St. Lucia is a Caribbean island filled with the natural beauty of soaring pitons, relaxing beaches and scenic waterfalls. Here’s a guide to planning your trip: how to get to St. Lucia, where to stay, top things to do — and what NOT to do in St. Lucia.
- What is the best time of year to visit St. Lucia?
- Where to stay in St. Lucia: vacation rentals, resorts and cruise ships.
- Top Things to Do in St. Lucia: pitons, beaches and waterfalls.
- What NOT to do in St. Lucia: immigration, what you MUST pack.
You’ve come to the right place for honest opinions from a real human who visited St. Lucia for an unforgettable family vacation. St. Lucia is a dream destination for a honeymoon, milestone birthday/anniversary, relaxation and adventure. Watch the VIDEO. And then read on to plan your trip to St. Lucia.
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit St. Lucia?
My family visited St. Lucia in late February. We experienced cool island breezes and a few cloudy days with passing showers. According to the St. Lucia Tourism website, the dry season is from December to April. It’s also the most expensive time to book accommodations. Plan several months ahead to have the most choices that fit your budget.
During the “dry” season in St. Lucia, we woke up to rainbows like this after an early morning shower. This was the view from the roof deck of our vacation rental villa, a great alternative to a pricey all-inclusive resort.
Save money by visiting St. Lucia in the slightly more humid months of May and June. The rainy season runs from June through December. It’s still possible to enjoy the island but there’s a greater risk of your trip being derailed by a hurricane from June through the end of October.
How to Get to St. Lucia
Thousands of people visit St. Lucia via cruise ships that dock in the northern part of the island. The bad news for them is that most of the natural beauty is in the south near the Pitons. You will spend several hours getting to and from the main sights on a bus or boat tour if you don’t book a helicopter. Sorry, I don’t do cruise ships. More on the crazy roads later.
There are two airports on the island of St. Lucia. The small SLU airport in the northern capital city of Castries serves flights to neighboring islands. Most foreign visitors will arrive at UVF, Hewanorra International Airport near the southern town of Vieux Fort within sight of the famous pitons. Plan on a long ride if you’re staying at one of the all-inclusive resorts in the north. Or book a transfer via boat or helicopter.
We reserved an all-wheel drive SUV through Islander Cars. We did the paperwork under a shady tree outside the Hewanorra Airport (UVF) terminal. We also hired a local driver through our vacation villa rental. He was waiting to meet us at the airport. It was no problem to add our local driver to the rental. Don’t forget to inspect the car for any previous damage and take photos before you drive away to avoid blame for something you didn’t do. Cars take a beating on the crazy roads in St. Lucia. Filling up at the gas station is surprisingly expensive.
Driving in St. Lucia
Your best bet for getting around is to book tours or rent a car. Our first stop was a well-stocked supermarket in Vieux Fort. It proudly featured bananas, pineapples and other local produce. We also picked up some fresh kingfish at the dockside market in Choiseul.
This British Commonwealth country drives on the left-hand side. Even if you’re OK with that, I don’t recommend driving on the steep, twisty roads full of obstacles like potholes, hairpin turns and stray goats. There is local etiquette for who goes first when the pavement is too narrow for two cars to pass. No guardrails or streetlights to prevent you from taking a deadly wrong turn in the dark.
Where to Stay in St. Lucia: Resort or Vacation Rental?
St. Lucia Resorts: Many large resorts in St. Lucia are in the north near the cruise ship port in the capital city of Castries. Hotels in Gros islet on Rodney Bay might be the best choice for those seeking beach activities, nightlife or an all inclusive package. There are also some luxury choices like the Ladera Resort and the near the Pitons in the south.
All St. Lucia beaches are public, even this one at the luxury Sugar Beach resort, nestled between the Pitons in the south. No charge to walk or sit on the beach. But expect to pay a fee if you want to use a hotel beach chair or get access the pool.
Be prepared to shell out in the thousands per day to stay in a honeymoon suite with full board at a dream destination like the Sugar Beach resort. We also found most resorts configured for romantic parties of two, or a couple with small kids staying in their room. Our family of three adults would have needed TWO rooms, doubling the cost.
St. Lucia Vacation Rentals: Renting a private home can be a more budget-friendly alternative, without skimping on the luxury. I found plenty of choices on VRBO and AirBnb in my preferred location near Soufriere with piton views, two ensuite bedrooms and a private pool. The caretakers of our elegant villa provided housekeeping and security, and were available to cook or drive at additional cost.
Top Things to Do in St. Lucia
Tourism isn’t just the main industry in St. Lucia. It’s the ONLY industry. According to US government stats, tourism accounts for more than 82% of the island’s economy. Hiking trails are a source of revenue. So expect to pay admission to nature preserves and parks. Our favorite adventures were in the southern part of St. Lucia near the UNESCO world heritage pitons.
After watching YouTube videos of the challenging trails, we decided not to climb the pitons. We enjoyed this view of the Petit Piton from the lush pool of our elegant villa, not far from the start of the Gros Piton hiking trail.
Climb the Gros Piton or Petit Piton
Access to the Gros Piton nature trail was $50 USD per person at the time of our visit, plus a tip for the required guide. Allow two or three hours to reach the top and equal time to get back down. Bring water, snacks and hiking sticks. Many hikers underestimate the difficulty of the climb and don’t make it all the way up.
The Petit Piton is even more challenging with upper body climbing strength needed to scale steep rocks. Adventurous hikers can even take the three peaks challenge to climb BOTH pitons, plus the island’s highest peak, Mount Gimie.
Leona, our guide to the Tet Paul Nature Trail, made sure we didn’t miss the best photo opportunities. She also explained the uses for native plants, which can be healthy OR deadly.
Tet Paul Nature Trail
Fortunately, there’s an alternative hike that’s perfect for active adults and older kids. The Tet Paul Nature Trail offers panoramic views of both pitons. You can do the trail on your own, but I recommend going with a guide. You’ll need sturdy footwear for the steps and rocky paths. The 45 minute circular trail can take longer, depending on how much you stop for unforgettable photos. Admission fee plus a well-earned tip for your guide.
Diamond Botanical Garden, Mineral Baths and Waterfall
This exotic garden that was once part of a colonial land grant from the French king in the 1700s. It’s said that Josephine, the wife of Emperor Napoleon, swam in the warm mineral water as a child growing up on her father’s plantation. The baths were destroyed by St. Lucia’s brigands, who revolted during the French Revolution. The most recent owners restored the property that is open to the public today. Hours and fees are on the website.
Arrive early to get the prime photo spot because this attraction fills up with large groups from cruise ships and resorts. The guides keep everyone moving by offering to take their photo. They are paid only in tips. No swimming allowed, get the photo and move on. For an additional fee you can take a dip in the mineral tubs near the waterfall.
Due to the high-season crowds, we opted to skip the drive-in volcano and mud baths. Lots of people enjoy it, but stinky sulphur and volcanic mud just aren’t for me. No worries, the volcano has been dormant since 1766. But it attracts 200,000 visitors a year.
Piton Falls Hot Spring
Instead, we discovered my favorite attraction on St. Lucia: Piton Falls. I hate to use a cliché, but this natural hot tub really is a “hidden gem.” It doesn’t even have a website, just a small wooden sign on the road. Large tour groups tend to pass it by. The ticket man told us it’s a popular local hangout on Sundays.
The friendly, self-described Rasta-man at the gate sold us tickets. There’s a restroom at the entrance. Then we walked down a short path and stairs to reach the Piton Waterfall in the tropical forest.
When we weren’t relaxing in our villa, this was my favorite moment of the St. Lucia trip. A free back massage in a natural, volcano-heated waterfall. We liked this place so much we went back twice and had it pretty much to ourselves.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling in St Lucia
Our family of 3 PADI certified scuba divers reserved two dive trips with Chester and his family at Action Adventure Divers near Soufriere. They provided all the needed equipment. If you’d like to get certified, they offer courses. Easy access to the dive sites from scenic Hummingbird Beach. Gorgeous coral reefs and an awesome two-wreck dive are only minutes away by small boat.
Snorkeling is popular on the island’s public beaches. We also saw people in Pigeon Island park doing “snuba,” or snorkeling with an attached air tank suspended in the water.
Pigeon Island National Landmark
Your ticket allows access the ruins of a British outpost, plus two calm beaches, a restaurant and clean restrooms. You’ll need sturdy shoes — not flip flops — for the steep ramp and ladder to Fort Rodney for a panoramic view. Fees, hours and a bit of history are on the St. Lucia National Trust website.
From the Fort Rodney lookout point, you’ll enjoy a panoramic view. We didn’t see the need to continue on to the highest point, Signal Hill.
What wasn’t so great was the bone-rattling drive to the northern end of the island. It took nearly 3 hours each way from Soufriere. Our local driver patiently navigated the roads, but couldn’t avoid a huge traffic jam in Castries due to an accident.
What is the Food Like in St. Lucia?
A typical plate of St. Lucia fish and veggies at Fedo’s New Venture in Soufriere. If you love fresh seafood, bananas and pineapples, you’re in luck. Pizza, burgers and fries were widely available.
The local Piton beer is brewed by Heineken on the island. And don’t miss the local rum with fresh fruit juice. Our rented villa included the services of a cook at a small additional charge. So we stocked up at the supermarket to enjoy the privacy and view from the open-air dining room.
St. Lucia Markets and Street Parties
Go north to the capital city and cruise ship port of Castries for a large souvenir market open daily. I found the dark walkways between the stalls there to be a little creepy. Soufriere also has a small open-air market on Saturdays, plus a scattering of souvenir shops. If you’d like to mingle, many cities and towns hold Friday night street parties with local food and music.
Vendors in the Castries market are aggressive and bargaining is expected. A cute sundress (made in India) quickly went from $30 to $20 USD.
Money and Tipping in St. Lucia
St. Lucia is one of the islands that uses the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (ECD) with a picture of the British monarch. However, US dollars and credit cards were widely accepted and we never exchanged any currency. We had to ask a shopkeeper to show us this ECD $20 bill so we could see what it looked like!
The exchange was a little under 3 ECD to 1 USD at the time of our visit. Bring lots of small US bills — including plenty of “ones” — for everything from using the toilet to rinsing off at a beach shower. Hardly anyone uses coins; prices are rounded to the nearest dollar, and change from US money might be in ECD at an arbitrary esxchange rate.
You’ll need cash if a credit card machine doesn’t work. Guides expect to be tipped in cash, even if you paid an admission fee. We were happy to pay generous tips for our villa’s driver and housekeeper/cook, who made our visit stress-free.
What NOT to Do in St. Lucia
Do not forget to fill out your immigration form online at this link. It is available no earlier than three days before the start of your trip. You will need to input your passport details and upload a photo of the document. You will get a receipt to show when you arrive at immigration, along with your passport. Also have a copy of your resort reservation or home rental agreement, in case you are asked for it like we were.
Don’t forget to pack insect repellent and sunscreen. You can buy these items on the island, but everything is more expensive in the supermarkets here due to shipping costs. Bring hiking shoes, water shoes for the rocky beaches and flip flops for your chill time.
At the same time, do not be in a hurry. You’ll hear a lot of talk about basic services being on “island time.” You came here to relax, right?
A massive cruise ship dwarfs the St. Lucia city of Castries. At least two of these dock almost every day, unloading thousands of day-trippers. If you plan to go sightseeing, don’t sleep in. Large tour groups from the cruise ships and resorts start arriving after 10:30 am. Some attractions can get quite crowded at certain times of the day.
Terry’s Travel Tips
I got a lot of helpful advice from the Travel St. Lucia Facebook group for renting a car. Members answer your FAQ about everything from booking tours and hiring a taxi to drinking the local tap water. (It’s OK but we opted for locally bottled spring water.)
Stranger Danger: Watch out for Facebook accounts trying to get you to buy useless travel “guidebooks” written by AI robots, and not by a real human who has actually been to St. Lucia. Buyer beware!
FYI: I paid for my own trip and this blog reflects my honest, personal opinions. Thanks for clicking on the links in this post to read St. Lucia hotel reviews on Trip Advisor and book your stay. It results in a tiny commission to me at NO cost to you.
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