๐ and everything was fascinating.
I wanted to see that perfect sunsets too at Sandals it seems very relaxing to end the tour with ๐
Just saying St Lucia is beautiful would be an understatement. I too enjoying walking through streets of small towns to imbibe the atmosphere and I am I would love doing that in Castries. The beaches are so clean and empty, something you can’t imagine in any other part of the world
What a beautiful island. Unfortunately I can not say it is the best island being that my parents are from Barbados…lol. But I will admit that your pictures are amazing. I love the views of the twin peaks. I also like the multi-level stone aqua-marine pools. You know Iโve never seen how pineapples grow in the wild until now.
Haha yes my husband is partial to Barbados as well ๐
Thanks for this guide! The photos I see of Saint Lucia online are always stunning! So itโs great to know where I can head to get the shots myself. Beautiful shot of you among the ruins at Pigeon Island National Landmark. Jade mountain overlooking the Pitons though is the beautiful shot I would love.
Stunning sunset shots โ and I will definitely be aiming for Diamond Falls Waterfall!
I am sure I have heard the name but never before I have seen a complete post on St. Lucia. This surely is one of the most beautiful islands I have ever seen. I like the intriguing maze of stairs and bridges on Jade island. It reminds me of some mythical kingdom. But the best photo in this post is that of the boatman with the hat!
Agreed, that guy was so cute!
I love taking photos and I’m glad there are posts like these, it’s so useful. I would spend the majority of my time at the lookout point even if entails a bit of a hike. That blue dress stands out so well in the photo too!
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The information you have very true and useful, thank you have shared this post.