In Saint Lucia, celebration is cultural. There’s always dancing and singing. In the streets, on the beach. And it’s this joie de vivre, this friendliness, this good-natured multicultural side that makes the island a “hip” Caribbean destination, an island on the move.
The exquisite charm of the old colonies
Saint Lucia offers lush, untamed vegetation, a submerged volcano, dreamy beaches, marine life to explore, friendly people, an innate sense of fun… the exquisite charm of the old colonies. And if Sainte-Lucie (pronounced Saint Lucia) represents the authenticity
of the Antilles 50 years ago, it is also the “hip” destination of the Caribbean.
The island has two faces. One, in the south, is exuberant. The other, to the north, is wiser. The Saint-Lucian people, as they call themselves, are renowned for their kindness and hospitality.
Saint Lucia is also renowned for its nightlife. Martinicans flock to Gros Islet on Friday nights for soca and street parties.
Places not to be missed
Botanical gardens, waterfalls and sulphur lakes
Rodney Bay, a boating paradise
Pigeon Island Nature Park
Gros Piton and Petit Piton, listed as “World Heritage Sites” since 2004.
The Jazz Festival in May, featuring international artists. It is the 5th largest jazz festival in the world.
Friday night beach parties at Anse La Raye and Gros Ilet.
Carnival from June to July
Rum factories
Saint Lucia’s cuisine is an exquisite blend of flavors, revealing the island’s different
civilizations. From European dishes to Caribbean spices and Indian subtleties, Creole cuisine is refined and surprising. Coconut and ginger are widely used. There are many curries and fish dishes, such as sea bream.
Bananas, mangoes, pineapples and papayas complete this exoticism.
Saint Lucia must-sees
On the seaside
The north is home to long, fine white sandy beaches,
and jagged coves where the finest sailing yachts come to anchor. The south, with its
wind-beaten beaches, is dominated by the two pitons, the submerged
part of a gigantic volcano.
Stretches of fine sand
Saint Lucia nestles between the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Beaches lined with white sand and turquoise lagoons are ideal for relaxation, serenity and a wide range of water sports.
Each beach has its own character: small, peaceful coves ideal for idleness, beaches for family bathing, lively beaches with a festive atmosphere, and wilder beaches where encounters and discoveries take place…
As you approach the volcano and the sulfur lakes, the white sand darkens and takes on caramel tones.
Unparalleled seabed
The island is well known to insiders for its marine riches… The turquoise-blue waters of
are a treasure trove of dazzling coral reefs, multicolored sponges and soft corals that are the ideal hunting grounds for a multitude of tropical fish, turtles, seahorses, gorgonians and giant sponges…
Numerous diving schools and centers offer excursions, courses, guides and equipment for divers of all levels.
On the land
Coffee trees, banana plantations, cocoa and sugar cane fields, avocado bushes, mango and flamboyant trees, tropical forest, the center of the island is an exceptional nature reserve.
1. Trekking in the primary forest (Descartiers)
– Departure from Micoud (south-east)
Departure Micoud, arrival Fond Saint Jacques. A 4-hour walk accompanied by a forest guide. The wild vegetation will help you discover the most hidden part of the forest and the different color forms of our island’s resplendent flora. The primary forest is relatively unspoilt and covers very large areas. As on many tropical islands, St. Lucia’s flora and fauna are very rich and unique.
St. Lucia’s parrot, the Amazona Versicolore, is a protected species found only on the island. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to see this sublime, colorful bird. You can picnic and swim in the La Tille waterfall, one of the superb sites protected by the Ministry of Tourism.
– From Millet (45 minutes from Anse la Raie)
A real treat. An equally beautiful excursion in the midst of Saint Lucia’s nature.
2. Tet Paul (1-hour walk with a forest guide, with a stop at an organic farm)
Tet Paul lies to the southeast of the town of Soufrière. You’ll discover a spectacular view overlooking the Caribbean Sea, Jalousie Bay, the Pitons and, on a clear day, Martinique and St Vincent. Stop at a hut for a demonstration of Kassav-making. Walk through the rainforest and discover exotic fruits: corrossol, mango, guava, avocado, cashew nuts and medicinal plants. The walk ends at quartier Fond gens libres, where the gros piton walk begins.
3. Climb the Pitons
The Gros Piton and Petit Pitons are the island’s natural curiosities. They have been classified by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites since 2004. Gros Pitons, at 770 metres, is a triangular-shaped mountain along the Caribbean coast. Petit Pitons culminates at around 797 meters and is more tapered.
Discover the wilderness and enjoy breathtaking views over the whole island. The summit offers an exceptional panorama. The descent is made through the vegetation on a marked path.
2 possibilities:
– 4-hour walk to the summit (for very good walkers) Departure Fond gens libres
– 1-hour walk (for all)
Chocolate plantations (near Les Pitons)
– Morne Coubaril (next to Souffrière)
There is a zip line in the trees, accrobranche, typical restaurants, a chocolate and sugar cane plantation,
The director, “Stéphane Colmed’age”, speaks French.
– Fond Doux (next to Ladera)
Other must-sees
– Lake of Sulphur
– Botanical Gardens
– Rum factories
– Friday Nights at Anse La Raie. Every Friday evening from 7.30pm. Dancing and dining in the streets to the rhythm of Caribbean music. Authentic contact with the local population.
– Marigot Bay: a natural marina. The meeting place for all sailboats
A wide range of hotels
From authentic boutique hotels to luxury hotels, all-inclusive resorts, bed & breakfasts and superb villas, Saint Lucia offers a wide choice of accommodation to suit every type of stay and budget.
Sainte Lucie Tourist Office
40, rue Vauthier
92100 Boulogne Billancourt
Tel. + 33 (0)1 48 25 74 60
Mail: [email protected]
How to get there: Corsairfly
A scheduled French airline specializing in international long-haul flights, Corsairfly, a member of TUI France, France’s leading tourism group, operates a fleet of 5 Boeing 747-400s and 2 Airbus A330-200s.
Corsairfly operates scheduled flights to the Caribbean – Fort-de-France, Pointe-à-Pitre, – the Indian Ocean – Reunion Island, Mauritius, Mayotte, Madagascar- Africa – Senegal – North America – Canada and Florida.
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