How to Plan the Perfect Trip to St. Lucia

With hillsides and beaches studded with some of the most luxurious hotels and resorts in the region, St. Lucia easily earns its title as the “honeymoon capital of the Caribbean.” It’s utter paradise, a perennial top pick by Travel + Leisure readers for the list of their favorite islands in the Caribbean.

But this diverse island is for much more than just newlywed bliss. “St. Lucia used to be marketed exclusively as a ‘sea and sand’ destination,” says Angela Torille, director of sales and marketing at Windjammer Landing Resort & Residences, “but that’s finally starting to change.”

Renowned hiking trails through the forest and world-class diving inspire adventure travel, and a growing local culinary scene and farm-fresh dining are drawing more foodies. “It’s a bit of a sleeping giant,” says James Wyndham of Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort. “Just when you think you’ve got this island figured out, it sneaks up on you.”

Best Hotels & Resorts

Jade Mountain

Gone is the fourth wall in the oversized, open-air sanctuary suites at Jade Mountain, maximizing breathtaking views of the Pitons and gentle sea breezes. This mountaintop retreat offers supreme seclusion perfect for honeymooners, who can bask in their private infinity pools and enjoy personalized butler service at this too-good-to-be-true escape. It’s no wonder it was named one of the 100 best hotels in the world by Travel + Leisure readers this year.

Anse Chastenet

Founded in 1974, Anse Chastenet welcomes countless guests who have been returning year after year for decades. This luxury boutique resort gets better with every visit. Among the endless list of amenities on the 600-acre property it shares with sister resort, Jade Mountain, guests will find 12 miles of custom-built trails, the 20-acre organic Emerald Estates Farm, an intimate spa, a chocolate laboratory, and even an art gallery.

Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort

From the serene sugar-sand bay nestled between the Pitons emerges Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort, offering what may be the perfect vantage point for what is one of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean. Guests’ only struggle during their stay will be deciding whether to stick around and enjoy the amenities at this 100-acre property or partake in the dizzying array of activities offered to highlight the best of the island.

Cap Maison Resort & Spa

Cap Maison Resort & Spa is a family-owned boutique resort that feels private and secluded despite its proximity to some of the liveliest parts of the island. This newly minted Relais & Chateaux property also offers an array of foodie-favorite dining experiences overseen by its award-winning executive chef, Craig Jones.

Windjammer Landing Resort & Residences

An ambitious renovation last year revamped rooms and introduced new, next-level wellness and culinary experiences at Windjammer Landing Resort & Residences, a longtime favorite island destination. The 65-acre beachfront property offers sumptuous villa accommodations and proximity to the lively Rodney Bay, making it popular for multi-generational travel, though you’ll find plenty of honeymooners here as well.

Best Things to Do

Hike Gros Piton.

A surprisingly challenging two-hour trek awaits to reach the summit of Gros Piton, considered among the most famous hikes in the Caribbean. “Make sure to have your guide take you to the northern viewing platform,” says Karolin Troubetzkoy, executive director of marketing and operations at Jade Mountain and Anse Chastenet. “It’s less visited, but the views over the rest of the island are even more impressive.” She also recommends Tet Paul Nature Trail for a gentler hike between the two peaks with equally breathtaking views.

Visit Sulphur Springs.

Feel the raw power of St. Lucia’s volcanic formation at the island’s Sulphur Springs, hidden among babbling rivers and waterfalls in the jungle near Soufrière. They’re touted as the world’s only “drive-in volcano” for the unmatched accessibility of these giant, steaming fissures. “A visit isn’t complete without a detoxifying mud bath in naturally heated pools,” recommends Wyndham.

Sample local chocolate.

St. Lucia is famous in the Caribbean for its small but growing artisan chocolate industry. Visit Cacoa Sainte Lucie for bean-to-bar chocolate-making workshops and experiences; their gourmet creations make the perfect souvenir.

Explore Pigeon Island National Landmark.

“The French and the British fought over this strategic spot for years,” says Torille of the 44-acre island reserve on St. Lucia’s western coast, “and you’ll immediately see why.” Climb to the top of the ruins of the island’s 18th-century fort to catch sweeping views across the sea towards neighboring islands. Bring a picnic lunch to eat along untouched beaches to complete your visit.

Go diving.

Underwater canyons and caverns formed by St. Lucia’s volatile volcanic past make the island a haven for snorkeling and scuba diving. Dive spots dot the waters around the entire island, though many charters head straight for the bay between the Pitons in front of Sugar Beach. The resort offers a PADI-certified dive center headed by the president of the St. Lucia Divers Association, so you know you’re in good hands here.

Best Restaurants

Orlando’s

Chef Orlando Satchell used to head the kitchen at one of St. Lucia’s finest resorts before opening his own restaurant and bar on the island’s west coast. A cozy, no-frills setting lets multi-course menus packed with sustainably sourced ingredients and Caribbean flavors shine.

Coal Pot

Coal Pot is a marina-front Caribbean and French fusion eatery in St. Lucia’s capital that has been here for years, a testament to its appeal with locals and visitors alike. You’ll also want to visit Coal Pot’s sister restaurant, The Pink Plantation, for Creole-inspired dishes in a historic, 150-year-old estate.

The Treehouse Restaurant

Anse Chastenet’s Treehouse Restaurant offers two farm-to-table menus – Balawoo, for rich tropical-inspired flavors, and Emerald, for the best vegan dishes on the island. The restaurant’s open-air treehouse terrace location offers breathtaking views of the Pitons amidst lush island foliage.

Dasheene

Headed by award-winning local chef Nigel Mitchel, Dasheene is famous for weaving locally-grown ingredients into a St. Lucian-French fusion fine dining experience that is singular on the island. The restaurant is located within Ladera, another famously luxurious resort on the island’s southwest coast.

The Naked Fisherman

Expect an elevated “toes-in-the-sand” dining experience at The Naked Fisherman, where diners can dig into perfectly crispy conch fritters and Creole barbecue at the idyllic cove beach below Cap Maison Resort & Spa. Sunsets over the water are sublime, particularly when the restaurant hosts special events like seafood boils or brings in live music on Sundays.

Best Times to Visit

The best time to visit St. Lucia is December through April, when the skies are sunny and the days are warm, not hot. Though these months are the island’s busiest, hotels here tend to be booked up year-round thanks to St. Lucia’s popularity with honeymooners.

Visitors may save some money on hotel bookings during the rainier off-season, from May to November. These wetter months bring the added benefit of dressing the island in the lush, tropical richness it’s famous for, making passing afternoon showers all the more worth it.

Culturally curious travelers should visit in early May for the St. Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, which brings together local and international musicians and artists for nearly two weeks of events held across the island.

In July, St. Lucia celebrates Carnival with a week of festivities fueled by the local Dennery Segment music and more. Though it’s not as big or boisterous as other Caribbean carnival celebrations you may know of, it’s a party worth planning your trip around.

How to Get There

By Plane

Despite its small size, St. Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) is relatively well-served, with direct flights from many cities on the East Coast. Frequent flights from Delta, Jet Blue, United, and, increasingly, American Airlines, are available throughout the year. St. Lucia is also well-connected to its Caribbean neighbors via regional airlines, many of which fly into the smaller George F.L. Charles Airport just outside of the island’s capital.

For those splashing out on a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon, Tradewind Aviation offers direct private charter flights to the island from a number of different locations across the U.S. and the Caribbean, including nearby islands like St. Kitts, St. Thomas, and Puerto Rico.

By Ferry

Island-hopping still isn’t as common in the Caribbean as might be expected, but ferry service between St. Lucia and the nearby islands of Dominica, Guadeloupe, and Martinique make it possible on a smaller scale. Ferries run daily on a fixed schedule, but availability varies by season, so check ahead with your hotel or resort before planning your trip around it.

Places to Visit

The Northwest Coast

St. Lucia’s northwest coast is home to the island’s busier commercial areas, including its capital city, Castries. A spray of resorts, including many of St. Lucia’s larger all-inclusives, line this part of the coast. No matter where you’re staying, “visiting the area’s Rodney Bay is a must if you’re intersted in getting out of the resort to experiencing local cuisine, shopping, or nightlife,” says Torille.

The Southwest Coast

The calmer, more untouched southwest coast of the island is home the Pitons, waterfall-studded jungle trails, and some of the smaller boutique resorts that take luxury to the next level. Don’t skip the town of Soufrière on your way to Sulphur Springs; dinner at Orlando’s and shopping at Zaka Art Café round out an exciting island excursion.

The East Coast

The rugged, wave-thrashed shores of St. Lucia’s Atlantic Coast have little in the way of tourist development, leaving these undeniably stunning landscapes relatively untouched. “Guided ATV expeditions and trail walks along the eastern coast of the island are popular with more adventurous visitors looking for something more unexplored than the popular Pitons,” says Wyndham.

How to Get Around

Rental Cars and Taxis

Taxis are the most common mode of transportation for visitors to St. Lucia. Though fares tend to be on the pricier side, taking a taxi will save the hassle of navigating the island’s twisting mountain highways and narrow valley passes, which are sure to send your blood pressure soaring.

The daring — or fiercely independent — will find rental cars available through international and local companies at the airport and in some of the island’s larger cities and towns.

Water Taxis

St. Lucia’s breathtaking scenery is even more beautiful from the water. Taking a water taxi between destinations on the tranquil west coast of the island is a fabulous way to travel, especially if you don’t have a snorkeling excursion or sunset cruise planned for later on in your itinerary. Water taxis are also available from the international airport to many of the resorts on the island for the ultimate start to a memorable stay.