Insight Guides: Pocket St Lucia - Insight Guides (2016)
A PERFECT DAY IN ST LUCIA
7.30am
Breakfast
Start the day with a good breakfast, including a selection of seasonal tropical fruits, including mango, papaya and pineapple, and juices such as fresh passionfruit, guava or soursop, followed by banana bread and cocoa tea.
8.30am
Castries
Start an island tour with a stop in the capital, visiting the market to pick up edible souvenirs such as cocoa, spices or hot sauces. Wander around the harbour to see the variety of boats and ships and stroll across Derek Walcott Square to the Cathedral.
10.00am
St Lucia Distillers
With prior reservation you can tour the rum distillery and learn how rum has been made for centuries. Finish with a tasting of some 20 different rums, which are also available to buy.
Noon
Plas Kassav
This is a great place to stop for a snack of the local cassava bread when driving down the west coast, before continuing on this scenic route which boasts photo opportunities around every curve.
1.00pm
Soufrière
There is a range of restaurants here where you can sample fresh, locally-sourced ingredients at all budgets. A delicious creole lunch can be taken in town at Orlando’s if you’ve made a reservation, or choose a more scenic option such as Boucan, overlooking the Pitons, where every dish has cacao in it.
2.00pm
Sulphur springs
Pay a short visit to see the bubbling mud and steaming vents of Soufrière’s ‘drive-in’ volcano before continuing down to the south coast, stopping at La Fargue Craft Centre near Choiseul, taking a peek at the fishing village of Laborie and skirting the airport at Vieux Fort.
4.00pm
Anse de Sables
Stretch your legs with a walk along the sand - or maybe even a dip in the sea - before stopping for a drink at the beach café, where you can admire the view over to the Maria Islands. Then head up the east coast back to Castries.
6.00pm
Sunset cocktails
Brown Sugar at Vigie Cove is a good place for a sundowner after the long drive, as well as an enjoyable dinner, if you can’t stir yourself.
8.00pm
Dinner
Rodney Bay is the place for dinner. Wander along the strip until you find whatever takes your fancy - from curry to flame-grilled lobster, the choice is wide.
10.00pm
On the town
You can bar crawl through Rodney Bay, where there is usually some live music or other entertainment on. Or, if it is Friday, move on to the Gros Islet. Jump up for a lively street party going on until the small hours to the beat of reggae, soca and calypso.