A Caribbean paradise called Saint Lucia

Who hasn’t dreamed of a vacation on a tropical island? Saint Lucia was my first visit in the Caribbean, and I couldn’t have picked a better place to spend 3 weeks!

Moments after takeoff I realised that I forgot my hand luggage in the airport, distracted by the duty free shopping 🙂 But the Virgin Atlantic staff was so nice to send it to me on the next flight! What a life saver! I had there all my important documents, toiletries and underwear! So I couldn’t be more thankful to them!

After the 8 hour flight from London UK, I could see from the sky the green hills of the beautiful Saint Lucian island. I knew then that I will love this place.

The island is popular with honeymooners and couples because it’s such a romantic place. And the popularity of the island grew even more with the filming of the Season 18 of The Bachelor TV show. This post however, is about my experience of Saint Lucia, staying in an affordable place and exploring the island.

You can find here expensive luxury resorts for Adults only, or you can choose a cheaper place to stay with your family. Or even rent a house!

Wherever you choose to stay it won’t take more than 2 hours to drive from the international airport. I stayed at a hotel on Reduit Beach in Rodney Bay, since I had to spread my costs over 3 weeks. The room was very spacious and the bed big and comfortable. And the Rodney Bay area has lots of restaurants and places to hang out. Here you can also witness incredible sunsets!

After a day of rest, I rented a car from local friends to be able to explore the island. And I’ve taken many road trips to various beaches and places on the island, about which I will tell you a little below. I even went to the local cinema, where I didn’t manage to sneak any outside snacks 😀

If you can’t rent a car, you can use a taxi or even cheaper, the local minibuses. The minibuses don’t have a specific schedule, but they run all day until around 10pm and cost you only a couple local dollars.

I don’t usually go do all-inclusive resorts, or if I do, I don’t stay there all day. I also don’t do many group tours, I enjoy getting out and about to explore and experiment life wherever I am, on my own terms. This way I can walk as much or as little as I want, and can make my own day plans. Here renting a car seemed the best option to be mobile and jump from beach to beach and get around freely.

Marigot Bay, Saint Lucia

This area doesn’t have a large beach, however I loved the look of it and the palm trees that gave some much needed shade. This is the perfect place to spend an afternoon, having a dip in the water, and a bite in a restaurant. All while watching the expensive yachts come and go. If you prefer to stay in this area, there are hotels too, and water taxis to get around the island.

Pigeon Island National Park, Saint Lucia

Another beautiful way to spend some hours is visiting the Pigeon Island National Park. It’s just a 10 minute drive from Rodney Bay. Here you can see the Fort Rodney, Signal Peak and the Military Ruins and learn a bit about the history of the island. From the Signal Peak you have a nice viewpoint to take some great photos. You can also see not far away the Pigeon Island Beach, where you can cool off after the hike.

Soufrière, the drive-through Saint Lucian Vulcano

In Soufrière you can drive through an active volcano and enjoy the mineral and mud baths! The best time to visit is really early in the morning. The water is really hot and later when the sun is out, the heat might be too much. This area is popular with tourists and locals and coming in the early morning means you beat the crowds too.

Hike a Piton in Saint Lucia

If you like hiking, I bet you’ll enjoy a trail in the Pitons while getting close and personal with the local Rastafarian communities. From your hike you can also get a view of St Vincent and Martinique islands.

Mamiku Gardens in Saint Lucia

Or if you just want to take a stroll through the shaded areas in a hot day, that can work too! Try out Mamiku Gardens, they also have some tours available, or you can take a walk at your own pace. You can even teach a parrot a word or two!

Castries, the capital of Saint Lucia

Have a stroll through Castries, the capital of Saint Lucia. I enjoyed browsing through the markets, and at the end of the day having a cold Piton beer!

Cap Estate

This is where the rich-and-famous live. If you can drive through the alleys of this neighbourhood you will see what I mean. Estates with big private gardens and luxurious villas.

And much more…

There are still so many other activities you can do on the island. From visiting the Diamond Botanical Gardens, horse riding, cocoa plantations tour, zip-lining, hiking trails, to diving and fishing! You can read in detail and learn more about Saint Lucia before you go, on the Saint Lucia TRAVELS blog.

The food

I found that the most expensive cost on the island was to do certain activities, like a Catamaran ride or dinner cruise, or eat in a restaurant destined for tourists.

If you are on a budget I think it’s best to go to a half-board hotel. And you should try the local food, it’s cheap and delicious!

If budget is nothing to worry about, you will find an excellent array of restaurants that cater to all tastes and have a variety of cuisines! But of course you should experiment with the local cuisine, be it in a restaurant or local joint!

I liked to take a walk at lunch time and get barbecue chicken sold by a local person. It was amazing! I also drove to some local terraces higher in the hills where I’ve had fresh cooked fish with local vegetables and rice and peas. I’ve tried many fruits and vegetables I’ve never heard of before. I’ve had Breadfruit, Green Figs and Salt fish cooked to perfection and boiled green banana salad 🙂

And I have to mention BAKES! I think I gained 3kg only from eating them, I had to have them every day! Just now remembering them, I had to google the recipe!

The Jump-Up party in Gros Islet or Anse La Raye Fish Fry??

While in Saint Lucia, you have to attend the famous “jump-up” street party in Gros Islet. The party takes place EVERY FRIDAY except the Good Friday! The streets of Gros Islet shut down to the traffic and locals mixed with tourists populate the streets. You will enjoy BBQ and coolers of beer while jumping up on the music! It’s an experience not to miss!

Are you a seafood lover? Another not-to-miss of the island is the Anse La Raye Fish Fry on Friday evenings. What tastes better than fresh fish and seafood on a grill on the beach!!

All in all, I hope to visit again one day! 3 weeks spent there, and I would return in a heartbeat! I think anyone would like to see Saint Lucia!

Recommended Luxury Hotels, some more affordable than others:

• Jade Mountain
• Anse Chastanet Resort
• Cap Maison Resort & Spa
• Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort
• Sandals Regency La Toc All Inclusive Golf Resort and Spa – Couples Only
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