Soufriere is by far one of the best cities to explore in Saint Lucia. There are so many fun things to do, from making your own chocolate bar from scratch, exfoliating your skin with volcanic mud from the Sulphur Spring Mud Baths or snorkeling along some epic reefs.
Soufriere has the best of both worlds, ocean frontage, but also surrounded by lush mountains. Oh and not to mention some of the most stunning mountain peaks, Petit Piton & Gros Piton. In this complete guide, we will go over the best things to do in Soufriere.
Project Chocolat:
If you love chocolate, then you are probably going to love this tour. Project Chocolat offers an immersive experience through the rainforest of cacao groves to show you the full process of how chocolate is made. Plus you get to make your own chocolate bar souvenir from scratch.
Hotel Chocolat offers a couple of different tours:
Bean to bar: (approx 1 hour) The Bean to Bar experience offers a unique opportunity to learn from experts how a cacao pod transforms into chocolate. During this tour, you will learn hands-on, how to make a chocolate bar from scratch using cacao from their farm. Cost is $69 per person – Book Now.
Tree to bar: (approx 2 ½ hours) The tree to bar is the full experience that takes you through the rainforest through the cocao groves where you will learn how to graft a cacao tree and make it into your own chocolate bar. This tour includes lunch with unique flavors of cacao. Cost is $119 per person – Book Now.
Tet Paul Nature Trail:
Tet Paul Nature Trail is not to be missed when in Soufriere. It offers one of the best views of both Petit Piton and Gros Piton. The hike is a ½ mile (.8km) loop with 134ft (40m) elevation. There are a few steep sections, but they are rather short.
The cost is $10 per person and you will need a guide to take you along the trail. Guides sit in a hut near the entrance, so there is no way to avoid getting a guide.
The guides do offer knowledge along the hike about the different trees, flowers, fruits, history of the nearby towns, etc.
At the summit, there will be a vendor selling local goods, including water, beer, soda, etc. So enjoy the view with an ice-cold Piton beer in your hand!
Hike Petit Piton or Gros Piton:
One of the more challenging best things to do in Soufriere is hike Petit Piton or Gros Piton. The Pitons are the most iconic peaks in Saint Lucia. But they are no joke for a hiking adventure. Gros Piton is 2,618.9ft (798.25m) tall and Petit Piton is 2,438ft (743m) tall.
The hike to Petit Piton is 1 mile (1.6km) with 1250 ft (381m) elevation change. Gros Piton is 2.9 miles (4.66km) with 1814 ft (561m) elevation change. While both are pretty hard and steep hikes (practically climbs), Gros Piton is slightly easier. Plus I think hiking Gros Piton looking over to Petit Piton offers a more stunning view. Petit Piton has a section where a rope is there to help you climb straight up to the summit.
But it is not a cheap activity to endeavor. The cost to hike either Piton Peak is $50 per person (minimum) and you must go with a guide. We also saw prices ranging from $85-$100+ per person. Book a guide here.
There is a small parking lot at the bottom of both summits where you will run into some guides. Or you can book a guide ahead of time with many of the tours offered around the area. Many of the tours include a taxi to & from the hike and local drinks.
We do understand there is a safety level to having a guide, but we were bummed to find out how expensive it was to hike these two majestic peaks.
The guides will go at your pace and allow you to take as many breaks as you need. But it is their day job to hike up and down these peaks, so you can imagine they will likely be in better shape than their customers.
Because of the price, we decided to forgo the $100 hiking fee and spend it elsewhere. Personally, the views from the top are probably legendary, but we thought Tet Paul, looking at both Pitons, was more appealing. And it was definitely more affordable.
If you are afraid of heights, maybe choose one of the other best things to do in Soufriere instead.
Summit Mount Gimie:
Mt. Gimie is the tallest mountain in St. Lucia. If you are looking for a hike that doesn’t require a guide and has some epic views, then Mt. Gimie is your answer. But if you are interested in having a guide, I’m sure you will be able to find one down in town.
Mt Gimie stands 3,120 ft (950 m) tall. The hike to the summit is 2.9mi (4.66km) with 1,820ft (554m) Elevation gain.
The road up to the trailhead will be a fun challenge in itself. High-clearance, 4×4 is recommended. It’s probably best to only adventure up the road if it is dry.
Read the reviews on AllTrails, there is one confusing river crossing marked on the GPS. Don’t follow the trail across at the first crossing, but rather follow the river to the second crossing.
En Bas Saut Waterfall Trail:
En Bas Saut Waterfall is one of the most remote hikes near Soufriere. You are likely going to need a rental car or willing taxi driver to make it to the trailhead. And that is no easy task on its own.
Getting to the trailhead from Soufriere took about an hour. A high-clearance vehicle is pretty much essential because of some really rocky sections, puddles, and abrupt entry/exit from concrete sections. Right before the roughest section of the road, you will pass through a town called Migny. Here, you will likely have locals trying to sell you on a tour or guide for the hike. But we found a guide was not necessary.
There is only 1 sign and it is far up the road when you are about 1 mile away. But look for a shed and two picnic tables. There is an old trail sign to the right of the shed, that has become hard to read from scum build-up. And the trail itself actually begins on the left side of the shed, which is not abundantly obvious.
The hike is 1.4 miles (2.25km) with 567 ft (172m) elevation change. The trail is not very long, but is very steep and muddy. At one point it did seem like they maintained the trail, but it has since been neglected. So there are stair-like features, and sometimes railings, but take every step with caution, and don’t bother using the railings as they are rather brittle.
Getting to the waterfall goes down in elevation through a lush and beautiful rainforest. The trail is pretty easy to follow until you reach the first river crossing. You will just find the trail on the other side of the river. There are rocks you can likely hop across to keep your feet dry. There are 2 river crossings along the route, which will also signify you are getting close to the waterfall.
The waterfall comes down a rocky wall, creating a really cool oasis in the jungle. It’s about 20 feet (6m) tall and descends into a little plunge pool. The pool is maybe a just more than waist deep, but still good for a little swim.
Nearly the entire trail is shaded, so we didn’t really need sunscreen. But close to the falls, we started to encounter a lot of flies and mosquitos. So having bug spray would have been nice.
Check out our full-review here, if En Bas Saut Waterfall is of interest to you!
Green Fig Pool Day:
One of our favorite days on the island was at the Green Fig pool. We were staying just down the hill at an Airbnb, that didn’t have a pool. So we sent The Green Fig Resort an email to inquire about their daily rate to use their pool. We found out, you only have to buy lunch or dinner at the Green Fig in order to use their pool. So we sent it up the hill to one of the best views a pool could possibly have!
When we arrived, we were welcomed with open arms, and treated like resort guests. We ordered a couple rum punches (which were delicious) and had the pool to ourselves. After a few hours soaking in some of the best views from the pool, we got ready for dinner and headed up to our table.
The food was affordable, delicious, and the views from The Green Fig are legendary!
Diamond Falls & Mineral Soaking Pools:
A fun activity to do in Soufriere is visit the Diamond Falls Botanical Garden & Mineral Baths. This area offers a unique walk through a botanical garden where you can learn the history behind the plants that exist on the island today. Not all plants in St. Lucia are native, rather they were brought over from different countries to thrive.
The cost is $7 per person to enter the botanical gardens. And an additional $7USD to use the private baths and $6USD to use the public baths. You can also book a tour that includes transportation too.
After learning some history about the plants, animals, fruits, spices, and more, head toward Diamond Falls. Which is arguably one of the most colorful waterfalls in the Caribbean.
Diamond Falls is a result of Kaolinite and Quartz and small quantities of Gypsum, Alunite, Pyrite, and Geotite that flow over a beautiful cliff. The colors of the waterfall can change daily depending on the mineral that has the highest concentration.
Next, head to the therapeutic mineral waters soaking pools. There are private and public soaking tubs heated by the natural springs. People who suffer from chronic rheumatism, sore joints, and muscles can benefit from soaking in the mineral pools. The private baths are built on the historical site of the original baths from the 1700s. But do note, the baths can be around 115 Fahrenheit (46 celsius). The pools close at 3pm every day, so be sure to show up earlier if you plan to use them.
Sulphur Springs Mud Baths:
One of the most popular activities in Soufriere is soaking in the Sulphur Springs Mud Baths. This is also one of the only drive-through volcanoes in the world.
The cost for just the mud baths is $10 US per person. Or if you just want to learn the history and tour the volcano with a guide, the cost is $9 US per person. If you do the combo of both, there is a discount price of $15 US per person. They do accept, cash (both USD & EC) or credit cards. You can also, book a tour guide for this activity too!
First, head up to where you can find a guide to teach you about the volcano. You will definitely know you are there, because of the steam billowing up in the air and the smell of rotten eggs. Which we learned from our guide is a good sign. If the smell starts to dissipate, it is a sign that the volcano might erupt again soon. And because volcanoes are unpredictable, that means it could happen any minute or in a year or so. But the last time the volcano erupted was over 200 years ago in the 1700’s, and they say it’s overdue.
Next, head down to the mud baths. The employees fill buckets of the mud from the volcano for you to exfoliate and spread all over your body. First, add a layer of the lighter mud and they provide the darker mud to create fun designs on your body. Once it is dried to your skin, hop in the mineral bath, to soak it away. Careful, it is very hot!
The mud baths are known to be very therapeutic. It is assumed to detoxify the body and help heal sun burns, eczema, arthritis, sore joints, etc. You can use the mud baths to take off any excess mud.
There are showers to wash off any mud, but we heard a guide say to leave the minerals on your body. Especially if you’re headed to Toraille Falls next, a popular second stop to clean off the extra mud. But we didn’t want to dirty our rental car, so we cleaned up a bit after the baths.
Toraille Falls:
Toraille Falls is another very popular stop on most tours or for many tourists. The waterfall cascades 50 feet (15m) over a cliff edge. You can stand under the falls and get a nice massage.
The falls are located in the Heritage Tourism Site. The cost is $6 per person. Toraille Falls is a roadside waterfall, you will find the waterfall shortly after the payment booth. No hiking is involved.
Although, there is a nice scenic walk that follows along a path under the waterfall. You can follow the creek and be encompassed by local plant life. This attraction brings large groups of tourists all at once. So the falls can get overcrowded frequently.
Piton Falls & Soaking Tubs:
If you are trying to find an activity off the beaten path, then Piton Falls is an awesome place to adventure. When we arrived mid-day, we only shared the place with one other local couple. We briefly had the place all to ourselves before 1 other group of 3 came down. So it’s really one of the best things to do in Soufriere if you want some peace and solitude from the normal tourist attractions.
There is a short ¼ mile (.42km) hike to the soaking tubs, where you will also find Piton Falls flowing into. The hike is through lush rainforest along a mostly paved path, but there are some stairs. We didn’t really notice until we were on our way back to the car, but there is an amazing view you get of Petit Piton.
The cost was $3USD per person. There are no showers to rinse off afterward, but there is a changing room.
New Jerusalem Mineral Pools:
Another activity to do in Soufriere to avoid the crowds is New Jerusalem Mineral Pools. There is a short ½ mile hike (.8km) roundtrip hike to the mineral pools.
Don’t follow the GPS to this area, as we found it was not placed in the proper spot. Use these coordinates (13.8534976, -61.0390456). There is a sign on the side of the road (though it’s a little covered by plants), and you just park along the side of the road here. There is a house here, but the hike is to the left behind the fence. Follow the path down to the river where you will run into a bridge that crosses over the river. You are almost there, just follow the stairs up to the pools.
You don’t pay until you reach the pools. We assume that the guy we met lives on the property and maintains the area. He will collect your admission fee when you are there. There is a booth, but if no one is there, someone will eventually come around and collect the fee.
The cost is $7.50USD per person.
Sugar Beach:
Sugar Beach (Jalousie) is one of the nicest and most luxurious beaches in Saint Lucia. Nestled in a cove between Petit Piton and Gros Piton, Sugar Beach has white sand and an amazing beachfront. But the white sand is not native to this volcanic island, it is brought in periodically to appease the whims of wealthy tourists staying at the resort.
Sugar beach was once a sugar plantation in the 18th century. The resort is spread across more than one hundred acres of tropical forest.
At the base of Petit Piton is some amazing snorkeling in Anse Piton Marine Reserve. You can really snorkel anywhere along Sugar Beach, but this area is especially known for some of the best snorkeling in Saint Lucia. Plus it is roped off, so you don’t have to worry about boat traffic.
You will need your own snorkel or rent one, unless you are on a tour or staying at Sugar Beach Resort. You can rent one from the local vendors. There are lots of local vendors sitting right along the shoreline and I’m sure they would love to rent you a snorkel or point you toward a local who is renting them. Expect to pay $10+ to rent snorkel gear. If you plan to snorkel more than once on your vacation to St. Lucia, consider bringing your own snorkel.
All beaches are public in St. Lucia even if there is a big resort just a few feet away. So you are free to swim anywhere along the beach, but the resorts own the furniture that sits on the beach fronts. Out of respect for the resort, choose somewhere to set up your beach spot away from their paying hotel guests. If you really want to use the chairs, you could potentially ask how much they charge for day use. Or consider eating at the restaurant in exchange. Life in Saint Lucia isn’t very cut and dry, so you can almost always cut a deal with the locals and/or resort staff!
How to get to Sugar Beach:
There are 3 different ways to get to Sugar Beach.
- Stay There: First, is by staying at Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort. Expect to pay $600+ per night in off-season and $1000+ per night during peak-season.
- Water Taxi: Probably the most common route is by water taxi. Water taxi’s run from most other nearby shores to bring you over here. The cost is around $30-60USD per person. So, if you choose this route, we suggest spending the day over here. If you are staying in a hotel, resort or Airbnb, they can help you get a water taxi. Or if you walk down by the Soufriere shoreline, many of the locals can help you get a water taxi.
- Driving: There is the option to drive to the beach, but they don’t always allow you to drive down to the beach. You often have to park in a nearby lot and walk down. So expect to walk 1 mile down to the beach, and 1 mile back up the steep hill at the end of the day. This is the most probably the most budget-friendly option.
Because the road is owned and maintained by the resort, they can allow or turn anyone away from entering their resort. We’ve heard it’s hit or miss. But there is a day-use lot that they let the public use. I would expect to pay a small fee to be let into the resort. It also probably depends on how busy the resort is or how full the lot currently is. You are more likely to be let into the lot during non-peak season.
We don’t have personal experience with this route, but we also heard there is a nice guy up the hill that lets you park at his house. He charges around $20USD.
So driving here does provide some uncertainty, but nonetheless, if you expect to walk a part of the way, then you will be close to one of the most beautiful beaches and some of the best snorkeling on the island.
There is also a restaurant on site that is open to the public, Jalousie Grill. The restaurant resembles the price of the resort and is quite expensive. But they do offer many different lobster dishes, which we didn’t find much of at the best restaurants in Soufriere.
Anse Chastanet:
Another awesome beach near Soufriere is Anse Chastanet. Also, another luxury resort sits on this beach. But as mentioned above, the beach is public, so you are allowed to use the area, but not the beach chairs or umbrellas.
There are a few great places to snorkel at Anse Chastanet Beach. One is along the far side of the large rock wall to left. It will be roped off with buoys. Be sure to stay within the limits, as there is heavy boat traffic outside the ropes. There is also a very strong current around the cliff side and many of the boats cut that corner close.
Another popular spot is at a jetty which is located halfway between the cliff of Anse Chastanet and Anse Mamin. You will see a pier here. There can be a strong current here, so be careful and pay attention to your surroundings.
How To Get To Anse Chastanet Beach:
There are also 3 different ways to get to Anse Chastanet.
- Staying at the resort. Similarly to Sugar Beach, one of the best ways is to stay at Anse Chastanet Resort. Expect to pay $450+ per night during off-season and $900+ during peak season.
- Water Taxi: You can also get a water taxi here. It will cost you $50-$60USD per person.
- Drive to the beach. We were really only a few miles from the beach. But the road is no joke getting there! There is a free public parking lot near Anse Chastanet Resort. The road is paved, but VERY steep in sections, so be sure to take your time. There are a few blind corners, so be sure to honk your horn to let other drivers know you are coming. There are no special turns, the road just leads you down to the resort, where they will direct you to the public lot.
Private Beach Day At Anse Mamin Beach:
Once you are at Anse Chastanet there is another awesome beach within walking distance. If you follow the service road to the right it follows along the beach shore, where you will run into Anse Mamin. This is also part of the Anse Chastanet Resort, but is definitely more remote. If you walk just past the beach huts or simply walk toward the big rocks that are sitting in the water (see picture above for reference), there is a “private beach”.
Since we weren’t staying at the resort, we headed down the beach to find our own space. Which happened to be on the far end of Anse Mamin Beach. Honestly, the walk was probably close to ½ mile, but it set us up for an awesome beach day.
Paradise Beach:
Paradise Beach is a decent beach about a 10-minute drive from downtown Soufriere. There is also a hotel down along this beach, but it is much smaller than Sugar Beach and Anse Chastanet. We found this beach had a lot of seaweed that washes up onto shore, and not quite as nice.
It was a bit confusing on how to get here, because you have to pass through a gate that says Private Property/ Authorized Personnel only. And no one was in the hut. So at first, we turned around but luckily found a local walking the road nearby. So we asked her how to get there and she confirmed that is the road we need to go down.
Luckily once we proceeded past the signs, we were greeted by a hotel employee. He told us where to park and we were able to use the beach away from the hotel for free. But do note, you are only allowed to use the right side if you aren’t a paying customer.
They do have beach chairs that you can use for the day at $15 per person. And there is a restaurant on site where you can get drinks and a bite to eat.
Soufriere Beach Park:
The Soufriere Beach Park was probably one of our least favorite beaches on the island. Which is a shame, because we stayed literally a 1 minute walk from this beach. Sadly there was a good amount of broken glass and trash on the beach, which is not exactly what you want when walking barefoot in the sand. And there were many locals soliciting goods and services on the beach.
One of the main resorts on this shoreline was closed due to covid. So maybe maintenance of the beach has gone downhill since covid, but it’s a real shame. It can still be a nice, easy and free way to enjoy a beach day in Soufriere. The beach has black sand, an amazing view of Petit Piton, and a beautiful rocky bluff on the other side.
There is the Seashell Restaurant and Big Red Maximum Chill bordering the shore if you are looking for a drink or bite to eat. There is a beach bar, diving shop, and a few other shops and restaurants on the beach. But most of the shops were closed when we visited, not sure if its an off-season thing, or still fallout from Covid.
Snorkeling:
A must-do in Saint Lucia is snorkeling. This was my first time snorkeling and woo-ee, what a beauty the underworld is! It’s also one of the most popular activities to do in Saint Lucia.
There are many ways you can get out and snorkel in Soufriere. If you have your own snorkel, then you are basically set. But if you don’t travel with snorkel gear or would prefer to be shown where some of the best spots around the island are, then a tour might be a great idea.
There are tons of different tours that will do exactly that.
Jake and I booked 2 different tours that brought us to some epic snorkeling spots. First we met a local that brought us from Soufriere Beach Park over to Sugar Beach. He provided the water taxi, snorkel gear, lunch and all-you-can-drink rum punch. He also stuck around our stuff to “keep it safe” while we went out snorkeling. Or you can always invest in a waterproof pouch to keep your valuables with you while you snorkel.
Another tour we did was with Sugar Boat Charters. We actually chose to do a private tour, because we had already done Sugar Beach and we wanted to check out some other cool spots to snorkel. So we headed north from Soufriere and hit up Anse Chastanet Beach, cruised by the Canaries Fishing Village, Anse Cochon Beach, Marigot Bay, and up to Cinderella’s Slipper. They will even take you to your own private beach that is only accessible by boat. We had all the rum punch we could possibly drink!
But just about any tour operator in Saint Lucia offers some sort of snorkeling tour.
Sunset Cruise:
What’s more romantic than a sunset cruise with the view of the Pitons? Oh, and a delicious rum punch in your hand! There are a few different tours that will take you out on a sunset cruise. Or of course, you could always book your own private tour as well.
Some tours are Mystic Man, Sugar Boat Charters, & Feel Good Water Taxi & Tours.
Scuba Dive:
Soufriere is famous for some world-class diving. Action Adventure Divers is located down on Soufriere Beach Park.
Some different tours are to the Coral Garden, Fairy Land, Grand Caille, Tou Diable, Turtle Reef, Keyhole Pinnacle, Malgretoute, Superman Flight, Piton Wall, Wreck of the Lesleen, Humming Bird Wall, and unique night dive opportunities.
Coral Garden is located along the cliff edge of Gros Piton. Here you can find a variety of coral species, large barrel sponges, unusual Sargassum- trigger-fish, and occasionally a school of barracuda. The cliff edge is said to descend for hundreds of feet, so be sure to keep an eye on your depth monitor.
Fairy Land is adjacent to the Anse Chastanet reef. The area only reaches about 40-50 feet, but does encounter a strong current. The coral is rather vibrant and you can often see horse-eye jacks, Bermuda-chubs, chromes, Creole-wrasse, and many more.
Night dives offer a unique experience to witness nocturnal creatures. And apparently, there is a mysterious “thing” that you can find deep in the ocean, only at night. Or so they say… But night dives will really advance your scuba diving and give you a different perspective of life under the sea.
From Turtle Reef where you might be able to see turtles, Keyhole Pinnacle which has been declared by many scuba divers to be spectacular, or Superman Flight where you might be able to sight a whale shark or humpback whale. Action Adventure Divers is sure to take you to some spectacular scuba diving locations. Inquire within to find the price for the desired tour.
ATV Tour:
If you wanna get deep into the rainforest and explore some of Saint Lucia’s unknown territories, then an ATV is the rad adventure for you. The ATV tour lasts about 2 ½ hours and starts in Saltibus (transportation is included). You also get to visit 2 secluded black sand beaches where you can swim without the extra tourists.
The tour ventures through lush valleys, old plantations, farms, and devil’s bridge. Mystic Man Tours offers a tour from Soufriere, inquire within for price. There is also Toraille Waterfall ATV Park or Island ATV.
Deep Sea Fishing:
You can try your hand at deep-sea fishing out in the Caribbean. The biggest benefit to these tours is they often cook what you catch that day. So it’s a win-win!
Saint Lucia has some of the deepest waters in the Caribbean. Tours typically start 1-mile off-shore and can venture 6-8 miles off-shore depending on the length of the tour. The species that are typically caught in the Caribbean are: Blue Marlin, White Marlin and Sailfish, Yellow Fin/ Black Fin Tuna, Dorado, Barracuda, King Mackerel/ Spanish Mackerel, Wahoo, Rainbow Runners, Horse Eye Jacks, and Yellowtail Snapper.
Mystic Man is the only tour I can find in Soufriere. You can inquire within for pricing.
We often found when we went down to the waterfront, there are PLENTY of locals that will help find you a guide for basically anything you might be interested in. So I’m sure there are other deep-sea fishing guided tours to choose from, but Mystic Man seems to have good boats, good captains, and experience in the field.
Dolphin & Whale Watching:
Another fun thing to do in Soufriere is go on a dolphin or whale-watching tour. For some reason, this isn’t really talked about much, but there are whales and dolphins that live in the Caribbean near Saint Lucia year-round.
Check Out A Local Football (Soccer) Game:
One unique thing we did in Soufriere was attending a local football game. It was actually pretty fun to hang with the locals and see what they do for fun. Not something that is put on for tourists. The cost was $20EC (which is about $7.50USD) to get in and some of the most affordable food and beer we got on the island. Beers were $5EC (which comes out to be $1.85USD).
It was hard to find out information about when and who was playing. But if you ask some locals, I’m sure you will find someone that is a football fan who knows! Football might be seasonal, but since the weather is always nice, they might play different leagues year-round?
Takeaway | Best Things To Do In Soufriere
There are really an amazing amount of fun things to do in Soufriere. You could seriously spend a few weeks exploring the great wonders of the island. But as mentioned before, there really aren’t many free activities to do on the island, as tourism is their main industry. But some of the best things to do in Soufriere are still quite affordable. And really you are just supporting the locals to continue to live in one of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean.
If you are stuck planning how to get around, check out our other guide for different modes of transportation in St. Lucia.
We hope this guide for the best things to do in Soufriere helps you find some fun things to do in St. Lucia and you enjoy your time there as much as we did!
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