Off-The-Beaten-Path Attractions In St. Lucia

If you are looking for some off-the-beaten-path attractions in St. Lucia, this guide has our top picks.  Many tour operators take visitors to the same few sites again and again.  They are spectacular for sure, but they can get really crowded when a big tour bus rolls through.  So if you are looking for some hidden gems in St. Lucia, sometimes you need to take the road less traveled.  This guide shares some of our more unique and less busy things to do In St. Lucia.

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Piton Falls And Mineral Baths

These mineral soaking tubs at the base of Petit Piton are a serene place to take a dip.  Water heated by the earth pours right over Piton Falls into the mineral baths.  The pools are clearly man-made, but they blend nicely with the natural waterfall and lush vegetation.  All the pools are hot, probably all around 100F degrees (37C).  So in the tropical climate, perhaps a little hot especially in the middle of the day.  But we found the larger pool under the falls to be a bit cooler, and fine for 20-30 minutes of soaking.

There is an entry booth that charges $3 USD ($7.50 EC) for adults, and $1.50 USD ($3.75 EC) for children under 12.  From there, you hike the short trail down to Piton falls and the mineral baths (about 7 minutes).  The trail is well maintained with stairs for all the steeper parts.  You can probably do it in sandals, to be honest, but be aware that it can be muddy and slippery.

The water is said to have natural minerals that the locals make all kinds of wild claims about, like “it will make you look ten years younger”.  I just laughed and made a joke about my hair growing back.

There is a very rustic changing room right by the falls if you want to bring a change of clothes.  Otherwise, just bring a towel.

These secluded mineral baths surrounded by nature are one of our favorite off-the-beaten-path attractions in St. Lucia.  Luckily, the big tours don’t come through here, but if a few other groups are there, it may start to feel overcrowded quickly.  So if it’s peaceful solitude you are after, I would consider going early or late in the day.

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Tree Top Restaurant

The Tree Top Restaurant is definitely our favorite dining experience in Saint Lucia.  A unique restaurant built like a treehouse, tucked high in the hills above Soufriere.  The restaurant itself, palm trees, and views of the Pitons blend to create a magical setting.  They serve Indian Fusion cuisine which was exceptionally delicious.  Everyone is served the same 3-course menu, but trust them, it’s delicious.  This costs $60USD per person and they do accept credit cards.  Pricey, but worth it!

And their bartenders crafted individualized cocktails that blew us away.  Our bartender Hamilton has a special craft for finding the flavors you like in a drink and making magical concoctions from local fruits, flowers, herbs, liquors, etc. It really enhanced the overall experience.

You do need a reservation, so email them beforehand or call them during business hours.  And the restaurant is a little hard to find because there’s no sign and the pin on Google Maps isn’t quite in the right spot.  It’s located at the Crystals Villa Hotel.  Be aware the road up is quite bumpy, and high clearance recommended.  Or if you take a taxi, they will know where to go.

The Tree Top Restaurant is one of the best hidden gems in St. Lucia.  And certainly one of the best restaurants in Soufriere.  The magical setting, delicious food, and amazing service made it our favorite dining experience of the trip.

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Anse Mamin Beach

Anse Mamin Beach is one of the best off-the-beaten-path attractions in St. Lucia. The land adjacent to the beach is part of Anse Chastanet Resort. But all beaches in St. Lucia are public, so anyone is welcome to visit for the day.

Anse Mamin Beach has excellent sand and clear water, some of the best we found in all of St. Lucia. It’s abutted by giant cliffs, and a few rock formations jut out into the ocean. And the farther north you go, the more privacy you will have (but it does get a little rockier). There is a beach bar and restaurant that non-hotel guests are welcome to use. But the beach chairs and palapas are just for hotel guests. I’ve heard mixed reviews about how non-hotel guests are treated, but we actually brought our own drinks and picnic lunch to save some money.

And this beach is a little challenging to get to, but that’s part of what makes it such a hidden gem. You can drive or take a taxi out to the visitor parking lot at Anse Chastanet Resort. The road was gnarly though, incredibly steep in sections, blind curves, and quite bumpy. We did it in our rental car, but I have lots of experience driving in adverse conditions.

And even from the parking, its about a 20 minute walk to Anse Mamin from there. So if you are hiring a ride, I would highly suggest you take a water taxi because they can drop you right on the beach. But don’t forget to arrange a pick-up because there won’t be water taxis hanging around to take you back.

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En Bas Saut Waterfall Trail

This is one of the more adventurous off-the-beaten-path attractions in St. Lucia.  The En Bas Saut Falls are tucked deep in the rainforest, and the drive to get there is an adventure in itself.  The hike to the falls is not that long (1.5 miles, 2.2km round-trip) but it is steep and often muddy.  But the drive to the trailhead requires driving off-road, where high clearance is needed, and 4×4 is recommended.

But if you do make it out there, the waterfall is definitely a hidden gem.  We didn’t see a single other person, which added to the wonder and mystery.  The falls lands in a plunge pool that is perfect for a refreshing swim in the cool water.

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Attend A Football (Soccer) Match

Okay, so a football stadium full of people is not quite “off-the-beaten-path”.  But it’s definitely not something that tourists commonly take part in.  We attended a football match in Soufriere, to watch two local St. Lucia teams battle it out. But there are other football stadiums on the island in Castries, Vieux-Fort, and Dennery.

It was a unique experience to see what the locals do for fun.  With local food vendors, loud music, and St. Lucians of all ages, the atmosphere was buzzing.  And the price for tickets, food, and drinks was very affordable.  It was nice to not be charged tourist prices for a change.  Sadly, the local Soufriere team lost that night.

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New Jerusalem Mineral Baths

Another activity to do in St. Lucia to avoid the crowds is New Jerusalem Mineral Pools. There is a short ½ mile hike (.8km) roundtrip hike to the mineral pools.  The trail might be a little difficult for some because of steep muddy sections.

Don’t follow the GPS to this area, as we found it was not quite in the right spot. Use these coordinates (13.8534976, -61.0390456). There is a bright green sign on the side of the road, 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. There is a house up there, and I think the guy living in the house is the caretaker of the property. 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.

The New Jerusalem Mineral Baths has several hot pools and one cold pool. The cold pool is not well advertised or signed. But it’s located up the hill, just follow the path past the house and you will find it. The cold pool didn’t appear to have any water flowing in or out during our visit. So that was a bit of a turn-off for us.

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Millet Bird Sanctuary

The Millet Bird Sanctuary is one of the best places to see the St. Lucia Parrot (the national bird).  This experience involves a guided 2-hour hike in the rainforest, but at a leisurely pace.  Bring decent footwear and drinking water.  Walking sticks are provided.  You are likely to see all kinds of birds in addition to other plants and animals.  We had Ken as our guide who passionately shared so much info about the local flora and fauna.  The road up is quite bumpy and full of potholes, but hey, you asked for off-the-beaten-path. The cost is $10 US pp.

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Book A Private Boat Charter

While boat tours are very popular in St. Lucia, booking your own private charter can really give you a more personal experience.  If you cringe at the idea of being crammed onto a big boat with 30 other people, then a private charter might be the boating experience you are looking for.  The local boat captains will give you good advice on the best secluded beaches, snorkel spots, etc, but then you ultimately get to call the shots.  And before you think that a private boat charter is out of your price range, some charters are quite reasonable.

Emily and I booked a 4-hour private charter with Sugar Boat Charters and it was only $300 USD.  If you had a group of four, that would be very affordable per person.  Our boat was modest (basically a water taxi), but plenty to zip us around the beautiful west coast of Saint Lucia.  The charter included rum punch, beers, snorkel equipment, and a captain and first mate to ensure we were well taken care of.

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Conclusion | Off-The-Beaten-Path Attractions In St. Lucia

We were lucky enough to spend several weeks in St. Lucia. This gave us time to explore beyond just the most popular tourist spots. And we found that some off-the-beaten-path attractions in St. Lucia were some of our favorite experiences. While maybe not as grand as some of the top destinations, sometimes the absence of crowds makes the experience more enjoyable.

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