6 Things to do in St. Lucia – A Top Caribbean Destination for Adventure
Saint Lucia is one of the Caribbean’s ‘Windward’ islands. Found near the southern end of the Caribbean islands chain, St. Lucia is just south of Martinique with Barbados to its east. Saint Lucia is a mountainous island covered in green rain-forest and home to the iconic Gros and Petit Pitons (mountains), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A very popular Caribbean vacation destination traditionally focused on romantic getaways, there are plenty of adventurous things to do in St. Lucia. Our favourite active vacation activities include:
Saint Lucia Hiking on a Diverse Assortment of Trails
There are a variety of trails on the island, offering something for everyone – From short nature walks to intermediate hikes along with a couple of challenging hikes. While no hiking trip to Saint Lucia is complete without climbing the majestic Gros Piton, the island has about half a dozen mountains above 1,500 feet (500m) tall, the tallest being Mount Gimie at just over 3,000 feet (950m). You should know that a Saint Lucia Forestry Department day-pass, along with a local guide, is officially required to hike on the island.
The best hiking trails in the south end of St. Lucia include:
Mount/Morne Gimie Trail in the Edmund Forest Reserve – Plan a full day for this fairly challenging hike covering 5-6 miles (8-10km) of occasionally extreme up and down terrain, as well as a waterfall. This diverse trail will reward you with amazing views along the way, including a really unique perspective of the island from the top
For more information, including hiking guides to show you the way, check out our Hike St. Lucia – Mount/Morne Gimie page
While we’re talking about it… The Edmund Forest Reserve is the final destination for a couple of ‘cross-country’ trails of note. The Des Cartiers to Edmund Trail is an approximately 5 mile (8km) long easy-to-intermediate level hike, while the Barre D’Isle to Edmund Trail is a more challenging 10 mile (16km) hike venturing across a nice ridge requiring 4-6 hours to complete.
Gros Piton Trail – This challenging hike consists of a pretty much constant climb to get to the top. While less than 3 miles (4.4km) round trip, it can take anywhere from 3-6 hours to complete. Once you catch your breath, amazing Caribbean sea views await.
For a more detailed review of the hike, click on our Hike St. Lucia – Gros Piton page
Enbas Saut Falls Trail – This is an intermediate level hike with lots of rustic wooden/natural stairs to first descend, then climb on the return journey. Depending on your starting point, the hike can cover over 5 miles (9km), requiring 3-4 hours to get to and from the fun and amazing cascading waterfalls.
For more info, including hiking guides to make it happen, check out Hike St. Lucia – Enbas Saut Falls
The best hikes in the north part of Saint Lucia include the Intermediate level Piton Flore Trail and the interesting Barre D’Isle Ridge / Mount La Combe Area Trails. On the east side of island, the Eastern Nature Trail is a fairly easy, but somewhat long trail that takes you along the remote eastern coastline of St. Lucia.
One of the funnest things to do in Saint Lucia, find more information about the trails on the island, including hiking guides who will help you get the most out of your day, click on St. Lucia Hiking
St. Lucia Snorkeling – With or without a Boat!
One of the better islands in the Caribbean for snorkeling, Saint Lucia offers half a dozen locations along the west coast of the island to explore clear blue waters full of diverse coral and colourful fish. Slip into the warm Caribbean sea and snorkel right off the beach – A unique underwater world you just can’t experience on land. One of the most enjoyable things to do in Saint Lucia, the best snorkeling sites in Saint Lucia include:
Saline Point – This small bay has a sand bottom and is protected from the wind. A reef runs parallel to the beach where plenty of fish can be seen.
Smugglers’ Cove – This large protected bay features underwater ridges which are home to a variety of crustaceans and fish. A great place for beginners…
Anse Cochon – Another large bay well protected from the wind and waves. This spot has a nice reef for exploring coral boulders along with fish, turtles, eels and more. A great location for beginners as well as more experienced snorkelers looking for underwater photography and night dives.
Anse Chastanet – This shallow reef is teeming with a rich diversity of marine life including fish and turtles. This is one of the best snorkeling sites and a favourite spot for underwater photography on the island.
Coral Gardens / Gros Piton – The island’s longest and one of it’s most popular reefs. There’s plenty of coral to explore along with a variety of fish and eels.
For those who want longer and deeper underwater exploring time, but don’t have scuba diving experience, Snuba (Mask and mouthpiece with air-tube) and Sea Trek (Full face ‘helmet’ with air-tube) tours are available.
For more information on visiting the island’s underwater world, check out our St. Lucia Snorkeling page
Golf in a Warm Tropical Setting in Saint Lucia
Looking for one of the more relaxing things to do in Saint Lucia? There are two golf courses on the island, an 18 hole / par 71 and a 9 hole / par 33. The St. Lucia Golf Club is an 18-hole course that plays to 6,685 yards with great views of the island and the Caribbean Sea. Close to the capital Castries, the Sandals Regency La Toc resort has a 9-hole course that plays to 3,141 yards.
For more information, click on our St. Lucia Golf page
Saint Lucia Diving – Explore a Unique Underwater World
One of the better islands in the Caribbean for scuba diving, Saint Lucia offers a variety of dive sites along the western coast of the island. There are close to two dozen dive sites with reefs, wrecks and walls to explore. If you’ve always wanted to try scuba diving, Saint Lucia is a great place to get started – there is a dive school on the island and a number of hotels on the island offer diving PADI certification as well. Some of the best dive sites off Saint Lucia’s coast include:
Smugglers’ Cove – This large bay is well protected from the wind and with a maximum depth around 40 feet (12m), this a great place for beginners. Underwater ridges are home to a variety of crustaceans and tropical fish.
Pigeon Island / Pigeon Point – This popular dive site includes a mixed terrain of sand, coral and boulders with a depth varying from 15 to 60 feet (5m – 18m). A variety of tropical fish, along with rays, barracuda, eels, lobster and even seahorse can be found here. A good dive site for underwater photography and night dives.
Bone Yard – A World War II era wreck can be found in about 40 feet (12m) of water. A variety of marine life, including tropical fish and lobster live in the area.
Anse La Raye Wall – This fairly deep dive site features volcanic boulders and a coral wall with a depth varying from 60 to 110 feet (18m – 34m). The wall is home to a variety of marine life, including corals and tropical fish, along with rays. A good site for wall diving and drift dives.
Lesleen M Wreck – A cargo vessel was sunk here for an artificial reef in about 65 feet (20m) of water on a sandy bottom. A variety of marine life, including reef fish, eels and lobster can be found here. This a good dive site for beginners.
Daini Koyomaru Wreck – A dredger sits on its side a mile offshore, making an artificial reef in about 244 feet (75m) of water. A variety of marine life, including tropical fish and barracuda call this place home. This deep dive site is for advanced divers only.
Fairyland – This deep dive site features boulders and coral walls with a depth varying from 40 to 200 feet (12m – 61m). A variety of corals and sponges are the main attraction, although turtles can be found here as well. This a good site for drift diving.
Superman’s Flight – In the shadow of the Petit Piton, this deep wall dive can take you to a depth of 1500 feet (460m). An assortment of corals, gorgonians and sponges, along with tropical fish and turtles can be found here. A good dive site for drift diving and deep diving.
For more detailed info on dive sites, boat operators and how you can enjoy one of the more adventurous things to do in Saint Lucia, click on our St. Lucia Diving page
Saint Lucia Cycling and Mountain Biking
Mountain biking in St. Lucia is a great way to get some fresh air and exercise while gazing across jaw-dropping views of the mountainous island and Caribbean sea. There’s different terrain and trail styles to explore on St. Lucia, including some man-made courses and several nature trails that lead to waterfalls – It doesn’t get much better than this! Some local resorts also offer Mountain Biking lessons on trails made specifically for different experience levels.
You can take a leisurely Fat Bike tour around a town, through the rain-forest, or even on a beach! Other MTB tours take you on rain-forest trails that lead to gorgeous waterfalls, where you can relax and soak-in the beauty of your natural surroundings. Talking about nature… There’s even an organized tour in one of the island’s protected coastal areas.
Of course, you can also find cycling tours and bicycle rentals for taking on St. Lucia’s mountainous roads.
For more information on one of the funnest things to do in Saint Lucia, including tour operators and bike rental shops who will get you outfitted, check out our St. Lucia Cycling & Biking page
Saint Lucia Kayaking – Enjoy the Island From the Tops of the Waves
There’s nothing like exploring St. Lucia’s waterways and shorelines by kayak. Floating around on your single or tandem kayak, you can see the island from a unique perspective and it’s the perfect speed for sightseeing. Kayaking is something that can be enjoyed by anyone, enabling the whole family to get up close and personal with nature. You can find active or relaxing routes for vigorous or gentle paddling, it’s up to you.
There’s a number of kayak tours available in the Marigot Bay area, either along the coastline, or up a river to explore the island’s interior. Some kayak tours include short town visits with a locally prepared lunch, while others combine a relaxing fishing or bird watching experience. Kayaking is also available in the Soufriere area, below the towering Pitons, bringing new meaning to the peaks that are measured in ‘above sea level’. For a unique nature experience, kayaking is also available in the remote Pointe Sable Environmental Protection Area. For the avid paddler, there are even multi-day kayak packages available ensuring an amazing and rewarding vacation experience!
For more information about one of the more adventurous things to do in Saint Lucia, including tour operators who will get you on the water, click on our St. Lucia Water Sports page
Have Fun!
ACT Staff
If you’re looking for more of a relaxing vacation, take a look at our St. Lucia Attractions blog
For an overview of the beautiful island of St. Lucia, click on our St. Lucia Vacations page
