The Best Things to Do in St Lucia

This volcanic island's natural wonders make it far more than bed-bed break
view of st lucia


The Daily Navigator strives to help you make the best decisions in travel. While we produce content according with strict editorial integrity this post may contain references to partner products. Here’s a full explanation for how our team makes money .

This post contains one or more references to our advertisers. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. For our full advertising policy, click here.

You could quickly run out of superlatives for St. Lucia.

Aesthetically, it’s the perfect embodiment of a Caribbean island: crystal waters, lush greenery, picture-perfect beaches, and a laid-back atmosphere. But there are more things to do in St. Lucia than lounging away your days on the beach (although you should do that, too).

UNESCO World Heritage sites, breathtaking hikes, a sneakily strong culinary scene, and endless volcanicity all lend themselves to an island experience with a little more depth than expected.

These are the best things to do in St. Lucia.

Hike the Piton Mountains

The Piton Mountains, screaming skywards from the Caribbean Sea, are St. Lucia’s most iconic landmark. As volcanic plugs, they were formed slowly as magma hardens inside the vent of an active volcano. They’re no longer active and serve as a jaw-dropping backdrop for the island.

The most popular and one of the best things to do in St. Lucia is to climb one of them. Gros Piton, the taller of the two, can be climbed with a guide. It should be a comfortable but challenging climb for anyone in decent shape. The smaller Petit Piton is far more challenging and should only be attempted if you’re in good shape and comfortable with climbing.

Visit the Sulphur baths

In keeping with the volcanic theme, the only active spot remains in the small town of Soufrière (literally Sulphur in French). Exploring the area is best done with a guide, although it’s simple to go yourself.

You’ll first be hit by the smell but struggle through it, and you’ll discover a fantastic lunar-like landscape with bubbling pools. When you’re done exploring, you can take a dip in one of the geothermal pools. As it’s great for your muscles, it’s best done after climbing one of the Pitons.

Explore Pigeon Island

At first glance, St. Lucia may seem to be all looks, but it boasts an impressively vast history. The Indigenous population inhabited the island for almost two thousand years before colonial arrivals changed its course.

For history buffs, Pigeon Island is one of the best things to do in St. Lucia. Used throughout the centuries by French pirates, British Naval fleets, and even the Americans in World War II, it’s been an important outpost. Remnants of the British presence in the 1700s remain and can be explored with a guide. It’s connected to the main island via a manmade causeway built in 1971.

Take a food and rum tour

For a small place, St. Lucia’s food scene packs a punch. From homegrown Cacao to unbelievable seafood and, of course, rum, there’s more than enough to get your teeth stuck into.

To savor the best of the island, hop on an organized tour. There are multiple options, usually for private groups, covering chocolate, rum, and local food in one tour. If you have the time, you can split the tours into each unique aspect to delve deeper into the culture of the island’s culinary habits.

Chill at the beach

It may be fifth on our list, but there’s a good chance it’s number one on the majority of St. Lucia’s visitors. Even by Caribbean standards, St. Lucia’s beaches are enchanting.

Sugar Beach is the most iconic—owing to its incomparable positioning between the two Piton mountains. The dramatic surroundings turn a simple day of relaxation into something more surreal. Other popular beaches include Anse Chastanet, La Toc Beach, and Anse de Sables.

Ride the Aeriel Tram and visit the rainforest

The Aerial Tram is one of the most unique things to do in St. Lucia. The eight-person open-air gondolas move slowly across the canopy of the rainforest, gifting travelers stunning views of the island and potential encounters with some of the rare bird species found on the island. Guides are on hand to point out any wildlife, plants, and trees.

For a less informative take on the experience, hop on one of the island’s zipline courses, or wander through the rainforest paths. Whatever you choose (maybe all three?), don’t miss out on experiencing the rainforest.

Become a Travel Expert

Once weekly destination travel guides delivered to your inbox for free.

Related Stories

Built with ❤️ by travelers, for travelers.

© 2024 Dollar Flight Club Inc. All Rights Reserved

Stay in the know with
The Navigator Newsletter

A five-minute trip through the news that matters most to travelers. Past Edition

A five-minute trip through the news that matters most to travelers. Past Edition

This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. The relationship may impact how an offer is being presented. Our site doesn’t include all the offers available. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.

The Daily Navigator Featured Card Popup 3
Best Offer: $1,600 in Free Travel

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points

Plus, you can access over $1,500 in credits on select purchases. 

Partner offer. Terms apply.

DFC Partner Perks App Link Image
Special Discount for Our Members

50% Off Dollar Flight Club Premium

Your Premium Dollar Flight Club Membership will pay for itself the moment you join, because you get access to Partner Perks. You’ll get exclusive discounts on products and services from our favorite travel brands right in your deal dashboard.

DFC Concierge App Link Image
Special Discount for Our Members

93% off lifetime access

Save $1,200 and 10 hours of your time on every vacation. With Lifetime access to DFC Concierge, get fully customized trip itineraries to make every vacation unforgettable.

Dollar Flight Club App Link Image
Special Discount for Our Members

50% Off PREMIUM

You can save up to $500 on your next adventure without lifting a finger get email alerts when we find flights up to 90% off leaving your home airport. Just let us know your departure airport and we’ll do the rest.

The Navigator Commitment

The Daily Navigator is the cornerstone of the DFC Media family. Through each of our brands, we’re dedicated to helping our readers travel, spend, and live smarter.

With products dedicated to affordable travel, daily news, hospitality, and personal finance, we deliver the day’s essential content with none of the filler — all in a way that’s fast, easy, and fun to read. Every morning, over 2 Million travelers trust DFC to deliver the latest news and information so that they can make informed decisions faster. We hope you’ll join them.

We’re happy to have you here!