Top five places to visit in St Lucia
If you are keen to enjoy fantastic activities while soaking up the sun, St Lucia is one holiday destination that you should certainly consider visiting. All over the eastern Caribbean island you'll find that you can have amazing adventures and memorable experiences.
Whether you choose to book all-inclusive holidays to St Lucia or you prefer to go on a self-catering getaway, a trip here means you can try a wealth of exciting activities and sports while situated in stunning surroundings.
This will certainly prove the case should you visit Anse Chastanet. One of the country's most popular beaches, this is a great place to lie back and indulge in a spot of sunbathing, although it is equally well suited to those hoping to be a bit more adventurous over the course of their holiday.
The waters lying off the sandy stretch are renowned for offering excellent scuba diving and snorkelling opportunities and just a few metres off the mainland you can see some beautiful coral reefs.
From here you can take in the majestic Pitons mountains that lie in the backdrop of Anse Chastanet. The peaks of Gros Piton and Petit Piton - which are 2,619 ft and 2,461 ft above sea level respectively - are certain to prove a highlight of your Caribbean break and while climbing to the top of the summits may be a bit too challenging, going on a walk through their lower reaches is sure to be an exciting activity.
Just to the south of the beach is Soufriere. This bustling town on St Lucia's west coast was once the island's capital and in coming here you can take part in a number of exciting activities.
Visit the botanical gardens and you'll be able to see the Diamond Waterfall, where the bubbling sulphur-rich water regularly changes colour from yellow to black to green.
During your time here take a trip through Sulphur Springs - a geothermally active area that you can drive along, seeing hot springs and fumaroles as you pass - while heading to the Fond Doux Holiday Plantation allows you to observe cocoa beans fermented as they are made into chocolate.
The capital Castries is another must-visit for those staying in St Lucia hotels. In the city, you'll be able to see some wonderful landmarks including Derek Walcott Square - which is named after the St Lucian Nobel Prize-winning poet of the same name - and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
Several sandy stretches - including Choc Beach, Vigie Beach and Malabar Beach - are located close by, perfect if you want to go for a dip after a busy morning of sightseeing.
Perhaps one of the most popular beaches on the entire island is Reduit. Located on the northern coast, this is the ideal place for you to try water sports such as diving, sailing and snorkelling. Although, if you feel like taking things a little easier, you can always find a shady spot underneath a palm tree in order to lie back and relax.
Other activities you can get up to during your time on the island include kitesurfing at the north-eastern beach of Cas en Bas, going on helicopter tours and zip lining through lush rainforest at the Treetop Adventure Park.
When it comes to Caribbean holidays, you are bound to find that St Lucia is hard to beat.
