Saint Lucia with Petit Piton in the distance
With its stunning beaches and a lush mountainous rainforest interior, which distinguishes it from most other Caribbean destinations, the island of Saint Lucia is a top destination for weddings and honeymoons. But there’s no reason you can’t enjoy all the island has too offer even if it’s way before (or way after) you’re thinking of exchanging vows. Here are some amazing experiences to make Saint Lucia a top choice for your next getaway.
A Drive-In Volcano And Sulphur Baths
Why waste hours hiking to a volcano when you can cruise up instead? Billed as the world’s only “Drive-In Volcano” this experience outside the town of Soufriere lets you drive to the crater and watch steam rise from the Sulphur Springs — plus should the thing erupt you’ll be able to make a faster getaway. Afterwards head further down where things cool off enough to take a geothermal mud bath.
Hike The Pitons
Like the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, the Pitons are the most recognized image of the Saint Lucia ‘skyline.’ These two volcanic plugs, Gros Piton and Petit Piton, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site — but the real honor is they named the local beer after them. Gros Piton (2,618 ft.) is the one you’ll most likely be hiking as it has marked trails and no equipment or experience is needed. Guides can also be hired through most hotels.
A couple enjoys the mud baths
Forget The Hike, Enjoy The Pitons From Your Private Villa Pool At Stonefield Resort
No judgment — not everyone feels like taking a long hike on their vacation. Instead check into your private villa at Stonefield Resort and enjoy the practically right-there-in-front-of-you view of Petit Piton from your own pool. Stonefield has 17 French-colonial style villas, along with the Escape Spa and the farm-to-table Mango Restaurant with Caribbean views and modern cuisine along with traditional Saint Lucian dishes. The neighboring hotel pool is the perfect spot for sunset cocktails.
Drink Rum At St. Lucia Distillers
Caribbean. Rum. Distillery. Need more be said? While their rums can be sampled all over the island, why not go to the source, take the tour and see how it’s made. Located in Roseau, the “Rhythm of Rum” at St. Lucia Distillers takes about an hour and includes a film, colorful displays, a visit to the copper still and the important part — samples of about 25 different rums. The on-site store also sells some rarer bottles you won’t be able to find back home.
A private pool with a view of Petit Piton at Stonefield Resort
A Chocolate Hotel And Restaurant
What’s better than a chocolate store? An actual chocolate hotel. British chocolate maker Hotel Chocolat decided to live up to their name and open the Rabot on their cacao estate with 14 Eco lodges (and more currently being built) and a great view of Petit Piton — it’s away from the beaches but daily shuttles are provided. Whether on not you’re staying a visit to the Rabot Restaurant is mandatory to enjoy its ‘cacao cuisine’ — featuring gourmet dishes with subtle chocolate touches. Cacao is also infused into their signature cocktails and among the many desserts be sure to try the Chocolate Genesis — “the epic story of chocolate in a 9-stage tasting plate.”
Diving
Saint Lucia is home to over 22 dives sites, situated up and down the west coast of the island. You can explore the coral reefs ay Anse Cochon, take a beginners dive at Smuggler’s Cove, see volcanic peaks at Keyhole Pinnacles or explore the wreck of the Lesleen M, a 165-ft freighter that sunk in 1986.
Enjoy A Tasting at the Wine Cellar At Ti Kaye
Ti Kaye (Creole for little house) is a waterfront resort with 33 cottages along the hillside above Anse Cochon cove with private outdoor showers, hammocks and some with their own plunge pool. You’ll walk down a series of staircases from the main level down to the beach — though if you’re tired from a day of swimming and lunch and cocktails from the beachfront restaurant they will arrange a ride up. Dinner at their Kai Manje restaurant is a little more upscale, though still vacation-friendly, but a real treat is to arrange a tasting and sample some of their 500+ wines in the hidden wine cellar below the restaurant.
Cap Maison Resort with a Champagne zipline
Stay On A Working Cocoa Estate In A Rainforest
A Caribbean vacation is usually all about the beach, but if you’re up for a new experience, or like to divide your time at more than one place, the Fond Doux Eco Resort is a unique opportunity to stay inside the rainforest and cocao fields — and the beach is only a shuttle ride away. The resort has 17 cottages, two restaurants featuring Creole and Caribbean cuisine and the Mama La Terre Spa. And don’t forget the reason you came — be sure to take the Chocolate Heritage Tour, where you learn how chocolate is made and get to make your own, and the Fond Deux Heritage Tour, which shows you around the fruits, flowers and creatures of the 135-acre 250-year old property.
Experience A Champagne Zipline
After a day of ziplining through the rainforest, why not have a bottle of Champagne zipline down to you? The Rock Maison at the Cap Maison Resort is a private deck for a romantic sunset dinner on the water lit by tiki torches and one special additional feature — a zipline that delivers champagne in a basket to your table from the hotel above.
A Wedding At The Anse Chastanet
All right, maybe after all the great experiences you and your partner are ready for the next step — or will think about coming back some day for it. The Anse Chastanet resort is on 600 tropical acres and has the perfect soft sand beaches and Caribbean views to make unforgettable memories. There’s even one secluded beach where once the guests and groom are ready the bride arrives by boat.
Saint Lucia and COVID: To travel to Saint Lucia all visitors must complete a Travel Authorization form and take a COVID PCR test 5 days or less before arrival. Vaccinated travelers are not required to quarantine. Non-vaccinated visitors have restrictions. Visit StLucia.org for more details.
