Tropical St Lucia

Did you know, St Lucia is the only country in the world named after a (human) woman? Ireland is the only other state named after a female but this is the Celtic goddess of Fertility Eire, so there you have it! Speak to any St Lucian and they are incredibly proud of their lovely island and its namesake.

You would be forgiven for thinking you had stepped into one of the sets of Jurassic Park with the stunning pitons dominating the scenery on the Southwest of the island. The whole island is lush green with banana plantations and palm trees, fringed with beautiful beaches and clear, warm water.

With so many hotel options around the island, from ultra luxury hotels like Jalousie Plantations and Jade Mountain, speciality spa & well being retreats like The Body Holiday, boutique properties and an array of fabulous all-inclusive resorts the hardest choice is deciding which one is your ideal Caribbean retreat.

We stayed at the fabulous Cap Maison which is oceanfront and overlooks its own private beach cove, complete with beach restaurant and water-sport facilities. This is a beautiful boutique hotel with high end restaurants serving excellent cuisine, and the pool here is super relaxing. It’s location in the North of the island means easy access to Pigeon Island National Park which I highly recommend. The stunning views from the top alone are worth making the hike but for those interested in nature & history it is a must do.

We did a twin centre holiday and also stayed at The Windjammer all inclusive, I have to say the villas here are just incredible, with their own plunge pools overlooking the resort and their long sweeping beach you will instantly feel relaxed in your home from home here.

No trip to the Caribbean is complete for me without taking a catamaran cruise out on the water. Sailing around Marigot Bay is a must (the backdrop used in parts of Pirates of the Caribbean and Dr Doolittle!) as it is simply spectacular. Great snorkelling opportunities and a day out in true Caribbean style.

If you want to venture out of the resorts in the evening, a good night to try is” Fish Fry”-day, where you can dine with the locals in the town of Gros Islet and join in the street party festivities until late into the night.

St Lucia is a beautiful destination to visit and I would definitely recommend splitting your time in two parts of the island, or if you have a longer trip in mind, it is possible to combine your stay with other Caribbean islands, like Barbados, Antigua and Grenada, or a stop over in the USA before hand. Southern Caribbean cruises also stop off in St Lucia. Get in touch to plan your St Lucia escape!