St. Lucia simply beautiful

….visiting Saint Lucia….

The West coast from North to South:

Pigeon Island:

This protected National Park is of major archaeological and historical value. There is also a small museum, worth a visit. Fort Rodney is located on the smaller of the two hills. Climbing the hill you are rewarded with a wide view
Pigeon Island is the place where the yearly Jazz Festival is held in May.

Gros Islet:

This quiet fishing village undergoes a metamorphosis each Friday evening when a vast street dance party takes place.
A not to be missed spectacle for those who want to experience the true St. Lucian atmosphere.

Rodney Bay:

This marina has been built in a large inland lagoon. There you can find specialized sailing-shops and a boat-repair yard.
In the neighborhood there are all kinds of shops, banks and a wide choice of restaurants offering a varied cuisine: Creole, French, Asian and Continental.

Reduit Beach:

This area is renowned for its long white sandy beach sheltered by tropical greenery. The beach stretches to Pigeon Island but it is crossed close to Gros Islet by the waterway to the marina.

Choc Bay beach:

A nice sandy beach, sheltered by palm trees, with water sports facilities and close to the large hotels. Here you can look out at little Rat Island. The Gablewood shopping center is in the neighborhood.

G. Charles beach (Vigie beach):

A nice sandy beach, well sheltered, stretching alongside the landing strip of G. Charles airport. Popular with St. Lucians.

Castries, the capital:

The true heart of the island beats in the daily market of Castries. You can find all kinds of handicraft, clothing, meat, fish and a variety of fresh tropical fruits.
Daily the cruise-liners moor in the harbor at Pointe Seraphine, the Tax-free Shopping Center.
From Derek Walcott Square you can view the old part of the city on one side and the newer part on the other.
From the Morne Fortune you have a grandiose view over the city and its surrounding green hills.

Marigot Bay:

Marigot Bay is deservedly one of St. Lucia's most beautiful locations.
The surrounding green hills embrace the turquoise to blue waters of the bay. Yachts shelter in the natural harbor.

Anse La Raye:

A quiet fishing village where you can find typical wooden houses, some very colorful, others weather-stained with the passage of time.

Canaries:

Another quiet fishing village. On the beach lie the colorful fishermen's boats.

Anse Chastanet beach:

One of the finest dark sandy beaches of St. Lucia and also an excellent place for the scuba diver or snorkeler.

Soufriere (± 9000 inhabitants):

This town, the oldest settlement of the island, was founded in 1746 by the French. Situated in the shade of the Petit Piton, this old capital was rebuilt after being destroyed by a hurricane in 1780. Here you can find St. Lucia's oldest and most colorful architecture.
The Soufrière coast has a long stretch of dark sandy beach. Between the palm trees you have a grandiose view of one of the Pitons. Local people mostly use the beach.

Diamond Botanical Gardens:

At the entrance, you will find some stalls where local artists sell their hand made goods.
The botanical garden of the Diamond Estate offers lush greenery and many colorful flowers where tourists can stroll at ease. The rust brown colored rocks of the beautiful waterfall surrounded by the tropical green are worth the visit.

Morne Coubaril Estate:

An old plantation which has been transformed into an open-air museum. There, a guide explains how people used to work and live. You will learn more about the processing of sugar cane, cacao and coconuts.

Sulphur Springs:

They originate from a weak spot in the crust of the earth of an enormous collapsed crater. These smoking sulfur vapors have unpleasant penetrating odors. The water in the craters, blackened by sulfate, still maintains a temperature of 171 ° Centigrade or 340 ° Fahrenheit.

Choiseul:

This fishing village is also an art and craft center. Here, inhabitants make very nice woodcarvings out of local wood, make baskets and work in the potter's workshop. Fishing boats lie on the sandy beach with the colorful wooden houses in the background.

Laborie:

This village has a beautiful white sandy beach. The North side is suitable for sunbathing and snorkeling around the reef.

Vieux Fort:

This small town has a Saturday market with a colorful fish seller at the small beach. It has some supermarkets, shops and banks.
Many bananas are shipped from here. North of Vieux Fort there are long sandy beaches, however parts have been washed away.

East coast from North to South:

Cas En Bas beach:

One of the pre-eminent places for wind surfing. There are constant on shore trade winds (bring your own surf board!). There is a little shop at the beach providing fresh drinks.

Frigate Island Nature Reserve:

This National Park is a protected area. After a hike through rich vegetation including mangroves and yards high cacti you arrive at an observation post. Nearby, there is a small sandy beach where the waves of the sometimes-tempestuous Atlantic Ocean roll onto the sand. Closed during the Frigate birds breeding season from early May to end June!

Mamiku Botanical Gardens:

Close to Praslin Bay you can visit the colorful Mamiku Botanical Gardens offering nice views over Praslin Bay.

Praslin Bay :

The fishing village of the same name has a mini beach in the sheltered bay, where wooden boats are made from the gummier tree. The nearby little Praslin Island is home to a colorful lizard, originating from the Maria Islands.

Latille waterfall - Micoud :

John, the Rastafaranian owner lives here. Het takes visitors through his gardens and down to the river for an invigorating bath.

Maria Islands (close to Vieux Fort):

This protected National Park can only be visited with a guide. It is not accessible to the public between May 15th and July 31st (bird breeding season). Two endemic reptiles live on this little island: the colorful lizard and the rare but small harmless Kouwes snake.

Anse de Sables beach (close to Vieux Fort):

An easy to reach, beautiful but windy, white sandy beach looking out over the Maria Islands. This is one of the pre-eminent places for wind surfing. There are constant on shore trade winds. Close to the 'The Reef' bar and restaurant you can hire wind surf boards. There are nice sheltered terraces. The wind surf center of Club Med is also located here. This beach is recommended for wind surfers and sun-worshippers.

Cap Moule à Chique (close to Vieux Fort):

From the top you have a spectacular seascape of the West coast, the East coast, the Maria Islands, the airport and far away in the distance the green mountains. There is a lighthouse on top of the hill.

Central

Rain forest hiking:

A number of walks or journeys in the mountains can be undertaken, lasting from half an hour to a complete day.

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