Spending 3 days in St. Lucia
| VITAL INFORMATION | |
| Population | 160,000 |
| Languages spoken | English, Creole |
| Currency | 1.00 XCD = 0.37 USD |
| Average temperature | Summer: 75°F; winter: 65°F |
| High season | Mid-December to mid-April |
Located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, the 27-mile-long, 14-mile-wide tropical paradise of St. Lucia is one of the Windward Islands and its picturesque pink-sand beaches, turquoise waters and jutting mountains have made it hugely popular as a honeymoon spot. But not only newlyweds can appreciate the island’s natural beauty; bachelors can also enjoy all that St. Lucia has to offer. With a volcano to explore, rum distilleries to drink dry and waves to water-ski, it isn’t all about candlelit dinners, proposing to a loved one and exchanging vows. However you choose to enjoy the island, one thing’s for certain: You’re sure to find much-needed peace and tranquility here. After all, if you can’t find it here, you might as well pack up your Vilebrequin swim shorts and head home.
Here's how we recommend you should spend your three days in St. Lucia.
Day 1: Beach bum
As you fly into St. Lucia, make sure you look out for the twin peaks of the Pistons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton) and some of the island’s iconic black-sand volcanic beaches.To begin your three days in St. Lucia, take a taxi from the airport and head southwest to the luxurious Anse Chastanet Resort in Soufrière. Set in 600-acres of tropical foliage on one of the island’s most renowned beaches, the resort represents Caribbean hospitality at its very best. Splash out and opt for one of the deluxe suites with walls removed so that you can make the best of the surrounding vistas. And with no telephones, TVs or radios available, it’ll be easy as pie to forget all about the outside world. While you might twitch at the thought of no WiFi access, remember that St. Lucia is all about disconnecting from the stresses and strains of everyday life.
Spend your first morning unwinding at the Kai Belté spa. Peruse the list of treatments available -- including a Swedish massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, and La Stone therapy -- and let the worries of the world that you carry in a stubborn knot on your shoulders be eased away by trained therapists right on the sand. If you’re feeling particularly stressed out, treat yourself to the Sublime Six -- a package that consists of six treatments to be used over the course of your stay.
After you’ve been pummeled within an inch of your life, grab something to eat from the mouthwatering Caribbean buffet at the Trou au Diable restaurant. If you haven’t eaten too much and your ever-increasing belly isn’t too unsightly, strip off and hit the black-sand beach in St. Lucia-style. Frolic in the surf to get the attention of female guests and impress them by enjoying a variety of water sport activities like snorkeling, windsurfing, kayaking, and sailing. With shallow reefs that shimmer with 150 different kinds of tropical fish, the waters that surround the resort are protected and offer the best scuba diving to be found anywhere on the island. Beginning just 10-yards from the beach, the Anse Chastanet reef is brimming with species, such as peacock flounders, octopus, turtles, eels, lobsters, and sea horses, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled as you explore the ocean floor Into The Blue-style.
If you still have time, make sure you take in the Lesleen M shipwreck, the walls beneath the Pitons (where you’ll also be able to explore Superman’s Flight, a dive drift near Petit Piton), the Coral Gardens and Turtle Reef. Dive right in; the water’s lovely.
If you’re too tired to leave the resort that evening, don’t think you’re doing the island a disservice. The restaurants at the resort are actively involved with local farmers to produce the very best Caribbean cuisine there is, and many of the dishes are infused with Mediterranean influences. What’s more, the menu’s fresh herbs and fruit are grown in the resort’s very own plantation. Have an early dinner at the Treehouse Restaurant where you’ll be seated, as the name suggests, in open-air amidst treetops, and watch the glorious sunset as you eagerly make your way through the wine list. Have a few after-dinner rum cocktails before turning in for the night on your high thread count sheets, and with the smell of bougainvillea drifting through your open terrace doors.
Day 2: Shopaholic
When you wake up -- however late that may be, due to your rum-induced haze -- check out of the resort and head northwest into Castries, the capital of St. Lucia. As you make your way, be sure to arrange a tour of the Sulphur Springs, the island’s famous “drive-in” volcano. Afterward, check in to the hip four-star boutique Coco Palm hotel at Rodney Bay. Centrally located, you won’t need to walk far or fritter away your travel budget on taxi after taxi.Spend the morning wondering around the town, ensuring that you check out Derek Walcott Square and its 19th-century cathedral (also be sure to note the 400-year-old Samaan tree that stands next to it). With your cash at the ready, browse the 100-year-old market in the same square, which is usually bustling with eager sellers and enthusiastic shoppers. Don't forget to pick up some local goods like handmade crafts, pottery, baskets, woodcarvings, and paintings for those back home.
If you’re after duty-free goods, your best bet is to check out the stores around Point Seraphine and La Place Carenage, which are modern shopping centers near Castries’ port. Here, you’ll be able to snap up luxury watches and jewelery for half the usual price at Colombian Emeralds and Little Switzerland, Cuban and Dominican Republic cigars at Corpelon Liquor & Tobacco, original works by local artist Llewellyn Xavier at St. Lucia Fine Arts, Caribbean music and electronics at Paramount Electronic and Music Centre, and imported goods from England at Pickwick & Co. While you’re here, have a spot of lunch at one of the center’s many restaurants. If you’re feeling daring, try Conch fritters -- a Caribbean specialty that will have your taste buds dancing.
Weighed down with your wares, finish off your whirlwind tour of Castries by taking a wander up to Morne Fortuné, known as the “hill of good luck,” which boasts panoramic views of the surrounding valley. Here you will find the 18th century Fort Charlotte, which was a key battleground during the colonial possession of St. Lucia. Even if you’re not a history buff, the sight is something to behold.
Spend your second evening soaking up some traditional culture at the Derek Walcott Centre Theatre at the Cap Estate plantation. Take in an evening show -- whether that be music, dance or drama -- and experience the wonder of an open-air performance. Named after the West Indian writer, the 200-seat theater is a must-visit when on the island, as it showcases the very best of St. Lucian talent.
With all that culture whetting your appetite, head over to the historic San Antoine restaurant at Castries harbor after the show is finished and dine on five-star fare. Originally built in the late 1800s, the restaurant itself is as much of an experience as its fresh seafood with thick stone walls, stylish arches, winding staircases, and vaulted doorways.
Feeling delightfully plump, head back to your hotel to hanker down for the night.
Day 3: Iron man
If you fancy brushing up on that swing of yours, hit the green at the prestigious St. Lucia Golf Club. Located in the rolling hills of Cap Estates, the 18-hole course boasts enough undulating fairways and demanding contours to keep Tiger Woods entertained. Once you’ve enjoyed the splendor of the course, recharge in the clubhouse with an ice-cold gin and tonic and a spot of lunch at the Cap Grill. Highly recommended is the eight-ounce Black Angus burger, so get your teeth into that, and savor and enjoy.Feeling re-energized, you’ll be ready to spend the early afternoon zipping above St. Lucia’s rain forest on a canopy tour provided by Sunlink Tours. Easily arranged through most hotel and resort concierges, feel the adrenaline pump as you attach yourself to a zip-line and soar above the treetops 50-feet above the ground. Suspended between trees are platforms from which you’ll launch yourself -- each manned by its own guide -- enabling you to gain an entirely different perspective of the island in a perfectly safe, enjoyable manner.
Afterward, visit Captain Mike’s at Vigie Marina and arrange a deep-sea fishing trip ‘til sunset. Bait up and reel in a variety of fish, including barracuda, king mackerel, mako shark or, if you’re lucky, white marlin. When you’re done fishing, extend your excursion by going whale- and dolphin-watching. Cruising the island, you’ll get to spot some resident pods -- as well as migratory ones -- splashing about inches away from you in the Caribbean Sea.
Finally, check into the Bay Gardens Hotel at Rodney Bay for your final night in St. Lucia. Located in the heart of the recreation district, you can’t go wrong with a spacious Bay Gardens Croton Suite in the island’s best medium-sized hotel. After you’ve eaten a sumptuous last supper at the lively Lime Restaurant in the harbor, dance the night away to golden oldies, rock, salsa, and, of course, reggae, at the pumping Folley disco. When your feet can’t dance anymore, retire to your nearby accommodation and begin planning your return trip from the paradise isle.
island life
While St. Lucia doesn’t receive as much publicity as some of its neighboring islands, it’s no less deserving of a visit. With tropical weather, gorgeous beaches, lush vegetation, quaint towns, lip-smacking local cuisine, and the smiliest, most tourist-friendly people you’ll ever meet in the Caribbean, you could do worse than to visit the paradise isle. In fact, it would be hard to do better.Resources:
http://www.stlucia.org/
http://www.10best.com/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/
http://www.ansechastanet.com/
http://www.coco-resorts.com/
http://www.stluciagolf.com/
www.stluciatravelnet.com
www.sunlinktours.com
www.captmikes.com
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