The Pitons, rainforest, volcanic beaches and one of the most dramatic profiles in the Caribbean.
Before you go
When to go
December to April is dry and peak. Hurricane season runs June to November.
- Dry Dec–Apr
- Hurricane season Jun–Nov
- Warm year-round
- Jazz festival in May
How long you need
Seven to ten days, based in Soufrière for the scenery or Rodney Bay for convenience.
- 7–10 days
- Soufrière for the Pitons
- Rodney Bay for restaurants
- One base is enough
Getting around
Hire car or transfers; roads are steep and winding, and driving is on the left.
- Drive on the left
- Steep, winding roads
- Water taxis along the coast
- Transfers from UVF take an hour
What to do
Hiking Gros Piton, the drive-in volcano at Sulphur Springs, Diamond Falls and snorkelling at Anse Chastanet.
- Gros Piton hike
- Sulphur Springs mud baths
- Anse Chastanet snorkelling
- Chocolate estates
Highlights
The Pitons
Two volcanic spires rising straight out of the sea and UNESCO-listed. Gros Piton is the walkable one, with a guide, in about four hours return.
- Gros Piton: guide required
- Petit Piton is technical
- Best views from the water
- Sulphur Springs nearby
Soufrière
The drive-in volcano at Sulphur Springs, Diamond Falls and its botanical gardens, and the best snorkelling on the island at Anse Chastanet.
- Sulphur Springs mud bath
- Diamond Falls gardens
- Anse Chastanet reef
- Chocolate estate tours
The north
Rodney Bay for restaurants and marina life, Pigeon Island's fort, and Castries market on a Saturday.
- Rodney Bay dining
- Pigeon Island fort walk
- Castries Saturday market
- Friday night at Gros Islet
Planning notes
St Lucia has the most dramatic landscape in the eastern Caribbean and the accommodation to match, with a strong luxury and honeymoon market around Soufrière. The trade-off is the roads — steep, winding and slow, with the transfer from the southern airport taking around an hour. Driving is on the left. December to April is dry and peak; the Jazz Festival in May is worth timing for.
Where this leads
Blog attracts, things to do informs, tours convert — in that order.
- Journal in St Lucia
- Things to do in St Lucia
- Tours in St Lucia
- Talk to a Cooee travel specialist