The Caribbean island of Saint Lucia is home to many incredible sights and epic adventures. It’s most well known for the Pitons that shoot up nearly 2600 ft from the coastline and the beautiful emerald water that surrounds the west side of the island. There is so much to do in St. Lucia, it’s hard to fit it all into one vacation. From beautiful waterfalls, therapeutic hot springs, and world-class scuba diving and snorkeling, St. Lucia is a gem of the Caribbean islands. After Jake and I explored the island for over 2 weeks, we gathered a list of the best things to do in St. Lucia.
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Pigeon Island National Park:
Photo by Christina Victoria Craft on Unsplash
Pigeon Island National Park is the only National Park on the island. The daily admission fee for the park is $10USD per person. There is a short 1.5 miles with 288 ft elevation change called Fort Rodney and Signal Hill.
This hike offers a nice blend of exercise, views, and history. The park sits on a hilly peninsula on the northwestern tip of St. Lucia. But it wasn’t always that way. Pigeon Island used to be an actual island until 1972 when a man-made causeway was built during dredging of Rodney Bay.
The island has artifacts from the Arawak and Carib people, ancient inhabitants of the island. Then the actual Fort Rodney was built by the British and used as a strategic defense against the French stationed in Martinique. On most clear days you can see Martinique, St. Lucia’s neighboring island to the north. See the ruins of the old Fort Rodney, cannons, soldier barracks, and prison cells.
The hike is short but has a steep climb to the top of Signal Hill, which you could skip if you are not up for it.
Gros Islet Street Party:
If you are looking for a fun local event to attend while in St. Lucia, the Gros Islet Street Party is one of the best things to do in St. Lucia. The party is every Friday from 8pm-4am. It’s when the streets come alive with locals, loud music, street vendors, etc.
It’s suggested to head toward Duke’s to get the full experience. But there are plenty of vendors in the streets offering food and drink. If you are the partying type it can be fun to stay downtown and have your place nearby.
Friday Market in Castries:
The Friday Market in Castries is one of the best things to do in St. Lucia if you want to support the locals. The Castries market is centrally located and has been around since 1891. It is a great place to get local crafts, herbs, spices, fruit, vegetables, and dry goods.
Fresh fish and meats were once sold here, but they no longer have this option at the Castries Market. I’d suggest getting a taxi here if possible, because parking can be a bit sparse around the area.
Marigot Bay:
Marigot Bay is a picture-perfect natural inlet along St. Lucia’s west coast. It was the famous setting for the original 1967 Dr. Doolittle film. But you will also find many luxury yachts and a few nice resorts in this bay as well. It’s one of the most protected bays on the island. Therefore, if a storm is coming, many boats will harbor in this area.
You can get to Marigot by boat or by car. But if you aren’t staying in the bay, we suggest by boat if possible. That way you can cruise around and enjoy the beautiful sights. Marigot Bay can be a great area to stay and relax for a few days as while visiting St. Lucia. You can explore the bay by kayak instead or visit one of the restaurants.
Cinderella Slipper (Aka: Lover’s Rock):
A famous arch along the coast near Ciceron you will find Cinderella’s Slipper (aka Lover’s Rock). It was actually in the scene of a Pirates of the Caribbean movie. You can get here, either by boat or by car.
Jake and I went on a 1/2 day private boat tour with Sugar Boat Charters and they brought us over to this area. Jake had the guts to jump off the arch, but me, I was better off sipping on rum punch from the boat.
If you have a rental car, or want to hire a taxi, you can get to the top of the arch and walk down a short path to find Cinderella’s slipper. But it’s definitely best viewed from the ocean. So you might want to jump in to witness the beauty. You will often find locals here that will help you find the right place to jump. But in return, they ask for a tip for the help.
Sulphur Springs Mud Baths:
One of the most unique attractions in St. Lucia is the Sulphur Springs Mud Baths. Where else can you cover yourself in volcanic mud and then get into a volcanic hot spring?
You can also “drive through” the volcano and take an informational tour with a guide. We found it very interesting to learn how the island of St. Lucia was formed. Our guide was very knowledgeable and taught us many other things not only about St. Lucia but the neighboring islands.
The cost for just the mud baths is $10US per person. Or if you just want a tour of the volcano, that cost is $9US per person. If you do the combo of both, there is a discount price of $15 per person. They do accept cash (both USD & EC) or credit card.
Toraille Falls:
A very popular attraction for tourists on the island of St. Lucia is Toraille Falls. You will often find tours get dropped off here shortly after visiting the mud baths. The waterfall cascades 50 feet over a cliff edge which you can stand under for a “power shower”.
The falls are located in the Heritage Tourism Site. The cost is $6US per person. Toraille Falls is a roadside waterfall, you will find the waterfall shortly after the payment booth. No hiking is involved.
Tet Paul Nature Trail:
Tet Paul Nature Trail is at the top of our list for the best things to do in St. Lucia. It offers one of the most stunning views of both Petit Piton and Gros Piton. It’s a rather easy hike that climbs 134 ft in a ½ mile loop hike.
The cost is $10 US 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 guide will take you around the loop and teach you about the history of St. Lucia and many of the local plants.
Snorkel Tour:
A must-do activity in St. Lucia is snorkeling. Just about any tour company offers some sort of snorkeling guide. And that is because the marine life here is very much alive and beautiful.
Some of the best beaches for snorkeling in St. Lucia are Sugar Beach and Anse Chastanet. You can also find great snorkeling along other beaches that line the west coast.
Scuba Dive:
If you are scuba certified, St. Lucia has some amazing scuba diving opportunities on the island. There are many tours that offer guides to bring you to some epic locations.
Scuba diving in St. Lucia offers the opportunity to see over 150 different fish species, unique reefs, and even shipwrecks.
If you love scuba diving and plan to commit your vacation to it, then consider staying at a Sandals resort. Sandals offers free scuba diving to all guests. You are allowed 2 tanks per day that can either be used simultaneously or at 2 different parts of the day.
Depending on where you are on the island, there are both tours in the North, as well as along the west coast. Many tours will also offer transportation either for free or a small fee from your accommodation.
Go On A Chocolate Tour:
What’s better than chocolate? Nothing! Well maybe making your own chocolate bar to take home as a souvenir? St. Lucia is home to Cacao trees, used to make chocolate. Many of the tours will offer an immersive experience, walking through the rainforest where you can graft a cacao tree. Or simply turning a cacao pod into cocoa which ultimately creates delicious chocolate.
A popular tour in Soufriere is with Project Chocolat. They offer either a bean-to-bar or a tree-to-bar experience. Both teach you the history of the Cacao tree. Or a bit North of Soufriere, you will find Cacoa Sainte Lucie which also offers hands-on experiences.
Hike Petit Piton or Gros Piton:
One of the more challenging best things to do in St. Lucia is hiking the famous Piton Mountains. Gros Piton is 2,618.9 ft (798.25 m) tall and Petit Piton is 2,438 ft (743 m) tall.
The best hikes in St. Lucia are typically not free for tourists. The cost to hike either Piton Peak is $50+ per person (minimum) and you must go with a guide. We also saw prices for $85-$100+ per person. While you can hire a tour guide on the spot, it might serve you well to book a tour the day before or more in advance to ensure you have a guide. They can also help schedule transportation.
Diamond Falls & Mineral Soaking Pools:
One of the most beautiful and colorful waterfalls in St. Lucia is Diamond Falls. They are located in the botanical gardens in Soufriere.
The colors of the waterfall can change daily depending on the mineral that has the highest concentration. Diamond Falls is a result of Kaolinite and Quartz and small quantities of Gypsum, Alunite, Pyrite, and Geotite that flow over a beautiful cliff.
You can also soak in natural therapeutic mineral waters soaking pools. There are both private and public soaking tubs. People who suffer from chronic rheumatism, sore joints and muscles can benefit from soaking in the mineral pools. But do note, the baths can be around 115 Fahrenheit (46 celsius).
The cost is $7US per person for entry into the botanical gardens. Plus an additional $6US to use the mineral baths. Or instead, entry to a private bath is $7.
Sunset Cruise
What’s more romantic than a sunset cruise with a 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.
Book a tour with Viator (a trip advisor company). Or some other popular tours are Mystic Man, Sugar Boat Charters, Island Routes & Feel Good Water Taxi & Tours.
Honorable Mention
ATV Tour:
If you wanna get deep into the rainforest and explore some of Saint Lucia’s unknown territories, then an ATV tour 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.
Splash Island Water Park:
Splash Island is an open-water sports park. It has many inflatable toys on Rodney Bay. The toys consist of a trampoline, climbing wall, monkey bars, a swing, a slide, hurdles, double rocker, flip, and water volleyball.
The price for both adults & kids is $15 USD per hour. Or you can get a half day for $40 or full day for $60.
Antillia Brewery (closed on Sundays):
If you love craft beer and love to try new brews, then Antilla Brewery can be one of the best things to do in St. Lucia. Sadly, they are closed on Sunday, which is when we tried going here. They have a couple of different IPAs and a fruity ale.
You might be able to find them at some restaurants or resorts, but they definitely are not all over St. Lucia. We were lucky enough to try one of them at Hotel Chocolat and did see them at Anse Chastanet Resort. But other than that they were found far and few between.
En Bas Saut Waterfall:
En Bas Saut is one of the more remote activities to do in St. Lucia. It doesn’t quite make the list for best things to do in St. Lucia because it’s rather hard to get to. And I personally just feel like some of the other things on this list of best things to do in St. Lucia should be higher on the list.
But if you are looking for a remote hiking adventure in St. Lucia, then En Bas Saut is your spot. Check out our post on En Bas Saut to get all the details.
Plantation (banana farm):
Many of the tours will take you through the Banana Plantation which St. Lucia is known for. Bananas are St. Lucia’s #1 export crop. In the Roseau Valley, you will roam through lush vegetation and explore the banana farms.
Island Routes will take you on a sugar to rum revelation that will walk you through the history of sugar cane to rum including a drive through the banana plantation. Cosol tours will also take you through the banana plantation and teach you the history of the farm and production. Some people claim the bananas here are some of the best they have ever tasted!
Zip Line Tour:
Ziplining through lush rainforest can add that extra thrill to your vacation in St. Lucia. There are a few different tours and locations where you can zipline this incredible scenery.
Rainforest Adventures offers a unique three-in-one package where you can ride a scenic tram, zipline amongst 16 platforms and 8 lines, and a scenic hike.
Adventure Tours is also another popular company to take you along 12 lines and 5 net bridges, including the island’s longest, highest, and fastest zip line.
Deep Sea Fishing:
If fishing is your thing, going deep sea fishing can be one of the best things in St. Lucia. 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.
Horseback Riding Along The Beach
A unique tour that is offered in St. Lucia is horseback riding along the sandy beaches on a horse. This adventure will obviously need to be done with a tour, unless you brought your own horse along! Island Routes offers a 2-hour excursion that roams the sandy beaches in the north where the horses go in and out of the water.
Dolphin & Whale Watching
Another fun thing to do in St. Lucia 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.
Helicopter Ride:
There is also a unique option for viewing St. Lucia from above. The one catch, is the helicopter “tours/shuttles” only go one way. So it can be a great way to get from the south to the north or vice versa.
The St. Lucia Helicopter’s transfer takes you from Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) in the south to George F.L. Charles Airport (SLU/HGR) in the north. It is not exactly cheap, but can offer a very unique and beautiful experience on the island.
The cost for adults starts at $190 per person to fly from Hewanorra to George F.L. Charles. During the flight, the helicopter takes you over Mt. Gimie (the highest peak in St. Lucia), Roseau Dam, the Atlantic Coast and Marigot Bay.
They also offer returning helicopter transfers for $205 per person. The flight is 5 minutes longer and experiences a few other unique sights on the island. Such as views of Marigot Bay, West Coast Shoreline (reefs), the Pitons, the rainforest, and the Soufriere Volcano.
You might also check out Island Route’s, but it does seem a bit more expensive.
Takeaway | Best Things To Do In Saint Lucia
St. Lucia no doubt, has some epic adventures to choose from. It’s amazing to hear about their history and talk with the locals to get their perspective on the island. We loved learning new things, seeing new sights, and of course, staring at the Pitons any chance we got. While there aren’t many free things to do in St. Lucia, there are quite a few that are very affordable. Plus there is a tour for just about anything on the island.
If you’re visiting Soufriere, be sure to check out our guide for Best Things To Do In Soufriere. Jake and I got to spend 10 days exploring this beautiful city. We had a rental car that helped get us around, and we felt like we got to see some unique attractions that not all tourists typically get to see. And of course there are also some fun off-the-beaten-path attractions that really provide the cherry on top! Plus, we found some epic restaurants in Soufriere to try, that offered some of the most unique cuisines we’ve ever had!
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