Destination information
Holidays in St Lucia 2013/2014:
Mix the stunning natural scenery of St Lucia with near-perfect weather, total relaxation and plenty of fun and you’ll have the perfect recipe for a very special holiday in the Caribbean.
Shaped rather like a mango the island of St Lucia is just 14 miles wide and 27 miles long, has lots of sandy beaches, a scenic mountainous landscape and thick lush rainforests.
The majority of the popular holiday resorts and hotels are located on the island’s north-west shore with its sheltered white sand beaches and quaint fishing villages, but on the west coast of St Lucia you’ll find some amazing luxury hotels tucked away in awe-inspiring settings with fabulous views of the iconic Pitons – two towering volcanic plugs. The relatively uninhabited east coast, the Atlantic side of the island, is good for nature lovers and the southern tip of the island is popular for kitesurfing and windsurfing.
If you’re looking for a touch of adventure during your holiday, St Lucia has a whole variety of activities to offer ranging from mountain biking and serious hiking to beachside horseback riding and thrilling ziplining.
Chilling out on the beach in St Lucia is great but there’s lots more on offer should you want to explore .
Things to do/Attractions
Whale watching is popular in this area where more than twenty species can be spotted through the year, and the underwater terrain is teeming with sea life so snorkelling and diving is a magnet to visitors. There’s a SNUBA experience (a diving-snorkel mix) for adults and children as well as Jungle biking when you’ll learn about flora and fauna as you go. Serious hiking, biking and horse riding trails are on the island to be ridden, and the military history to be discovered at Pigeon Island National Park and Heritage Centre. An excursion to the renowned Pitons World Heritage Site, the drive-in volcano, and tour of the botanic gardens are also popular with visitors. Of course there’s windsurfing, parasailing, water-skiing, sailing and a host of other water sports to be tackled… or, if you can drag yourself away from the Caribbean seashore, even a round of golf.
Eating out
Chefs on the island love to use locally produced fresh fruit and vegetables which grow in abundance, and there are some fantastic hotel restaurants around the island that are open to non-residents. Visit The Edge in Rodney Bay Village for waterside dining and ‘Eurobbean’ style food – a unique fusion of European and Caribbean cuisine.
Experience a chocolate menu at Boucan at Hotel Chocolat, delectable cuisine at The Cliff at Cap and Dasheene at Ladera, and amazing lobster and local food at the Coal Pot in Castries. For appetising authentic dining, Friday Night Fish Fry at Anse La Raye should not be missed.
Evening entertainment
Looking for nightlife? Then head to Rodney Bay which is a hub of activity in the evenings and where you’ll find a good variety of bars and restaurants open until late with live music, dancing, karaoke and great food. Every Friday night, in addition to Anse La Raye Fish Fry, you’ll also find music in the street at the Gros Islet ‘Jump Up’ Street Party, where vendors sell local foods and beverages.
Not to be missed
A Friday night outing to Anse La Raye Fish Fry is a must where you can eat the fresh catch of the day in this beachfront fishing village. It’s a fun night out.
If flora is your interest then a visit to the botanical gardens, home to the Diamond Waterfalls, is a venue that should definitely be on your excursion list.
If you’re on the island in May you can enjoy big-name jazz over four days, and if you’re in St Lucia in July during Carnival you’ll find the streets alive with music, colourful costumes and bags of calypso.
Best for families
Many of the hotels on the island are family-friendly offering great onsite facilities for children with kids’ clubs and mini-kids’ clubs as well as water parks – you’ll find everything from crèches for babes in arms to fully equipped activity centres for teenagers. Parents should check out hotels such as the St James’ Club Morgan Bay, Smugglers Cove Resort & Spa, Windjammer Landing Hotel, and Sugar Beach – your kids will love them.
Best for couples
Sip champagne and canapés as the sun sets while you are taking a romantic sunset cruise off the coast of St Lucia; the views are breathtaking, the sunsets stunning.
There are several ‘adults’ or ‘couples’ hotels on the island such as Sandals, Rendezvous, and Coconut Bay Resort & Spa so visitors without children can enjoy being pampered in utmost peace in some idyllic locations.
Weddings/Honeymoons
Seclusion, romance, stunning sunsets, swaying palms, gorgeous beaches… you can have it all on the exotic tropical island of St. Lucia, it’s breathtakingly beautiful and makes a perfect Caribbean destination for a romantic wedding or honeymoon.
Hotels are created for romance in St Lucia where, for example, you can enjoy your own private plunge pool and whirlpool in an Ultra Grande Luxe beachside suite at Sandals Grande St Lucian, hide yourself away in a hillside rainforest chic villa with private pool and deck at Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort just a stone’s throw from the towering Pitons, or soak up awe-inspiring panoramic views from your bedside at the boutique resort of Cap Maison. Whether you choose to get married on a gorgeous beach bordering the crystal blue Caribbean Sea, have an intimate wedding ceremony set in colourful tropical gardens, or just honeymoon in St Lucia, your holiday will provide memories to treasure.
Something different
Want a dive-like experience at your own comfort depth without the hassle of full-on Scuba training? Then try SNUBA, a mix of snorkelling and scuba, it’s thrilling.
For an adventure on land and lots of laughs try the St Lucia Segway nature trail experience. It’s great fun once you get the hang of it.
Weather/Best time to go
For the very best of Caribbean weather visit St Lucia during the dry season which is between December and March and when temperatures average around 27°C.
Temperatures start to rise in April leading into the rainy season between June and November when it is hotter and more humid, but year round temperatures are pleasant averaging 29°C/30°C and usually accompanied by cooling trade winds. Even during the rainy season there are generally hours of sunshine each day and rain showers tend to be short, sharp and blissfully warm. Fantastic holiday bargains are available between June and November – this is hurricane season but they are rare.
Visit from March to August if you’re a nature lover, you’ll have the opportunity of seeing turtles come ashore to nest on the same protected beach that they visit every year.
Seeking adventure
With thick lush rainforests you’ll find lots to do if you’re seeking adventure. Discover the real St Lucia by hiking or mountain biking through unique rainforest trails, and for real adrenaline seekers there’s an exhilarating rainforest canopy ziplining course with 12 lines to test the adventurer in you. If you’re pretty fit you’ve just got to take on a guided trek up Gros Piton on the west coast – it stands 2,619 feet above sea level and offers fantastic views of the sea and island from its peak… if you make it! All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) will give you a thrill of a lifetime. Take an off-road guided tour through rainforest and banana plantations via a waterfall on a soft adventure guided tour to add excitement to your holiday.
Getting around
Car Hire - Being such an easy island to navigate your way around, hiring a car is the best way to explore the island. Don’t forget to bring your driving licence! Please speak to our Concierge rep for more information.
So, if a holiday in St Lucia sounds like a perfect beach getaway, check out our fantastic St Lucia hotels and package holidays!
Check out our great St. Lucia holiday video here:
Key Events
May - St. Lucia Jazz Festival.
July - Carnival.
November - Arrival of Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), the world’s largest transatlantic rally for cruiser yachts.
December - Conclusion of the ARC and the Festival of Lights.
Please note: all events listed are for helpful information only and many are subject to entrance fees and/or prior reservation, and may be cancelled at any time. Please check with the relevant tourist office if you need further information on these or any of the other events in this region.
Sightseeing ideas
Star attractions
- Diamond mineral baths and botanical gardens
- Pigeon Island National Park
- Rodney Bay and marina
- Championship golf
- Romantic sunset cruises
- World-class snorkelling and scuba diving
Postcards from... Top ideas from our travel experts
Our Top 5 hotels
This all-inclusive, village-style resort is set in 45 acres for you to enjoy, situated beside the beach on the northern tip of the island. Smugglers Cove Resort & Spa is such a fun place and kids and adults alike will love it. The restaurant choices include Italian, St Lucian Creole and Seafood, International buffet cuisine and also a new Pan-Asian restaurant.
The St James's Club Morgan Bay encapsulates everything typically Caribbean. Vibrant yet still relaxing, soak up the colourful tropical surroundings of this informal resort, breathe in the warm fragrant air and feel your heart rate slow, as the gentle waves wash over the golden beach on your doorstep.
Set amidst coconut palms, hence the name, this all-inclusive resort is surrounded by 85 acres of tropical landscape. There is a superb range of facilities to tempt you, including 6 bars and a choice of 4 restaurants, 3 serving à la carte, 1 buffet style dining, as well as a beach grill.
Rendezvous boasts a lazy river pool with wading pools, a beautiful rockery garden and a lovely Spa in The Water Garden where couples can indulge in some well earned pampering. They call Rendezvous 'The Boutique Hotel For Couples' and it's easy to see why.
This Luxury Included® resort is located on a sandy beach with wonderful cottage-style gardens surrounding the charming low rise accommodation blocks that lend a decidedly English feel. The lush setting and secluded ambiance make Sandals Halcyon Beach a favourite with many guests who return year after year, treating the resort as a second home.
Additional info
Total Flexibility
Tailor-make your ideal Caribbean holiday by combining hotels we feature in different destinations. Try a twin- or triple-centre holiday across different islands or combine with a US city or theme park visit.