Top Things to Do in St Lucia

It takes about an hour and a half to travel from one end of tropical St Lucia to the other – maybe one hour with light traffic. However, don’t be fooled by the limited real estate; a trip to this idyllic Caribbean island will keep you busy with activities from dawn till dusk, whether your taste runs to cacao estate tours or jungle hikes.

Beyond the bone-white sands and turquoise waters, St Lucia offers an abundance of nature trails, family-friendly experiences, and mouthwatering cuisine, plus overall good vibes. To help you plan your itinerary, here’s our guide to the best things to do in St Lucia.

Go Hiking on St Lucia’s Pitons

As you might expect from an island with such mountainous terrain, St Lucia is a hiker’s paradise. Most walkers start their adventure on the twin volcanic plugs known as the Pitons. Gros Piton is the larger of the two, and the ascent gets progressively more taxing as you get closer to the summit. Although the climb is shorter, the trek up Petit Piton is unforgiving from the get-go.

The payoff is a panoramic, unobstructed view of the island that will leave you breathless. Wildlife enthusiasts should tackle the Piton Flore Trail, which loops through lush rainforest to the top of Piton Flore near Castries; endemic St Lucia parrots are often spotted along the trail.

Planning tip: If you’re just after a leisurely stroll against a brilliant backdrop, the Tet Paul Nature Trail climbs through an organic farm to a lofty lookout near Soufriére. The route is achievable for hikers of all ages and fitness levels, but an early morning start is best for keeping cool and avoiding the midday sun.

Take a Cruise to Admire the St Lucia Sunset

There are few more romantic experiences than watching the Caribbean sun dip below the horizon. A sunset cruise will be a highlight of any trip to the island described as the “Helen of the West Indies.” Most cruises offer two relaxed hours at sea with a perfect trifecta of good drinks, good food, and Caribbean music.

Planning tip: For a novel twist on the typical St Lucia sunset cruise, consider a cruise that sails along the inner bay of the Pitons, serving up dramatic coastal views. Increase the intimacy factor with a private cruise or rent a catamaran for an evening sail with just your nearest and dearest. You might even catch that elusive phenomenon known as the green flash, caused by the refraction of the sun’s light.

Indulge in St Lucia Chocolate

St Lucia’s long history of cacao production can be traced back to the 1700s when plantations were established to supply beans to Europe for premium chocolate. Today, the industry is thriving once again with the growth of premium chocolate brands, and the entire month of August is dedicated to events celebrating this confection.

The Rabot Hotel is the centerpiece of a 250-year-old cocoa farm, the oldest on the island. Beyond the cocoa-inspired decor, the property’s meals are also chocolate-infused. Standouts at lunchtime include cacao nib-marinated chicken rotis and watermelon salad; for dinner, the beef tenderloin is paired with seasonal vegetables, cacao nibs, and garden mint.

For a sweet addition to an intimate getaway, try a revitalizing “Chocolate Delight” spa treatment at the innovative resort, or a sensuous “Sweet Surrender Chocolate Wrap” at Kai Koko Spa inside the tranquil Ti Kaye Resort.

For a more immersive experience, take a heritage tour with Fond Doux Eco Resort for a deep dive into all things cacao, including the cocoa-rina dance traditionally used to polish the beans. Cacao Sainte Lucie, in the village of Belvedere near Canaries, offers visitors the opportunity to learn about the slow roasting and stone grinding process that forms the foundation of its handcrafted small-batch chocolate.

Enjoy Natural Spa Treatments at St Lucia’s Sulphur Springs

St Lucia boasts the world’s only drive-in volcano, and arriving at this steaming natural volcanic spa is certainly an experience. With four pools fed by volcano-heated water, visitors can soak in soothing geothermal waters.

The dormant volcano that produces all this heat last erupted in the 1700s, but its mud baths, hot springs, and waterfalls continue to draw visitors. The mud baths are believed to contain detoxifying properties that soothe sunburn, joint soreness, arthritis, and skin conditions like eczema.

Planning tip: Try to nab a spot in the first mud bath – the water flows from one to the next and gets a bit mucky by the fourth bath.

Get Wet at Splash Island Water Park

Splash Island is the Caribbean’s first floating water park, and it’s a firm favorite with families in St Lucia. The inflatable water park sits just off Reduit Beach and features a kid- and adult-friendly obstacle course with hurdles, monkey bars, slide, swing, climbing wall, trampoline, water volleyball, and more. Lifeguards are stationed close by to ensure a safe aquatic adventure.

Planning tip: After working up an appetite, visitors can enjoy a meal from one of the small, cozy restaurants lining the nearby Rodney Bay strip.

Get Above the Rainforest on the Aerial Tram

A dense stretch of emerald rainforest covers the island, providing shelter for the national bird, the St Lucia parrot (Amazona versicolor), found only on this tiny Caribbean island. In local parlance, it’s called the Jacquot, and you may be lucky enough to spot one from the aerial tram that crosses the jungle, inland from Castries.

The open, cage-like gondolas soar 37m (120ft) above the rainforest canopy, offering an incomparable overhead view of the lush flora and fauna. Each gondola holds eight people, and a nature interpreter accompanies each group to identify noteworthy plants and wildlife along the way.

Join the Fun at the Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party

St Lucia’s most famous party is the Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party, which has been a staple on the island’s nightlife scene for more than 50 years. Held in St Lucia’s northernmost town, the weekly jump-up and jam session starts as soon as the sun sets. Residents fill their coolers with ice, local fruit juice, and Piton beers, while the telltale scent of barbecues and garlicky fish and chicken wafts through the air.

Add in a few hundred revelers and DJs spinning records ranging from groovy soca to the “riddim-driven” sounds of Caribbean dancehall, and you have a vibrant gathering lasting well into the wee hours of Saturday morning. If you want to party like a true Lucian, there’s no better place to strut your stuff.

Shop for Crafts and Tropical Fruit at the Castries Market

Since 1894, the Castries Market on Jeremie Street has been the island’s main hub for the sale of fresh fish and meat, produce, herbs, and spices. It’s a great place to browse for fresh, sun-sweetened fruit and vegetables, displayed in neat piles.

Nearby, the covered section of the market features rows of colorful stalls selling handcrafted trinkets, decorated calabashes, woven baskets, straw hats, art, spicy island condiments, and locally produced beachwear. It’s also a fine spot to sample authentic St Lucian treats such as bakes (fried dough), cocoa tea, and cow heel soup.

Planning tip: The market operates daily, but Saturday is the busiest day of the week – locals gather before 7am to pick the freshest produce.

Watch a Cricket Match at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground

One of the holdovers from St Lucia’s time under British colonial rule is the national obsession with cricket. St Lucians are passionate about cricket, so don’t be surprised if you see locals walking along holding small transistor radios to follow matches. The best place to see a match is the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground at Gros Islet, named after the first St Lucian to be called up to the West Indies Cricket Team.

Planning tip: For the ultimate Caribbean cricket-watching experience, grab a seat in the party stands, where drinks are always free-flowing and the celebrations are spirited and uninhibited.

Take a Rum Tour to Sample St Lucia’s Spirit

Rum is the rockstar ingredient in some of St Lucia’s best-loved culinary traditions, from the island’s famous rum punch to local fruitcake. Locally produced Bounty Rum has even been described as the spirit of St Lucia in every way!

Planning tip: Bounty Rum is manufactured and bottled by St Lucia Distillers, which also produces the award-winning premium rum, Chairman’s Reserve. You can follow its production process on a Rhythm of Rum tour, which includes tastings of its extensive collection of rums and rum-based liqueurs.

Eat Like a Local in St Lucia

St Lucia’s cuisine is a mélange of Amerindian, British, French, African, and Creole influences, resulting in a dizzying array of flavorful local fare. Starchy sides such as yam, sweet potato, and dasheen (a kind of taro) are typically accompanied by stewed meats or fish broth and vegetables. Legumes are a common accompaniment, particularly lentils or red (kidney) beans.

A traditional breakfast starts with cocoa tea made from cacao sticks and aromatic spices, served alongside fried dough “bakes,” stewed saltfish, and cucumber salad.

Planning tip: You can sample any of these dishes and many more at local restaurants around the island. During Jounen Kwéyòl – a festival dedicated to Creole culture held annually in October – you can find many authentic local meals served in towns and villages, including the national dish: saltfish and green fig (unripened banana). Don’t miss out on bouyon (meat stew) and breadfruit with smoked herring.

This article was first published Oct 7, 2014, and updated Nov 8, 2023.