Saint Lucia Hiking – Few ever see the Pitons from this angle!
Saint Lucia is nicely positioned in the southern Caribbean’s Windward Islands, just south of Martinique and west of Barbados. The mountainous island is covered with lush green rain-forest and is instantly recognizable by their distinctive Pitons (mountains) along the south-west coast. A very popular Caribbean destination known for romantic getaways, St. Lucia also has plenty to offer adventure seekers interested in a hiking-filled vacation. While most hikers go to climb the Gros Piton, I chose to hike the island’s tallest peak, Mount Gimie. Oh, what an excellent decision that was!
Our day started with a pleasant drive down the west coast from where we were staying near Anse La Raye. We met our guide in the village of Migny, just a little south and inland from Soufriere. We joined a few others and headed off up a rough, partly paved road. The track was on a steady incline and we were met with a nice breeze that swept over the farmers’ fields – What a great way to start the day! While we had some decent views of nearby valleys and the Gros Piton way off in the distance, I was looking ahead to getting into the jungle… After about an hour we headed west on a dirt path towards the Edmund Forest Reserve.
From here, the trail got real interesting – This is what I was looking forward to, spending half a day roaming through a rainforest! We hiked through some pretty dense forest, with our guide literally clearing parts of the trail with his machete so we had a path to follow. Clearly, we would not have been able to do this trail without him. Talk about not being able to see the forest for the trees, the trail had so many ups-and-downs and twists-and-turns, I wasn’t real sure where we were going. There were even a few short distances of vertical where we had to literally climb, some up and some down, with our hands using tree roots like a natural ladder. OMG – What an awesome and wild St. Lucia hike!
Every once in a while, we stopped while our knowledgeable guide pointed out some weird and wonderful looking plants or birds that we could hear along the way. While we couldn’t spot most of the birds, I did see the occasional colourful hummingbird fluttering from plant to plant though. These breaks conveniently gave us some time to catch our breath and drink some water. Thinking back, I believe that we hiked across a ridge or two, ventured down into a valley and crossed a small river before attacking another ridge that would take us to the top of Mount Gimie. I had been looking forward to a remote and challenging rain-forest hike on the island, and this trail satisfied that… and we were far from finished…
For the next hour or so the trail became pretty much all uphill, at a pretty steep incline, making our workout a little more intense. Thankfully, the number of photo opportunities increased along this path, although maybe we were just finding a reason to stop and catch our breath. Seriously, we had amazing views of the valley we had just crossed, as well as a very unique perspective of the iconic pitons that had come into view. I doubt too many people get to see the spectacular Pitons and Tet Paul from this vantage point – The view was Priceless!
The air was so moist and the flora so tropical, that there was also some amazing rain-forest vegetation to capture in photos. As we neared the peak, I learned the hard way about a Caribbean plant that I had heard of but never encountered before. Due to the steepness of the trail, I reached down and grabbed a handful of some greenery to help with my balance. Well, it turned out to be ‘razor grass’ and I sliced the palm of my hand and all my fingers. Kind of like getting a bunch of paper-cuts all at once. Oh well… Just a few more minutes and the discomfort in my hand became a distant memory as we were well rewarded when we reached the top of the Island.
Mount Gimie, not the famous Pitons, is St. Lucia’s highest peak, and at just over 3,000 feet (950m) above sea level we had sensational panoramic views of the island. We could clearly see the east and south coastlines, including Vieux Fort and the Maria Islands. Looking to the north across the whole island, really gave me an appreciation for the rugged terrain of St. Lucia. We lucked out and enjoyed some incredible views for several minutes before the top of the mountain became enveloped in clouds. Although this was the pinnacle of our day, we were still in for more fun and adventure…
We headed back down the same way we had come, however this time once we descended the mountain and were heading back through the valley, we took a little detour. Our guide took us upstream along the river we had crossed earlier and after a few minutes, we came to a small waterfall, complete with a pool. It was really refreshing to wash the sweat off and cool off my over-heated feet. This was a nice surprising break, although apparently I was looking for more self-inflicted pain. As we crossed the river I was jumping from rock to rock trying to keep my shoes dry, and I slipped on a large rock. Both of my feet flew right out from under me and I landed on my butt – It must have been quite comical to watch. Fortunately, my butt is well padded, so I just sort of bounced. No big deal.
As we were nearing the end of the hike, I was thinking that this trail probably isn’t used more than a couple of times a week. When we got back to the road section and was heading down to our car, I started to better appreciate the refreshing breeze and nice views of the surrounding valleys. Our guide pulled some grapefruits and tangerines down from the trees on the side of the road, so we also had an invigorating snack along the way.
Wow – I got to tell you… St. Lucia’s Mount Gimie trail really has it all. Relative to some other Caribbean mountain hikes, this one was not too long or too steep. It had some unique near-vertical sections to spice things up a bit, and it was filled with amazing tropical plant life, a waterfall, and of course spectacular views! One of my favourite Caribbean hikes for sure!
For a more ‘technical’ Trail Report as well as much more information on hiking in Saint Lucia, please reference the following links (to pages on our website):
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
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.
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.
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.
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
Things to Do in Saint Lucia – Get Muddy, Explore Nature & Relax on a Sunset Sail
You’ll find Saint Lucia in the southern Caribbean, just south of Martinique, with Barbados to its east. St. Lucia is a mountainous island covered in lush green rain-forest and is home to the distinctive and easily recognizable Pitons (mountains), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A very popular Caribbean vacation destination known for romantic getaways, there’s also plenty of things to do in Saint Lucia for active travelers – If you know where to look…. You can enjoy time outdoors with a walk through a botanical gardens or on a nature trail. Thrill seekers can zip-line through the rain-forest or motor through the jungle on an ATV or Dune Buggy.
Our personal favourites include:
Saint Lucia Nature – Explore and Enjoy!
Saint Lucia is a gorgeous island, full of nature’s wonders…
The Tet Paul Nature Trail is a “must do” on the island. The hour long guided tour can be enjoyed by folks of all ages and physical ability. You will be treated with amazing views of the Pitons, as well as the south coast of the island. Your guide will also share his knowledge of local plant life on display there.
For another quiet day in nature, journey to the remote east side of the island to experience Mamiku Botanical Gardens which offers a variety of forest and plantation tours that feature birds, humming birds and butterflies along with flowers and plant life, including medicinal herbs.
The Millet bird Sanctuary is located just outside of Roseau and provides birdwatchers with a 2-mile loop trail through a rich jungle environment that is home to 30 species of birds.
If you’re really serious about nature, take a scenic boat ride over to the Fregate Islands Nature Reserve, an important nesting site for the amazing Frigate bird, or to the Maria Islands Nature Reserve – Home to two endemic species found nowhere else in the world: the Kouwès grass snake and the Zandoli tè ground lizard.
For the more adventurous, take a trip to the Castries Waterworks Forest Reserve (Rainforest Adventures) for amazing views and a few thrills, from riding their aerial tram or zip-line. They also have rain-forest trails to explore. Enjoy some of the more fun and active things to do in Saint Lucia…
Of course, your trip to St. Lucia is not complete without seeing the multitude of things to do in Soufriere – The most popular attractions include the sulphur springs, therapeutic mud-baths and mineral water pools, along with enjoying a refreshing shower under one of the island’s many waterfalls.
Coined ‘the only drive-in volcano in the world’, Saint Lucia’s sulphur springs feature small boiling and steaming mud and water holes near the top of the volcano. Once you’ve seen (and smelled 😉 that area, it’s time to get more interactive – Take a warm mud bath, then rinse off in a nearby mountain fed stream of water – Choose from a number of waterfalls in the area including the Sapphire, Toraille and Latille waterfalls.
Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens provide a guided tour of their gardens and colourful waterfalls, along with an opportunity to relax in their Mineral Baths.
A number of Island Tours include a combination of the sulphur springs, Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens and Waterfalls along with other island attractions such as a banana plantation, an estate plantation, a beach stop and a local Lunch. Zip-lining, horseback riding and ATV tours are also available.
For more info on some of the more popular things to do in Saint Lucia, including tour operators who will help you get the most out of your day, check out our Things to do in Saint Lucia – Land Excursions page
Saint Lucia Sight-Seaing by Boat Tour 😉
For a unique perspective of St. Lucia, cruise down the west coast in a boat to check out Marigot Bay, the ‘tunnel of love’ and the majestic Pitons. You can take a speedboat, a cruiser, or sailboat, both catamarans and mono-hull yachts are available. You can even journey by glass bottom boat or pirate galleon.
It’s an amazing sight when cruising alongside dolphins and whales – Yes that’s a thing. You can also relax and feel the caribbean sea breeze in your face when you it’s sail under the power of the wind – What a great feeling!
Of course it wouldn’t be St. Lucia without a romantic sunset cruise.
For a change of view, you can reach the Soufriere attractions via the water, and boat tours usually include a beach BBQ or Plantation lunch. You can also find party boats and pirate themed tours for the kid in all of us 🙂
Wander around historic Fort Rodney & Signal Peak in beautiful Pigeon Island National Park, and recall how this strategically important island changed hands between the French and the English more than a dozen times over a three hundred year span.
Located on the north-west tip of Saint Lucia, near Gros Islet, remains of the old stone fort are perched on a peak that juts out into the ocean. Feel the warm breeze while you take in spectacular panoramic views of the island and Caribbean sea. When you’re ready, travel to nearby Rodney bay where you’ll enjoy having lunch at a restaurant on Reduit Beach. Great relaxing things to do in Saint Lucia for sure…
Located in the west coast town of Roseau, 20 minutes from the capital Castries, you can find the island’s only official rum producer. Perhaps not that well-known, St. Lucia Distillers produce some of the best rum in the Caribbean, winning dozens of awards from various spirits competitions around the world. They produce over ten different rums, including varieties of white, flavoured, spiced and aged spirits, as well as rum based liqueurs/cremes. Their aged and spiced rums are excellent, including some great premium sipping rums. You can visit the St. Lucia Distillers retail store front, which includes a rum sampling room and they offer factory tours as well. Its worth the trip to Roseau to check out these fine Saint Lucian rums.
For more information, including tour operators who can get you there and back safely, click on our St. Lucia Rum page
Enjoy Saint Lucia’s SOLEIL Summer Festival
There’s a number of festivals on the island, pretty much year round. There’s culinary events during the Food & Rum Festival, the St. Lucia ‘Carnival’ and plenty of outstanding music festivals. St. Lucia’s Jazz Festival culminates with a concert on majestic Pigeon Island, while the Roots and Soul Festival features reggae, conscious hip-hop, Afro-punk and R&B music. You can also experience Saint Lucia’s rich cultural, ethnic and artistic heritage during the island’s Arts and Heritage Festival. Oh, did I mention… St. Lucia celebrates Chocolate Heritage Month every August, with a number of local events, including chocolate based meals and beverages – Yum!
ST. Lucia Hiking – Rain-Forest Trails, Waterfalls and Epic Views Await You
I suspect that most people think of the Caribbean as a place to relax on the beach with a tropical rum punch in hand… and while that’s a great idea, when I think of the Caribbean, I paint a mental picture of hiking through a lush rain-forest, passing a beautiful waterfall along the way up a green volcanic mountain, enjoying eye-popping views of the Caribbean Sea as a reward! On Saint Lucia, you can easily make this vision come true.
St. Lucia’s Mount Gimie in the Background
You’ll find Saint Lucia in the southern Caribbean’s ‘Windward’ islands, just south of Martinique and west of Barbados. When exploring St. Lucia, you’ll find a mountainous island covered in lush green rain-forest, with the distinctive and easily recognizable Pitons (mountains), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A very popular Caribbean destination known for romantic getaways, St. Lucia also has plenty to offer adventurous travelers looking for a hiking-filled vacation – If you know where to look…
Saint Lucia hiking offers 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’s highest peak is Mount Gimie at just over 3,000 feet (950m) above sea level. Our favourite trails on the island include:
The Best St. Lucia Hiking Trails on the south end of the island include:
Mount/Morne Gimie Trail in the Edmund Forest Reserve – Plan a full day for this fun and challenging hike covering 5-6 miles (8-10km) of amazing tropical terrain. For those looking for a remote and challenging rain-forest hike on St. Lucia, this is the one to do. While the trail meanders up and down across a mountain ridge and valley, the absolute vertical from start to finish is just under 2,000 feet (600m). You’ll experience a range of trail conditions on this hike, including a couple of amazingly steep sections, where you will need to climb natural ladders of tree roots. You’ll see amazing plant life in this moist rain-forest, and you’ll even be able to go for a dip at the bottom of a waterfall. Of course, the views of the island at various stops along the trail are spectacular, including a very unique perspective of the Pitons from the island’s interior.
While we’re talking about it… The Edmund Forest Reserve is home to one end of a couple of ‘cross-country’ trails of note. The Des Cartiers to Edmund Forest Trail is an approximately 5 mile (8km) long easy-to-intermediate level hike, while the Barre D’Isle to Edmund Forest Trail is a more challenging 10 mile (16km) Saint Lucia hike with a section of the trail venturing across a nice ridge.
The view south – Near the top of St. Lucia’s Gros Piton
Gros Piton Trail – An “adventurous” trip to St. Lucia is incomplete without hiking the iconic Gros Piton. This memorable St. Lucia hike consists of a fairly challenging climb to the peak, which is just over 2,500 feet (780m) tall. While this trail is under 3 miles (4.4km) round trip, it’s all uphill (on the way up that is ;), with some pretty steep sections. As expected, once you catch your breath, the views from the top, of the western and south part of the island, are sensational. While this is a somewhat short hike, in order to really enjoy it, you’ll require decent leg strength and cardio. FYI – The Petit Piton can also be hiked, however it is extremely steep and potentially dangerous in some areas.
For a more detailed review of this trail, along with a list of local guides to make it happen, click on our St. Lucia Gros Piton Hike page
A unique view of the Pitons and Tet Paul, from part way up Mount Gimie
Enbas Saut Falls – The top cascade / pool
Enbas Saut Falls Trail – This is an intermediate level St. Lucia hike with lots of rustic wooden/natural stairs to first descend, then climb-back-up 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.
The Best Saint Lucia Hiking Trails elsewhere on the island include:
Further north in Saint Lucia, you’ll find a number of interesting rain-forest trails. The Union Nature Trail, a quick 10 minute drive east of Castries, provides a short and easy trail – Good for a much-needed visit to nature. The Intermediate level Piton Flore Trail, just south-east of Castries, is a hilly hike taking about 4 hours to complete. Other trails in the area include the Jacquot Trail and the Millet (Bird Sanctuary) Trails. Further south you’ll find the interesting and varied Barre D’Isle Ridge – Mount La Combe – Grande Ravine area trails.
For more information about hiking in the north end of St. Lucia, around Castries, including a list of guides who can get you on the trail, click on our St. Lucia Hiking page
The Eastern Nature Trail, not surprisingly found on the east side of island, is a fairly easy, but reasonably long St. Lucia hike along the remote eastern coastline of the island – Great for adventurers looking to get away from it all.
If you’re looking for a more relaxing walk on the the island, you can always enjoy an outing on Pigeon Island National Park or the highly recommended Tet Paul Nature Trail!
The Petit Piton from the Tet Paul Nature Trail
For more information about the trails on the island, including hiking guides who will help you get the most out of your day, click on our St. Lucia Hiking page
So… When you’ve had enough relaxation on the beach and have enjoyed indulging in a local chocolate based meal, you can go for a heart pumping adventurous hike up a piton or mountain or simply take a great leisurely stroll through the rain-forest… Whatever you choose to do, you’re sure to have a memorable hiking holiday in St. Lucia!
ACT Staff
If you’re looking for other exciting activities to experience on the island, take a look at our St. Lucia Adventures recommendations
When you’re not hiking, snorkeling or biking around the island, there’s plenty of other things to do on St. Lucia, including a visit to the Sulphur Springs, Mud Baths and associated Waterfalls. For more ideas for a fun and relaxing vacation, take a look at our St. Lucia Attractions blog
For an overview of the beautiful island of Saint Lucia, click on our St. Lucia Vacations page
First created by plantation slaves in the mid 17th century, RUM has come a long way from its humble beginnings… Originally called “kill-devil” or “rumbullion”, the harsh liquor became a staple drink of pirates, who made “bumbo” by adding water, sugar, nutmeg and/or cinnamon (The first and original ‘spiced rums’). Infamously, the British Navy gave a daily rum ration or ‘tot’ to its sailors – Eventually watering down the rum and sometimes added lime… making “grog”. Fast-forward a few hundred years and now rum is appropriately considered a top-shelf spirit, with premium versions often being compared to much more expensive Scotch whiskies and French cognacs.
While most Caribbean ‘rum’ is still made from fermented molasses (and sugar cane juice froth), a number of French islands produce ‘rhum agricole’ directly from sugarcane juice. Rum is typically distilled in clay, column and/or copper pot stills then aged in oak barrels, usually producing an alcohol content of 40% (80 proof). The type of molasses (light, dark or black-strap), and barrel (whisky and/or spirit) used, as well as any additives (spices / flavourings), will significantly influence the end product’s colour and flavour.
In no particular order (don’t want to start a fight), here’s our view of the best Caribbean rum found in the southern Caribbean, also known as the Lesser Antilles – Windward Islands.
The Rums of Barbados
Bajan Rum has been produced for over 350 years and is generally considered the birthplace of the Caribbean’s liquid gold. Historical records show that rum production on the island was well underway by the mid 1600s, when sugar cane became a major crop of the plantations. Barbados is known for some of the best, and some may say sweeter, tasting rum in the Caribbean – Perhaps it has something to do with the islands’s unique coral make-up, as compared to the volcanic composition of other Caribbean islands.
The big players in Barbados rum include:
Mount Gay Rum Distilleries – Founded in 1703, Mount Gay is generally considered the oldest continually operated rum distillery in the world – Some say that Mount Gay is “the rum that invented rum”. Well known around the world, smooth tasting Mount Gay Rums include the nicely aged Eclipse, Black Barrel (produced in small batches), XO (Extra Old aged for 8 to 15 years) and 1703 (Blend of rums ranging from 10 to 30 years old).
The ‘Mount Gay Visitor Experience’ offers a number of different rum tours as well as a tasting room and gift shop – Enjoy the history and heritage of Bajan rum. The main tour provides some rum-making info and viewing of a number of artifacts, photos and short films. There are then several rum tasting options to choose from, including a ‘lunch tour’ and a ‘cocktail tour’.
Foursquare Rum Distillery had it’s start in the early 1900s as R.L. Seale & Company. RL Seale acquired a number of other rum producers in the latter half of the 20th century, consolidating their portfolio at the Foursquare Distillery, a centuries-old sugar and rum facility.
Foursquare now produces a large number of Caribbean rums including the Doorly’s, Foursquare, RL Seale, SixtySix, ESA Field, Alleyne Arthur, Old Brigand, The Real McCoy and Tommy Bahama brands.
Visitors are welcome to wander the former sugar plantation grounds, now known as the ‘Foursquare Rum Distillery and Heritage Park’. Self-guided tours of the factory and museums are available, as is the warm and inviting tasting room, where you can of course, purchase your favourite(s).
St. Nicholas Abbey is home to one of only three Jacobean mansions in the Western Hemisphere. On the grounds of a centuries-old sugar plantation, this ‘micro-distillery’ was (re)born in the 1980s with the purchase of an old steam mill and the full restoration of it’s facilities in 2006.
St. Nicholas Abbey makes a number of fine well aged rums
When you visit the Abbey, take your time and explore the surrounding Gardens and orchids before enjoying the complimentary guided tour of the great house, steam mill and rum distillery. You can then take-part in rum and cane syrup tasting before visiting the gift shop.
The West Indies Rum Distillery has roots back to the late 1800s. With the exception of Mount Gay, the West Indies Rum Distillery has provided base Caribbean rum for all Bajan rum producers over the years. While once famous for their Cockspur and Malibu brands, the distillery now produces the Cockspur, Blue Chair Bay (Kenny Chesney’s line), Kaniche (finished in France in Cognac casks) and Shellback brands among others…
Of course, numerous rum companies around the world use Bajan rums in their “collections”, such as Berry’s, Cayman Reef and the famous Plantation series, while countless others use Barbados rum in their own blends – Most notably, Lamb’s.
For more information on the rums of Barbados, including tours and rum tasting rooms, click on our Barbados Rum page
Jamaica Rum
OK – OK, So Jamaica is a Greater Antilles island, so technically not a “southern” Caribbean island, however we just couldn’t issue our first write-up about rum without showing ‘respect’ to one of the original rum making islands…
Jamaica is home to a large variety of rums – The land of wood & water makes over a 100 different rums… There are dark navy style rums reminiscent of old Port Royal’s privateer and pirate days, there are the currently in vogue over-proof white rums, and of course there are well aged and refined rums with a dry/oaky characteristic. Jamaican rums are known for their unique “funky” flavour – I don’t know about that, they just taste real good to me! From over 10 distillers on the island, here’s a few of our favourites:
Appleton Estates is the oldest Jamaican sugar estate / distillery and has been in continuous production for over 265 years!
Appleton’s produce more than a dozen rums, including some nicely aged varieties such as V/X, a superb 12yr old and a 21yr old. They also make a number of blends (Reserve, Signature and Master) as well as special/limited edition rums.
The ‘Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience‘ offers a visitor center, a small museum, sugar cane fields, and a tour which includes a short film, a guided tour of the facilities, as well as product sampling in their lounge.
Hampden Estate is one of the oldest sugar estates in Jamaica and they believe that “environmental stewardship is the life blood of the distillery” – Here-Here for that! From it’s use of re-cycled steel and water within the facility, to it’s low energy consumption, Hampden is working to become the first distillery on the island with a zero carbon footprint.
Hamden’s signature ‘Smith and Cross’ Navy Strength Rum is a 2 year old blend with a typical Jamaican funk. Other products include Rum Fire (over-proof) and Hampden Gold.
The ‘Hampden Rum Tour’ offers guided outings into the distillery (circa 1753) as well as access to the estate grounds
Worthy Park Estates produces the Rum-Bar brand which includes an Over-proof rum, a Gold (4 yrs) rum along with a Rum Cream
The Money Musk Plantation is one of the island’s oldest sugar estates on the island, currently providing molasses to the National Rums of Jamaica Limited (used by a number of rum producers). The plantation and distillery produce a variety of rums under the Monymusk and Royal Jamaican brand names.
Other great Jamaican rum makers include Wray and Nephew, KRB Lea Jamaica Rums and Myers, among others. Of course, numerous rum companies around the world use Jamaican rums in their “collections”, such as the Berry’s and Plantation series, while countless others use Jamaican rum in their own blends – Most notably, Captain Morgan.
For more information on Jamaica rums, including tours and rum tasting rooms, check out our Jamaica Rum page
For more information on the Caribbean island of Jamaica and exciting things to do there, click on our Jamaica Vacations page
St. Lucia Rum
Located in the west coast town of Roseau, 20 minutes south of Castries, is the island’s major rum producer. The St. Lucia Distillers Company has a store front and factory here. Perhaps not that well-known, St. Lucia Distillers produce some of the best Caribbean rum available, winning dozens of awards from various spirits competitions around the world.
The St. Lucia Distillers produce over ten different rums, including varieties of white, flavoured, spiced and aged spirits, as well as rum based liqueurs/cremes. They offer some excellent aged and spiced rums, along with some great premium sipping rums including their 12 yr old ‘Admiral Rodney’ and special edition ‘1931’ rums. Their ‘Chairman’s Reserve’ amber rum is getting the global recognition it deserves – A great rum at a decent price. They also have a couple of unique tasting Spiced rums made with a local aphrodisiac (Bois Bande) as well as (rum purists – hold your nose) their rum creams that are to die for…
The ‘St. Lucia Distillers facility’ includes a retail store, a sampling room and they also offer factory tours.
For more information on Saint Lucia rums, including tours and rum tasting rooms, check out our St. Lucia Rum page
For more information on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia and exciting things to do there, click on our Saint Lucia Vacations page
Martinique Rhums
To many fans, Martinique is the rum capital of the Caribbean. With over 10 distilleries and close to a hundred different / wide ranging rhums it’s hard to argue. Martinique produces the French “Rhum Agricole” (translated to ‘agricultural rum’ in English) made directly from sugar cane juice, not molasses, and is commonly produced in different (above 40%) strengths. Similar to wine and brandy making, Martinique distillers commonly refer to their rhums in terms of ‘vintages’ or classifications such as VO (>4yrs old) and VSOP (>10yrs old). It’s important to recognize that, unlike a number of islands today, Martinique rhum is made from locally grown sugar cane – In fact, each region’s “terroir” is a big deal, reflecting the place on the island where the cane was grown. Another great thing about Martinique’s distilleries is that most of them are open to the public, offering plantation/distillery tours, along with rhum tasting and storefronts to purchase the rhum(s) of your choice.
From over 10 distillers on the island, here’s a few of our favourites:
Rhum Saint James has been producing rhum since 1765 and is a long time supplier of rhum agricole to North America. Saint James rhums are pesticide free and their ‘carbon neutral’ distillery operations utilizes internal compost as well as recycled liquids/water – Nice!
The Rhum Saint James distillery produces a large number of white rhums (varying in strength), as well as aged rhums (ranging from a 3yr old to a 15yr old), along with single cask vintage rhums.
The ‘Museum of Rhum Saint James’, located in Sainte-Marie, is open to the public and features a museum, distillery tour, plantation, as well as a large storefront with tasting room.
Clément Estate has been around since the 18th century and is commonly known as the birthplace of rhum agricole. The facilities are now famous for the Clément Foundation, focusing on the arts and the cultural heritage of Martinique. Clement produces a variety of white rhums (varying in strength and sugar cane) as well as some aged rhums (ranging from 1yr old to 30yr old) along with VSOP, Single Cask and Cuvée Homère rhums. They also have vintage rhums from the 1950s and 1970s – Yes you’re reading that correctly, 60 year old rhum!
Eclectic self guided tours (with the aid of audio-guides) are available of Clement’s art exhibits, great house, old distillery museum along with the estate’s large Gardens, which is actually more of a Park. There is of course, also a storefront with rhum tasting. Clement’s facilities are less than a 30 minute drive east of Fort-De-France.
Depaz Blue Cane was originally established in 1651, however the Depaz château and distillery were rebuilt after the Mount Pelee volcano eruption in 1902. Depaz Blue Cane Rhum Agricole is made from the unique “blue cane” sugar grown at the foot of the volcano.
Depaz produces a white rhum along with a VSOP, Extra Old, Prestige XO, a Porto Finish rhum as well as 2002 and 2003 vintage rhums.
Located in Saint-Pierre, ‘Depaz tours’ are available of the château, a museum (with a short film) and include a storefront with tasting. A restaurant is also available on the grounds.
Rhum HSE and the Habitation Saint Etienne’s origins date back to the mid 1800s to a 400 hectare sugar plantation, refinery and distillery. The Foudres HSE is the centre-piece of the estate, with it’s architectural structure representative of traditional Martinique buildings from the period.
HSE produces over 15 varieties of rhum, including some whites and aged (from a 12 month blend to much older vintages) rhums as well as well aged rhums finished in a variety of special whiskey, sherry, wine and Port casks. HSE also makes Special Edition rhums and well aged small batch rhums, including a 2003 vintage and a special 1960 vintage. Wow…
Now host to a multitude of public events, ‘The HSE Foudres’ features a permanent art exhibition and rhum tasting room. HSE has also partnered with a local chocolaterie to create chocolate and rhum pairings – taking rhum tasting to a whole new level.
Other great Martinique rhum distillers include La Mauny, Trois Rivières, Rhum Dillon, La Favorite, A-1710, Rhum JM and Neisson.
For more information on the rhums of Martinique, including tours and rhum tasting rooms, click on our Rhum Martinique page
For more information on the Caribbean island of Martinique and exciting things to do there, click on our Martinique Vacations page
Some might say that the best Caribbean rum one can buy comes from these islands, however we would be remiss not to at least mention that fine rums also come from others in the southern Caribbean – Islands such as Grenada (Clarkes Court Old Grog comes to mind), Trinidad, as well as Guadaloupe and Marie-Galante.
…and don’t worry, the more northerly Caribbean islands will have their day as well – Yes, I’m talking about Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Virgin Islands (both USVI and the BVI). Stay tuned for a separate write-up that these excellent Caribbean rum making islands deserve…
For more enjoyable Caribbean reading… check out our The Islands of the Caribbean page – A great starting point for exploring what the Caribbean Islands have to offer!
