St. Lucia is of course a popular honeymoon destination due to its beautiful sandy white beaches, turquoise waters and the hot sunshine. Relaxing on the beach is a great way to recuperate from the stress of the wedding planning and the nerves felt on the big day.
But, it may surprise you to know that there’s more to St. Lucia than winding down on the beach with a cocktail and that in fact St. Lucia can be an action packed once in a lifetime trip, filled with adventure and with enough heart stopping thrills to satisfy any adrenaline junkie.
Here are just some of the activities you can pack into your holiday, to make sure you don’t waste a minute on this precious island and that you have a store of great memories to take back home and share with your family and friends.
Make your first excursion, a trip into the rain forest. Dense, thick green mountains, plenty of creepy crawlies and a handful of venomous snakes, make St. Lucia’s interior dangerous territory for a lone hiker. However, take a guide and enjoy the smells, sights and sounds of the jungle. Avoid the Boa Constrictors and appreciate the views!
Next Stop Rain Forest Adventures. This company organise a number of trips through the rainforest, with additional heart stopping rides on a zip line or in an aerial tram. You can even add to the fear factor by doing it under the light of the moon at night!
Now it’s time to see more of island up close and personal, so for your third excursion, take the ATV trip and you will have the time of your life. The tour guides will show you how to use the quad bikes and then they’ll lead you through the villages and countryside. You can see chicken farms, sugar mills, a banana plantation and enjoy the views of the countryside and the sea. Wave to the islanders and learn something about their culture and history. It really is an interesting few hours.
For this next trip you’ll need plenty of stamina and a camera. It’s time to visit the island’s famous Pitons and choose which Piton you want to climb. The Pitons of St. Lucia are two volcanic plugs that rise out of the Caribbean waters. The Gros Piton is 771 metres and the Petit Piton is a little smaller at 743 metres. However, the Gros Piton is said to be easier to climb and it houses the information centre, which tells you about the geology and plant life on St. Lucia. The climb takes about two hours and the views from the top are spectacular and is well worth the effort.
If you don’t intend to have a strenuous day, every day, keep Saturday free and take the opportunity to party on Friday. In the Northern village of Gros Islet, Friday night is home to an amazing street party, with great DJ’s, dancing, food and drink. It is very popular with the locals so it is a good way to see the real St. Lucia.
After partying all night take it easy and go on the Lion Farm eco Tour. Pick up a tour boat and visit secluded coves for a spot of snorkelling and stop for a delicious lunch at a local restaurant.
Once you are raring to go again, spend the day visiting the famous Sulphur Springs Park. It is 45 hectors of spectacular scenery and bubbling sulphur pools. It is known as the Drive- in volcano and you can take a 30 minute trip to learn all about it and take in the view of the waterfalls and pools. After the tour you can bathe in the bubbling water and cover yourself in black mud, which will cleanse your skin and leave it soft and smooth.
St. Lucia is also a great place for scuba diving due to the coral reef which surrounds the island and the amazing range of plant and marine life. Sailing trips in a catamaran allow you to explore the caves and inlets round the island and if you take a fishing trip, you’ll get the chance to see some of the amazing gamefish, such as the Marlin.
The day before you leave St. Lucia, see the island where you’ve had so much fun, by air. Take a Helicopter Tour around the island. It’s not cheap, but the 30 minutes tour will give you the opportunity to see the whole island and it’s landmarks from above; and it’s the perfect way to say goodbye.
