It’s not hard to come up with several good reasons for visiting St Lucia – sun, sand, great hospitality and fantastic food being just some of the more obvious options. However, instead of simply gazing out at the scenery, tear yourself away from your sunlounger and head off to get a closer look – trust us, you won’t regret it. Our St Lucia rentals are located right next to some of the most spectacular natural wonders on the islands, so there’s no excuse for not spending a day or so checking them out for yourself.
St Lucia’s two pitons have become synonymous with the island, as the most striking and defining feature of its topography. If you’re feeling fit, we’d recommend tackling an ascent on Gros Piton – the sheer rockfaces on the deceptively tame-sounding Petit Piton are best avoided, with recent erosion making them even more treacherous. The larger, higher Piton actually presents an easier climb, and your efforts will be rewarded with panoramic views of the Atlantic and the Caribbean.
Heading straight from the top to the bottom, the next stop on your nature tour should be the ocean floor of the west coast’s Sugar Beach. Whether it’s your first time diving or you’re an old hand looking for new thrills, the gentle Caribbean waters are bound to keep you enthralled. Float weightless as you admire colourful schools of fish, sea turtles and octopus – and watch out for the sea floor’s sudden drop near the base of Petit Piton.
It may be a tourist trap, but it’s still well worth enduring the crowds to pay homage to the famous drive-in volcano. Although the volcano is dormant, the crater still bubbles with boiling mud, water and steam, giving off the distinctive scent of sulphur which permeates the local area. If you’re not put off by the smell, treat yourself to a full body mud bath in order to see for yourself whether the volcanic earth really does have magically rejuvenating properties.
If you really want to get back to nature, pack a picnic and set out on a trek along one of the island’s National Trust hiking trails. The Anse La Liberte trail takes you on a trip through spectacular flora and fauna and is an absolute must for birdwatchers keen to tick some species off their list. Even those of us less enthralled by ornithology will feel at least some excitement at the sighting of a rainbow-feathered St. Lucian parrot. You’ll need to watch out for the mud in some places – but then, what better excuse could there be for a long, leisurely soak on returning to the hot tub at Brigand Hill?
The Caribbean is worth a visit for nature lovers. Check out all our properties on the different islands or contact our concierge team for help.
Photo credit: The Pitons image via Antoine Hubert on Flickr, Sugar Beach image via Jim Bahn on Flickr, Sulphur Springs image via Mary-Lynn on Flickr
Ibiza is a jewel of the Mediterranean, renowned for its vibrant nightlife, stunning landscapes and… Read More
Guest post by Dakota Murphey The UK and Ireland have a wealth of great beaches,… Read More
We always like to keep things interesting here at Oliver’s Travels. It’s our philosophy that… Read More
It’s almost as if Mallorca was tailor-made as a holiday destination. Relatively easy to get… Read More
Fairytale castles possess a timeless magic that captivates us at any age. As children, we… Read More
The wonderfully sunny region of Pollensa is adored by Brits everywhere. Rich in culture and… Read More