3 perfect days in St. Lucia
Sure St. Lucia has the gorgeous beaches and pristine water of its many Caribbean cousins. But it also has so much going on both above and below the surface that you will want to get off the beach and start exploring from day one.
Attracting crowds from around the world for events like the Jazz Festival in May and July's bacchanalia-filled Carnival, St. Lucia knows how to welcome tourists, which means it's easy for first-times to discover the island's sounds, flavors, and traditions in just a few days.
When choosing somewhere to call your home base, the northern coast is ideal for restaurants, family-friendly resorts, and nightlife. In the south, you'll find rural fishing villages, luxury hotels, and some of the island's most beautiful natural wonders, including the Jurassic-Park-like volcanic Piton Mountains, formed 300,000 years ago. You can easily spend your time on just the northern or southern part of the island, but you'd be missing out. Instead, consider hiring a driver to take in the island's more authentic and less-visited parts. My favorite company on the island is PHV TOURS, which also offers airport transfers.
Keep reading to plan your perfect three-day trip.
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DAY ONE
MORNING
Get ready to say hello to St. Lucia on the north side of the island, which includes the lively commercial port of Castries and a festive street celebration held every Friday in Gros Islet. Start your day at Castries Market, where vendors sell spices, wood carvings, and more. Stock up on vanilla and cocoa sticks to take home, and don't skip a taste of the cow heel soup. Saturday is particularly full of life, and next door, there's a Craft Market with even more souvenirs to consider. If you'd like to include a bit of nature exploration, Pigeon Island National Park near Gros Islet is not to be missed. Here, you'll find forty-four acres of hiking trails, a beach, ruins of forts, and two peaks that you can climb for sweeping island views.
AFTERNOON
Head to lunch at the waterfront Coal Pot that overlooks Vigie Cove. Enjoy pumpkin soup and grilled fish dishes like red snapper and kingfish. After lunch, head to Millet Bird Sanctuary (also in Castries), where you'll spy several birds endemic to St. Lucia and learn about the flora and fauna of the island.
Travelers say: "Though we would have loved to see some St. Lucia parrots, the birdwatching walk with guide Damas was amazing and a perfect way to end our time at St. Lucia. The staff are so friendly - not a tourist trap like other places. The scenery is amazing - both on the drive up and when you arrive. Our guide was delightful - such a nice man and a pleasure to spend time with. TIP: arrive at 7 am for a chance to see the parrots. We were too late, but it was still amazing." —@DarylK
If the day is still young, relax on Rodney Beach, dotted with beach bars and surrounded by turquoise waters that draw crowds looking for an afternoon retreat.
EVENING
Stay nearby to enjoy the hub of nightlife in Rodney Bay Village. Jacques Waterfront Dining is a favorite among visitors and residents for seaside dining that celebrates international flavors. The rotating menu features items like seafood in curry, fish skewers, and grilled lobster. If it's Friday night, take a 5-minute cab ride to the island's northern tip, Gros Islet. Their famous street party has been kicking off the weekend in style for over fifty years. Starting at sunset, arts and crafts vendors, DJs, and food stalls offer island favorites like grilled conch and spiny lobster. Also on Friday evenings is the Anse La Raye fish fry, where fishermen set up bubbling pots and frying pans to prepare dorado, barracuda, Spanish mackerel, lobster, and other finds for eager street crowds.
TOUR OPTION
- No trip to the Caribbean is complete without rum, and this tasting tour highlights some of St. Lucia's finest distilleries. This food tour will give you a taste of St. Lucian dishes like hot bakes and cocoa tea.
DAY TWO
MORNING
With such lush, mountainous terrain, you'll want to try hiking in St. Lucia. Popular trail options include Gros Piton (a guide for this trek is highly recommended), Petit Piton, and Tet Paul Nature Trail–which is best suited for all levels and those looking for an adventure that doesn't take most of the day. Located at Chateau Belaire on the southern part of the island, Tet Paul includes a path called "stairway to heaven," which lends itself to beautiful views of the Piton Mountains jutting out from the sea. The hike takes about 45 minutes.
Travelers say: "So glad I listened to previous reviews. The nature trail is a great way to get some exercise, learn about St. Lucia's culture and agriculture, and enjoy some spectacular views of the Pitons. If you get Denver as your guide, consider yourself extra lucky. Fun morning!" —@lisaokirk
After your hike, if you're up for another adventure, head to Morne Coubaril Historical Adventure Park, an estate where you can zipline, have a spa treatment near a waterfall, and an open-air buffet. There are also several tours, including a rum and chocolate tasting and a historical estate tour.
AFTERNOON
Enjoy a Creole lunch in a rustic setting at Bamboo Restaurant, located at Fond Doux Eco Resort. Offerings include stewed chicken, grilled fish, rice and beans, plantains, purple yams, salad, and more.
Ready for a bit of dessert and history after lunch? If you love chocolate, you're in the right place. St. Lucia has produced cocoa for centuries. To taste the island's offerings, stay at Fond Doux after lunch for their Chocolate Heritage Tour, where you'll learn how to make your own chocolate. Nearby, Project Chocolat offers a "Tree to Bar" Experience that's also very popular.
EVENING
For dinner, don't miss Chef Orlando Satchell's well-loved restaurant, Orlando's Restaurant & Bar in Soufriere. Reservations in advance are needed for the intimate dining experience, which features dishes like snapper and risotto and a spicy mango salad with avocado.
TOUR OPTIONS
- This Stairway to Heaven Tour at Tet Paul trail also includes stops at a fishing village, banana and cocoa plantations in Morn-Fortune, and the historic town of Soufriere.
- Hit the waves on a champagne sunset sail that passes through Rodney Bay Marina and Castries-Gros Islet Hwy.
DAY THREE
MORNING
Spend your last day in the famous southern village of Soufriere, visiting some of the island's popular natural attractions. Start at one of the world's only drive-in volcanoes, Sulphur Springs–where you can also take a dip. It's best to arrive early as the mud baths can get very crowded. The sulfur-rich waters here are said to have healing properties that can help issues like painful joints and acne.
Afterward, head to nearby Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens & Mineral Baths, where you can walk through beautiful flora and fauna like hibiscus and heliconia, as well as view the Diamond Waterfall and take a dip in a mineral bath.
Travelers say: "The botanical gardens are a peaceful paradise. You will especially love this place if you appreciate different types of flowers, trees, and other plants. Walking through the trails is like a magical experience. We sat in the mineral spring baths, and my two kids (ages 11 and 14) enjoyed relaxing in them; it's like a hot tub." —@KJ
AFTERNOON
For lunch celebrating Lucian flavor, drive to Fedo's for delicious chicken creole, grilled fish, and substantial roti options. The welcoming, no-frills stop also offers a selection of daily fresh juices. After lunch, you will be close to Anse Chastanet Beach, which has some of the best views of the Piton mountains and is also one of the ideal places on the island to snorkel.
EVENING
Celebrate your last night at the famed Jade Mountain Club at Jade Mountain Resort, where views of the shimmering Caribbean Sea and Piton Mountains in the distance will make for a truly memorable dining experience. And, of course, for dessert, remember the chocolate.
TOUR OPTION
- This tour includes some of the island's natural wonders, including Sulfur Springs, the Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens, Mineral Baths, and Toraille Waterfall.
Know Before You Go
For ideal weather that’s not too hot, May and June are your best bet. Summer and late fall come with the risk of hurricanes, and the most expensive time to visit is from April to December, particularly during the holidays when hotel rates can skyrocket.
Most businesses in St. Lucia are closed on Sundays.
Most shops on the island are open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and until 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Castries Market is open every day except for Sunday, and hours vary. Popular restaurants are typically open daily.
Soufriere: Head down south, where winding roads give way to lush mountainsides and the quaint fishing village of Soufriere. Here, pastel colored homes and roadside stalls line streets. Nearby stretches of a pristine coastline are home to hotels like Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort, which has one of the most prime locations on the entire island due to its proximity to the mighty Piton Mountains. Also in Soufriere and an architectural wonder of stone and open space, Jade Mountain is a favorite honeymooner’s retreat.
Castries: To be close to a hub of restaurants and shopping, make Castries your location of choice. Check into Calabash Cove Resort & Spa, one of the only resorts to offer a vegan menu on the island. The adults-only resort has just 26 rooms, and sustainability initiatives include being plastic-free, as well as all hot water being generated by solar energy.
Airport transfers: St. Lucia has two airports: Hewanorra International Airport at Vieux Fort (UVF) is located on the southern end of the island and serves primarily international flights, and George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU) in the north is often used for inter-island flights. If you are arriving internationally and staying in the south, the ride will be about an hour from UVF airport. Taxis, shuttles, and car rentals are all available at the airport, as well as a number of private transfer services, like PHV TOURS.