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We had a lovely trip to St Lucia this month and given the current state of travel, I wanted to report back on my experience on this beautiful island. The pandemic situation and requirements are constantly changing. Despite the restrictions, there was plenty to do in St Lucia making it a worthwhile place to visit during COVID. Looking to plan the ultimate St Lucia travel itinerary? Here we will discuss important considerations and fun things to do on your trip.

St Lucia Travel Restrictions

This post refers to the restrictions as they were at the time of our travel. You can find the current St Lucia travel restrictions here. The most important St Lucia travel restrictions at the time of our visit included the following:

• Arrivals (5 years and over) must have a COVID -19 PCR test with a negative result taken no more than 7 days before arrival in St Lucia.
• All arriving passengers will be screened, this will include temperature checks
• Arriving passengers will be transferred by certified taxi to approved COVID-19 accommodation or to their quarantine location

At this time, visitors cannot rent a car during the first 14 days of their trip to St Lucia. In addition, travelers are required to stay at a certified COVID-19 hotel (or an approved quarantine site) and only participate in certified COVID-19 activities. Despite the restrictions, there were still many things to do in St Lucia that were available and open, making it a great place to visit.

Overall the trip felt relatively safe. I flew in on Delta airlines which is currently restricting capacity of its flights and requires masks. Additionally, masks were worn in all indoor spaces in St Lucia including taxis and transfers. The only part that felt a little unsafe was ironically the inital COVID-19 check when we landed before going through customs and immigration – as we were in a pretty tight queue – with some (but not optimal) social distancing.

As things continue to open up, St. Lucia easily makes the list of Best Places to Travel in 2023 so lets get started planning your trip.

Where to Stay in St Lucia

The most important part of your St Lucia travel itinerary is where you plan to stay. At the time of our trip, the choices of where to stay in St Lucia were limited and only certain hotels were COVID-19 certified. This meant no Airbnbs or private lodging for the first 14 days of your stay. However, you were allowed to stay at two separate hotels during your stay so that is what we opted for. These hotels were very different from each other in both size as well as amenities and they were on opposite ends of the island. Check out this post if you want a complete review of where to stay in St Lucia.

Sandals Grande St Lucian

The first place we stayed was the very romantic Sandals Grande St Lucian. This resort is all-inclusive and caters heavily to couples and those on their honeymoon. I travel with girlfriends frequently and this is not really a place I would want to stay with a group of friends. However, for a honeymoon, anniversary, or a just-because trip with your significant other – this is a perfect spot. During non-COVID times, it would be a great place to meet other couples as well.

There are many restaurants so you will surely find something that you like to eat. You also don’t have to leave the resort if you don’t want to as there is plenty to do on the property, with shows most evenings and plenty of on-site activities. Even the basic rooms are quite nice, but there are over-the-water bungalow options available as well.

A few downsides of the property include that it is far (~1.5 hours drive) from the UVF airport which is where you will fly into. If you have the available funds, I would highly recommend the helicopter transfer. I wish we would have done this. Very slow wifi is free. However, for streaming, video calls or doing much more than browsing Facebook, it is an $80/week charge. Additionally, St Lucia is famous for its pitons (the distinctive mountain peaks in St Lucia). This hotel is far from those and the only way you would see them is to go on an excursion. The last downside which could also be a positive depending on your preferences, is that the Sandals feels a lot like the United States. You get very minimal cultural immersion.

With the amazing amenities and the downsides mentioned, we knew what to expect going to the Sandals Grande St Lucian. We both felt like we got the experience we were hoping for. We were happy that we got to spend 3 nights at the Sandals Grande St Lucian and absolutely would stay there again.

Caille Blanc Villa & Hotel

The second place we stayed was the Caille Blanc Villa. Every downside mentioned with the Sandals was addressed by the Caille Blanc however these two hotels were quite possibly the most polar opposites. The Caille Blanc is a small, 5 villa hotel located on the clifside facing the pitons. This means there are a lot less people around you at the Caille Blanc. It almost felt like a private cottage with a butler service.

We booked the Sunset villa and it was small but had an incredible view of the pitons. We did not spend too much time in the room. The Caille Blanc was not all-inclusive but had a meal plan option which we opted for. The food was good, but limited options as there was one kitchen. We stayed for 3 nights and felt there was enough variety for our duration. Had we stayed longer, a dine-around option at other local hotels was recently government approved so you could have some flexibility.

During non-COVID times, those staying at the Caille Blanc could walk down to the Anse Chastanet Beach which is located adjacent to the Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet Resort. However, there was also a very small rocky beach located down the clifside from the Caille Blanc. It was a 10 minute walk down and about a 12-15 minute walk up. The steps were large and it is not a casual walk. However it was private and very charming. We visted the beach twice during our stay. If you are planning to visit the beach while staying at the Caille Blanc, definitely make sure to have shoes that you can wear into the water such as these Keen Sandals.

The infinity pool featured in all of the Caille Blanc photos is even better in person. Most infinity pool pictures give off an illusion of being larger than they are in reality. However, the Caille Blanc infinity pool was actually quite big. As there are relatively few people staying at the hotel, you will not be fighting with others for the beautiful views either.

Downsides of this hotel include that you won’t find the plethora of amenities (restaurants, nighttime shows, etc) that you would at a place like the Sandals. However, if you are going somewhere just to relax, this is the place.

What to do in St Lucia

There really are a lot of options of things to do in St Lucia for a variety of adventure levels. Things to consider when planning your St Lucia travel itinerary include the location of the activity relative to where you are staying. As an example, if you are staying at the Sandals Grande St Lucian, you would want to make sure you lump all activities near the pitons into one (long) day rather than taking multiple trips back and forth across the island.

St Lucia has wonderful beaches and most hotels have great pools. We did a significant amount of relaxing by both of these, which was a good idea given the timing of our trip. However we still got to get out and experience a few other activities.

Horseback riding in St Lucia

A highlight of our trip and the first excursion we did while on the island was to go horseback riding. We took a private horseback riding tour through Sandy Hoofs St Lucia. Horseback riding on the beach was everything you could hope for and more. We both had a blast and the ride and time spent by the beach was about 2.5 hours. The stable location was about a 15 minute taxi from the Sandals Grande St Lucian making it the perfect excursion from our hotel.

Gros Piton Hike

The most recognizable feature of St Lucia are the pitons. Being that we are hikers, we obviously had to summit one. At the time of our trip the Gros Piton hike was the only one that was open. The Gros Piton is taller than the Petit Piton but it is not as steep, making it the “easier” one to hike. The Gros Piton hike is 3.2 miles and 1840 ft of elevation gain. Unlike hikes in the United States, you must go with a guide. The office opens at 7am and it is $50 USD to hike (they do take credit card at the office).

If you are planning to hike, bring water, snacks, sturdy shoes, appropriate hiking clothes, and cash as there are snack stands. I hiked in my Keen sandals which were great to have for the beach by the Caille Blanc. This hike was similar to hiking in the rainforest. We did this hike while staying at the Caille Blanc and it was about a 30 minute taxi ride from the hotel to get there.

Sailing

We rented a private catamaran through Mystic Man tours based out of Soufriere. The marina was about a 10-minute drive from the Caille Blanc. Our crew – Andel and Zack – were awesome. We rode up the coast of St Lucia and got out to snorkel. In non-COVID times, we would have been able to explore more of the beaches as well. After snorkeling we continued on to Marigot Bay where we stopped for lunch. Then we sailed back down the coast towards Soufriere and in between the pitons. It was a lovely relaxing day.

Go to the Beach

One of the main reasons to plan a St. Lucia travel itinerary is to relax on the beach. And this charming little island is full of pristine beaches where you can relax and hear the waves quietly lapping up against the shore.

So, head to Redult Beach in the north if you want to be with the crowds and better understand why this beach is so popular.

Alternatively, head to either Anse Chastanet or Sugar Beach if you’re looking for stellar views of the Pitons or if you want to enjoy the best snorkeling on the island.

You can also check out Laborie Beach if you’re visiting with the family and are looking for calmer waters that are well-protected by a local reef.

However, if you really want to get off the beaten path then head to Hummingbird Beach, or Cemetery Beach according to locals. It can be found near Soufriere and it isn’t the most pristine beach on this list. However, it’s a great spot for cliff jumping and taking in panoramas of the Pitons.

Tackle One of the Island’s Other Hikes

While Gros Piton is easily the most famous hike on the island, it certainly isn’t the only one that you can add to your St. Lucia travel itinerary.

So, if you’re looking other fun things to do in St. Lucia that involve hiking, try climbing either Mount Gimie or Petit Piton. Just be aware that both treks are not for beginners and require a bit of rock climbing experience.

Alternatively, if you’re looking for a more low-key hike than you can check out the Tet Paul Nature Trail. Yes, it’s an extremely easy hike but you will need to hike a guide to visit since funds generated by guides are funneling back into trail maintenance by a local organization.

Visit a Volcano

Planning a St. Lucia travel itinerary? If so then you need to head to the world’s only drive-in volcano. Because when you visit Soufriere Volcano you can actually drive right up to the caldera and see springs of sulfur bubbling to life.

If you can, try to stop by later in the day so that you can avoid intense crowds. You can also visit The Soufrière Volcanic Centre if you want to learn more about the science of volcanoes.

Afterward, be sure to take a mud bath in the area’s mineral-rich soil before soaking in geothermic pools of hot water before cooling off with a refreshing trip to nearby Piton Falls. This is easily one of the best things to do in St. Lucia and is well-located near Sugar Beach.

Plus, if you want to explore the island’s Botanical Garden then you can always add a visit to these mineral baths to your entrance ticket.

See a Waterfall

St. Lucia may be small but it is home to a wide variety of stunning waterfalls. So, if you’d like to get outside and experience the raw beauty of this magical place then be sure to visit Diamond Falls, which is well-located near the island’s Botanical Gardens.

Toraille Falls is also situated near the Botanical Gardens and is well worth your time. Although, you can always head to the eastern side of the island and visit Latille Falls if you want to get away from the crowds and possibly have a waterfall all to yourself.

Visit Hotel Chocolat

Not only can you stay at one of the 25 stunning, private eco-lodges inside Hotel Chocolat’s Rabot Hotel, but you can enjoy a delicious meal at their open-air restaurant.

See, meals here are created with a very unique, chocolate theme. So, all courses are made using cocoa beans as an ingredient and are absolutely delicious. Then, be sure to take a tour of the on-site cocoa plantation where you can make your very own chocolate bar as a fun souvenir.

Other activities in St Lucia

There were a few other activities that we did not get a chance to do that sounded interesting. The first was visiting Pigeon Island National Park. You can see this from the Sandals Grande St Lucian. During non-COVID times you could walk there. However, each resort has a day that you can visit and we were not going to be at the Sandals on their official day. And because our next hotel was pretty far away we did not want to return to that side of the island.

The second activity was visiting the volcano and mud bath. Fellow travelers gave this rave reviews, we just did not make it there ourselves. St Lucians are also very proud of the volcano and most people mentioned it to us as a suggestion.

St. Lucia Travel Itinerary FAQ

How Many Days is Enough for St Lucia?

Try to spend at least one week in St. Lucia if you can. This way you can enjoy all of the island’s major attractions while still taking some time to relax.

Is 2 weeks in St Lucia Too Much?

Between whale watching, visiting Diamond Falls, exploring the volcano, and checking out Mamiku Gardens you could easily spend 2 weeks on the island and not run out of things to do.

How Long Does it Take to Travel Around St Lucia?

This small volcanic island is just 27 miles long and 14 miles wide. Therefore, if you want to drive from one end to the other, you could easily drive the length of the island in two hours.

Is St Lucia or the Bahamas Better?

The Bahamas is better if you’re coming to the Caribbean for pristine beaches and turquoise blue waters.

However, if you want to get off the beaten path and do some hiking before relaxing on the beach then St. Lucia is better for you.

What is the Best Way to Travel around St Lucia?

The best way to get around St. Lucia is by taxi since a reliable company will quickly and easily escort you from the airport to your hotel.

However, if you want to save a bit of money then you could always try using minibuses. After all, this is how locals get around the island since it’s quite affordable.

Lastly, you could try booking a rental car since it will offer you the most independence it terms of moving around the island at your own pace while enjoying your St. Lucia travel itinerary.

What are the Best Months to go to St Lucia?

The best months to go to St. Lucia are October, November, April and March if you want to avoid other tourists but don’t mind a bit of rain.

Alternatively, the best months to visit St. Lucia are December through February if you’re looking for really good and really dry weather.

St Lucia Travel Itinerary

Hopefully you are all ready to book your trip to St Lucia. The locals are incredibly proud of their island and will be extremely grateful for your visit. St Lucia is the perfect destination for your romantic getaway or just relaxing with friends. Have you been to St Lucia or do you plan to go? Let us know in the comments!

You May Also Enjoy These Posts:

• Fun things to do in St Lucia
• Horseback riding in St Lucia
• Where to stay in St Lucia
• Sandals Grande St Lucian Review

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