St. Lucia Sightseeing
From Marigot Bay to Coubaril

Marigot Bay—One of the Caribbean’s most beautiful bays and the location for the classic Rex Harrison movie, Doctor Doolittle. A popular yachting center and the base for the Moorings charter sailing fleet, Marigot Bay also was an important wartime base where a British Admiral once ambushed the French by camouflaging his fleet with palm fronds. .

Anse La Raye—This fishing village of small wooden houses is the site of a popular Friday night fish fry. Colorful fishermen’s boats are usually pulled up on the beach.

Canaries—Another quiet fishing village where time seems to have stood still. The women can frequently be seen washing their clothes in the river.

Anse La Liberte—The St. Lucia National Trust runs this 138-acre property which contains a campground and six miles of hiking trails. There is also a small beach. 

Around Soufriere Town

With a fine view of Petit Piton on the horizon, Soufriere is the island’s oldest city with about 9,000 inhabitants. Dating to 1746, it had to be rebuilt following a hurricane in 1780. Many of the island’s most-visited attractions are within a few miles of this former French capital. Be forewarned that the Rastafarian guides, who wear their hair in long dreadlocks, are sometimes pushy when it comes to single travelers. Any costs need to be discussed in advance and clarified whether they are in EC or US dollars.

Anse Chastanet Beach—One of the best black sand beaches at one of the best small hotels. Snorkeling and shore diving are superb. Non-guests are also welcome at the beachfront restaurant.

Diamond Botanical Gardens, Waterfall and Mineral Baths—At the entrance to the botanical garden, local artists often set up stalls to sell their items. The garden itself is filled with lush greenery and colorful flowers and tropical plants, particularly bright pink ginger plants. The waterfall descends in six stages through sulphur springs that causes the cascade to take on different colors including purple, green and yellow. Near the falls are the mineral baths built by the French King for his troops because the sulphur water was thought to have healing powers similar to those of Aix-les-Bains. The public is welcome to test these waters for a fee.

Drive-In Volcano/Sulphur Springs—Billed as the world’s only drive-in volcano, which isn’t quite true, seven acres of the semi-active volcano La Soufriere bubble with steaming pools of sulphur water which have a temperature of about 340 degrees F. The crater area, which is viewed from a boardwalk, appears very primeval and quite impressive. Guides offer an interpretive history. The sulphur smell can be quite strong .

Soufriere Estate—Another look into the country’s history. This is part of a 2,000-acre estate granted by Louis XIV to the Devaux family, which was responsible for much of the area’s development. Gardens and a petting zoo are open to the public. 

Morne Coubaril—Just south of Soufriere, this was the island’s first major plantation. Now an open air museum, a 90-minute tour of the estate shows how cocoa, copra and sugar were processed and how people once worked and lived. The plantation house has been renovated and furnished according to the original plans. A creole buffet is available by reservation for about $10 per person. Daily 9-5.

To St. Lucia Attractions & Sightseeing Home

To Around Castries Attractions in and close to the capital

To St. Lucia Southern Tip From Choiseul to Savannes Bay Nature Reserve

To St. Lucia East Coast From Micoud to Marquis Estate

To St. Lucia Northwest Coast From Point du Cap to Union

To St. Lucia Rain Forest

To St. Lucia Things To Do