If you get bored lying on the beach for your entire vacation, St. Lucia is the Caribbean island for you. Sure, there are plenty of romantic St. Lucia hotels and picture-perfect sandy beaches with shady palm trees for you to lounge under, but when you tire of that, there are plenty of other things to do in St. Lucia —including rainforests to explore waterfalls to swim in, and mountains to climb.
Go Jungle Biking
When you think of mountain biking, you probably don’t think of the Caribbean—which would be a mistake. Thanks to St. Lucia’s diverse terrain, it’s actually become a destination for serious bikers, who come to test their skills on Bike St. Lucia’s 12 miles of private trails.
Located on the grounds of Anse Mamin, a former plantation, Bike St. Lucia has trails for literally everyone—including people like myself, who have never mountain biked before, or for professionals like Tinker Juarez, a champion bike racer who trained here. This is one of the best ways to get off the beaten path in St. Lucia and get deep into the rainforest.
Explore Historic Pigeon Island
Pigeon Island National Landmark used to be an island, but it was connected to the mainland with a causeway in 1972. A former military base and rumored hiding place of pirate treasure, the island’s rich history is best explored with a knowledgeable guide who can take you through the park’s fascinating ruins and the twists and turns of trails scaling the park’s two peaks, Ford Rodney and Signal Peak.
Don’t skip out on the more challenging trek up to Signal Peak—hikers who push through will be rewarded with crystal clear, 360-degree views of the surrounding Rodney Bay. If visiting Saint Lucia in May, make a stop at Pigeon Island as it turns into a mainstage for the annual Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival.
Taste Authentic Cuisine at the Beacon Restaurant
You’ll be drawn into the Beacon Restaurant by the amazing views (the restaurant’s patio has a sweeping panorama of the Pitons that’s hard to beat from anywhere on the island), but you’ll stay for the authentic St. Lucian cuisine. This locally run restaurant serves up a hearty lunch buffet that will give you a chance to try all the famous foods that you’ve heard about—from the national dish of green fig and salt fish to St. Lucian-style macaroni and cheese. Complimentary fresh juice accompanies the buffet and is a great opportunity to taste tamarind juice.
Hike Gros Piton
The Pitons, two volcanic formations that rise over the Caribbean Sea, are St. Lucia’s most iconic landmarks (they’re even part of the country’s flag). Once you’ve stared at them long enough, you’ll likely be inspired to climb at least one of them, especially once you hear that it only takes an average of two hours to climb up and another two hours to descend the taller Gros Piton.
You’ll need to hire a guide and purchase a permit to hike Gros Piton, both of which you can do without a reservation at the base of the mountain. The earlier you start your summit, the better, as the heat and humidity only get worse as the day goes on. This is a moderate hike that most people with a good level of fitness can do with minimal gear—the most important thing to bring is plenty of water.
Walk the Tet Paul Nature Trail
Bring your camera to the Tet Paul Nature Trail, which is one of the best things to do in St. Lucia if you’re looking for great photo opportunities. This is a very easy walk on a well-kept trail that can be completed in about half an hour—the most challenging part is the “stairway to heaven,” a set of steep stairs that reveal one of the best views of the Pitons at the top.
The trail winds through a working organic farm, through a historic traditional house, and past many native plants, which your guide will point out to you. (If you’ve never seen how a pineapple grows, you might be surprised!)
Swim in Toraille Waterfall
The Toraille Waterfall is easy to get to—just a quick two-minute walk from the road—which is why I was surprised to find hardly anyone there when I visited. If swimming under a waterfall is on your bucket list, this is the place to do it—it’s easy to wade into the cool waters, and you can stand up under the pounding falls for an impromptu back or shoulder massage if you like. I stopped in here just after completing a very sweaty hike up Gros Piton, and it was like diving into heaven.
Discover Anse Mamin Beach
Anse Mamin feels like a well-kept secret. Most visitors flock to Anse Chastanet resort’s bigger, more developed beach, but if you follow the somewhat hidden path from there, you’ll emerge onto a second, quieter beach—Anse Mamin. Although the beach huts and lounge chairs are only for resort guests, all beaches in St. Lucia are public, so you can bring your own towel and chair and relax here for the day, even if you’re not staying at the hotel.
A secluded sandy beach in St. Lucia might not be where you’d expect to have an amazing burger, but the one served up for lunch at the Jungle Beach Bar & Grill is famous on the island (and for a good reason).
Attend an Island “Jump-Up”
The Gros Islet Street Party is one of the most popular jump-ups on the island, an all-night celebration that has packed the streets of Gros Islet every Friday for the past fifty years. The theme of the evening is music, dance, socialization, and food, with vendors selling everything from the freshest seafood to classic Saint Lucian barbeque. The party is usually a mix of locals and tourists, and local guides are available to take you to the hottest spots.
Take a Lushan Country Life Tour
Interested in learning about St. Lucia’s rich cultural history? If so, a stop at Lushan Country Life is a must. This family-run tour is one of the best educational things to do in St. Lucia, taking you through the island’s past before offering up samples of the local fruit growing on the farm, as well as other homemade dishes.
Take a Volcanic Mud Bath
You’ve heard of a drive-in movie theater, but how about a drive-in volcano? The sulphuric mud baths in Soufriere are touted as the world’s only drive-in volcano, as visitors can drive their cars right up to the sulfur springs in the heart of the mountain. The volcanic mud is said to ease skin conditions and help detoxify the body. And if you’re worried about an explosion, don’t be—the Soufriere Volcano is officially dormant.
Carol McPherson contributed to this article.
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