St.Lucia is Paradise

I must admit, despite being told by many friends and family that this small island was their most enjoyable Caribbean vacation spot,  I was guilty of thinking St. Lucia could not possibly have an abundance of activities and entertainment to keep you busy for an entire vacation.

I understood that many of these people were enjoying a cruise of the Caribbean and I would always ask myself, “How much can you experience in one or two days to make an educated judgment?” I also had concerns that the country of port itself can make a great impression on the one-day tourists, as they can control what most of them are subject to in such a short time.

Well everything I was told was absolutely true regarding this small country, that has more to offer than I can express in one article.

After a pleasant five-hour direct flight on West Jet, from Toronto, we were in the beautiful country of St. Lucia. I was amazed after traveling to many Caribbean islands and other comparable countries that the roads were in very good shape, and construction was under way on many of the streets that we traveled. There was little if any impoverished areas to drive through, which was a nice change in comparison with many islands I had visited previously. This two-hour ride down the West coast was beautiful. We were engulfed by the life and scenes of this captivating island and its friendly people. The breeze that was constantly blowing thanks to the trade winds made the heat so very bearable and almost welcoming.

As we arrived at our very quaint boutique hotel, the Coco Palm, the sense of urgency of the big city left my mind and body almost instantly. Upon arrival, we were greeted by the hotel’s hosts, who escorted us to our room and checked us in. What a pleasant change from the ordinary line up rush check-in procedure at most resorts. Our room was fantastic including a swim up to our balcony, a luxurious touch that this resort offers as an upgrade.

We wanted to experience the island to its fullest so we had to get on the move quickly and that is exactly what we did. Coco Palm is located a short couple of hundred meters walk to the beautiful white sand beach in Rodney Bay. This made the Reduit Beach one of our first stops.  It is decorated with a few resort hotels, which are mostly all-inclusive; the water is clear, beautiful and calm enough to take a leisurely swim while the beach hosts both visitors to the island and locals.

Continuing our tour of Rodney Bay, this charming area is the hub of tourist activity in St. Lucia. We were amazed with the cuisine options in this small district, which included Chinese, Italian, local fare and even a good old fashion Steak house; we even found the islands first sushi bar, The Edge, located at the Harmony Suites Hotel. There are many hotels, night clubs, bars, and coffee shops; there is never a dull moment in the Bay.

Our off-site trips included the famous fish fry at Anse La Raye. This was a real up close and personal look into the culture of this island. These fish fries happen all over the island on Friday nights, with food, music, dancing, shopping, drinking and the fresh fish brought directly from the ocean that afternoon prepared by the wives of the fisherman for the hundreds of people that frequent the fry. What an amazing experience and the locals made us feel right at home.

We continued to tour the island with a Carnival cruise that took us down to the scenic French Creole decorated town of Soufriere. Feeling the breeze in my hair and the sun on my face took me far away from the real world as I allowed myself to fall into a tranquil snooze. Not only is there a serene beauty inland but also along the coastlines, where the beautiful resorts that freckle the beaches and mountains alike are picturesque.

On this trip, The Ladera Luxury Resort was our lunch date and what a date it was. The view was breathtaking; I felt as though I could reach out and touch the Pitons.  This was everyone’s daydream brought to life and it was definitely one of the WOW moments of my trip. The food was exceptional and the staff was as warm and welcoming as the beautiful resort. We then traveled down the mountain to the visit the Sulfur Springs where the volcano had collapsed creating the Pitons.  This was so educational and almost surreal as the guide explained the history of the volcano, we stood in awe in the center of this monster that is still alive in waiting. The boat ride back had us anchor in a few bays that were so tranquil yet jumping with wildlife, beautiful scenery and guests of the properties that were nestled in these bays. We were able to snorkel, partake in water sports or just enjoy a refreshing rum punch on the sun deck.

Upon returning to the resort we were hosted by chef Richardson Skinner at the resort’s hot spot, Ti Bananne. The chef prepared many island delights from his French Caribbean Bistro to tantalize our palate; it was another amazing meal topping a beautiful night under the stars relaxing in the warm comfortable breeze.

St.Lucia is a yachtsman’s haven; the marina at Marigot Bay is an amazingly up to date and even advanced port in such a small country. The trade winds bring yachts from all over the world to St.Lucia where they can experience the Marine Parks which offer some of the most enchanting spots in the Caribbean. If you don’t have a yacht to experience the seaways, there are many tours that can take you over to the lovely island of Martinique for a delightful day of touring and shopping.

There are so many fabulous attractions to partake in on the island including many national parks featuring protected wildlife from turtles and lizards to birds of the island. There are rainforest sky rides where you can travel at great heights exploring the rain forest from a zip line or an Arial Tram for the less adventurous. Everything from  horseback riding bareback through the Atlantic ocean viewing plunging waterfalls, to diving or snorkeling a wreck on the mouth of Anse Cochon, one of the islands favorite sites. There is Carnival in July and a world-renowned Jazz festival in May. You cannot forget the great deals when duty-free shopping; just remember to carry your boarding pass and passport to receive the amazing discounts at some of the fabulous boutique shops. There are also many golf courses for those who have less interest in the eco tours available.

One of my first stops on my next trip to St. Lucia is a guided hike up the Pitons; I now have a new daydream that I hope will also come true.
written by: Natasha Borota