Best Time To Visit St Lucia

Round off the day in style with a relaxing couple of hours gliding over the tranquil Caribbean Sea on a spacious catamaran. As you cruise along to a soundtrack of local music, you’ll be able to kick back and enjoy the cool evening breeze, the coastal scenery at twilight and a delicious rum punch and St Lucia-style snacks. (There’s fruit punch, sodas and sparkling wine as well if you’d prefer.) Nature, naturally, provides the highlight of the trip: a stunning view of the sun dipping below the horizon and maybe, just maybe, a glimpse of the elusive green flash, a rare but glorious natural phenomenon most often seen just before sunset.

• Duration: evening
• Times: 5pm to 7pm
• Departures on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from North West hotels only
• Operates year round
• Group experience
• Adults only cruise

Good to know
Transfers, guide, and drinks and snacks on board are included.

Lap up the glorious scenery of St Lucia’s west coast from the deck of a spacious catamaran. You’ll cruise south to the Pitons, those soaring volcanic spires that are so iconic they even feature on the island’s flag. At Soufrière, the former capital, you’ll disembark to visit what’s often described as ‘the only drive-in volcano in the world’, a fascinating adventure that will introduce you to hot springs, steam vents and pools of mud bubbling like porridge - you can either take a tour or visit the mud pools. Then it’s time to return to the catamaran to set sail for Anse Cochon, one of the best spots in St Lucia for snorkelling. Here you’ll be able to hover above coral reefs that are home to an array of colourful fish. A perfect day ends with a leisurely trip through Marigot Bay, often considered one of the most scenic places in the Caribbean.

• Duration: full day
• Time: 8am to 4.30pm
• Departs Monday to Saturday from North West hotels only
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
Entrance fees, lunch, drinks and guide are included.

Take to the water for a boat trip to Soufrière, the former capital on St Lucia’s west coast that’s set within the caldera of a dormant volcano. Here you’ll visit a geothermal area called Sulphur Springs, billed as ‘the only drive-in volcano in the world’, where you’ll find hot springs, steamy fumaroles and thermal mud pools. The itinerary also includes a stop at the nearby St Lucia Botanical Gardens, the oldest on the island. Set in six acres on a former colonial estate, it’s a magical place full of lush greenery, dazzlingly colourful flowers and equally vivid birds. The river that runs through the middle tumbles over mineral-stained rocks at the bottom of the garden at Diamond Falls, a must-be-photographed natural wonder. After lunch in a restaurant in Soufrière, you’ll board your vessel again for a relaxing snorkelling session, the perfect way to conclude a day of gentle exploration.

• Duration: full day
• Time: 8.30am to 4pm
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
All entry fees are included, as is lunch and drinks.

There’s nothing quite like a Caribbean sunset for colour and drama, and seeing it from your own crewed boat takes the experience to another level. On this evening cruise, you’ll glide along the north-west coast of St Lucia as far south as verdant Marigot Bay, described by one celebrated American novelist as ‘the most beautiful bay in the Caribbean’. You’ll have time to decide for yourself if you agree with this verdict, before making your way back across the waves to Rodney Bay as the sun dips into the sea.

• Duration: evening
• Time: 4.30pm to 6.30pm
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
Drinks and snacks on board are included.

Soak up the dazzling colours of a Caribbean sunset as you explore the north of St Lucia by private boat. Your cruise will take you to Rodney Bay, where you’ll find the former fishing village of Gros Islet, now a popular holiday destination. Just to the north lie the twin peaks of Pigeon Island, a historic site that’s home to several colonial-era forts and St Lucia’s annual jazz festival.

• Duration: evening
• Time: 4.30pm to 6.30pm
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
Drinks and snacks on board are included.

Discover St Lucia’s stunning underwater world on a snorkelling adventure in one of the island’s most pristine bays. Your cruise along the west coast takes you to serene Anse Cochon, known for its calm, clear waters and dark sand beach fringed by lush vegetation. Here, in what is part of the National Marine Reserve, you’ll be able to float above vibrant coral reefs teeming with colourful fish, keeping an eye out for rarer visitors from shrimps and eels to stingrays and nurse sharks. It’s a thoroughly relaxing way to spend a morning in beautiful surroundings that should appeal to everyone from honeymooners to families.

• Duration: half day
• Time: 8.30am to midday
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
Drinks on board are included.

Enjoy a glimpse of island life away from the coast on an easy-going adventure. You’ll drive through the picturesque countryside of northern St Lucia to Lushan Country heritage site. Here, you’ll stretch your legs on a relaxed walk around the seven-acre family-owned plantation, learning all about the local trees, plants and birds, before sampling luscious tropical fruits straight from the tree. You’ll also drop in at a typical Creole house to see how some local dishes are made - and enjoy trying a few. Driving on through banana plantations, you’ll hear about the history and culture of the small communities you pass along the way before arriving at St Lucia Distillers for an engaging lesson in how rum is made. At the tasting bar, you’ll be able to sample a selection of different brands and buy a bottle of your favourite to take home. Last but not least is a stop at Marigot Bay with time to sit and enjoy a drink while soaking up the atmosphere.

• Duration: half day
• Time: 8.30am to 12.30pm
• Departs Monday to Friday
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
The distillery is a great place to pick up a bottle of rum at factory prices as they can package it up to go in checked-in luggage.

Head out across the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea in search of some of the whales and dolphins that are either resident or just passing through. Keep a lookout for pilot, sperm and mighty humpback whales and the rarer orcas, otherwise known as killer whales. You might also be lucky enough to see a large pod of spinning or spotted dolphins; their inquisitive, playful nature means they often approach the boats for a closer look - an experience you won’t forget. We think it’s a perfect way to spend a morning for families as well as couples, honeymooners and groups.

• Duration: half day/

• Departs Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Soufriere area
• Departs Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from North hotels
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
Sightings are likely, but not guaranteed. Experience is subject to minimum numbers.

Indulge your senses on a memorable adventure at the idyllic Rabot Estate, owned by British chocolatier Hotel Chocolat. Your immersive day at the verdant 140-acre site in Soufrière will begin with a tour of the cacao groves, where organic and sustainable practices are very much to the fore. You’ll learn everything there is to know about how the beans become the finished product, from tasting and shelling to grinding, mixing and pouring, and will have the hands-on fun of crafting your very own bar. While the chocolate is setting – or tempering, if you want to get technical – you’ll sit down to graze your way through an inventive cacao-influenced lunch at the world-class Boucan restaurant while taking in the fabulous views of Gros Piton. Afterwards, it’s time to collect your personally made chocolate bar and see how long you can resist the temptation to eat it!

• Duration: full day if staying in hotels situated in the north; half day if staying in hotels in the Soufriere area
• Departs Daily
• Operates year round
• Group experience with private transfers

Get back to nature on this immersive wander in Saint Lucia's world-famous rainforest. You'll hike in the shadow of towering Chataignier and gommier trees as you follow the meandering and ascending Jacquot Trail. Experience the soundtrack of the forest as you climb and learn more about the island's flora and fauna from your experienced guide.

• Duration: half day
• Departs daily
• Operates year round
• Group experience