TopThigsToSeeAndDo

Top Things To See & Do : ? Castries is one of the most beautifully situated Caribbean cities. Surrounded by hills, its large, safe harbour at the head of a wide bay is a constant hive of activity. Castries is also a major port of call for cruise ships, which dock at Pointe Seraphine. Head for the spacious Derek Walcott Square which features the 19th-century Catholic Cathedral, standing in the shade of a 400-year-old samaan tree. There is also a colourful, bustling market. Morne Fortune, 'hill of good luck', affords the visitor the chance to inspect the fortification which defends Castries. It also provides a magnificent panorama of the city and the surrounding area. Heritage walks are available through a range of tour operators.

? Gros Islet, on the northwest coast of the island, stages a street party every Friday. Nearby Pigeon Island National Landmark has a small museum telling the history of the island. It was from here that Admiral Rodney set sail in 1782 and destroyed the French Fleet in one of the most decisive engagements in European history. This end of the island is now being developed as a centre for tourism.

? Anse La Raye, on the west coast south of Castries, is a colourful fishing village where locals make boats from gum trees; every Friday evening, join the locals at the Friday Night Fish Fry BBQ. Marigot Bay, also on the west coast, is a secluded, palm-fringed yachtsman's paradise. Above Marigot Bay lies Cul de Sac, an area of three large banana plantations. From above, they look like gently moving oceans of green leaves. It was here that the original Dr Doolittle was filmed.

? Soufrière is the second-largest settlement on the island and takes its name from the volcano. This deep-water port stands at the foot of two extinct volcanoes, the Pitons. Rising to 798m (2619ft) above sea level, these are probably St Lucia's most famous landmarks. The town itself is typically West Indian, a cluster of brightly painted arcaded buildings set hard against the jungle.

? The road between Soufrière and Fond St Jacques runs eastwards through the rainforest; here are the Diamond Waterfalls in the Diamond Botanical Gardens and Sulphur Springs - St Lucia's 'drive-in volcano'.

? The picturesque little villages of Choiseul and Laborie are surrounded by splendid vegetation. The Morne Coubaril Estate is also worth a visit.

? On the east of the island, the headlands project into the ocean; a visit to the fishing villages of Dennery and Micoud is highly recommended.

? Plantation tours organised by a number of tour operators take visitors back in time to the colonial era. Fond d'Or Nature Historic Park is one tour which covers the Amerindian settlements and historic buildings of the sugar age and the tropical forest surrounding it.

? The sandy beach of Anse de Sable offers ideal windsurfing conditions for both novice and expert. The waves at Cas en Bas and Vieux Fort are a challenge even for the most experienced. The west coast, too, offers a selection of resorts and hotels geared to the special needs of the active watersports enthusiast, while elsewhere on the island guests can enjoy water-skiing and para-sailing above Rodney Bay. The natural and artificial coral makes St Lucia an ideal location for snorkelling and scuba diving. It is not uncommon to see turtles, nurse sharks and seahorse or even 'The Thing' (said to be St Lucia's Loch Ness Monster, it has been seen during the night around Anse Chastanet) whilst swimming in the clear blue waters. Snorkel equipment is available to hire from most hotels. Diving schools are spread throughout the island can accommodate for all levels of divers. Popular diving sites include Anse Chastanet, Anse Le Raye, Coral Gardens at the base of the Gros Piton, Fairy Land at the base of Anse Chastanet, Lesleen M Shipwreck and Superman's Flight. All west coast beaches have good swimming. The Atlantic coast has rugged surf and is not recommended to anyone with little experience and ability, and even an extremely proficient swimmer should not go unaccompanied. Turtle and whale watching is a great experience for all animal lovers. St Lucia is said to be one of the best places in the world to see whales because 20 species can be seen off the coast, including sperm whales, pilot whales and humpbacks.

? Go sailing: hotels offer hobbycats, dinghies and small speedboats by the hour or half-day; cost is dependent on the board basis of your hotel. From Marigot Bay and Rodney Bay, the more experienced sailor can hire a variety of craft from comparatively basic, small yachts to larger 12m (40ft) and 18m (60ft) vessels, with crew if required. Tour operators can also arrange for stays of a week or more on the island to be coupled with a 'free floating' holiday on board a chartered yacht visiting the neighbouring islands.

? Sea fishing trips are possible, fishing for barracuda, mackerel, kingfish and so on.

? Soar above the rainforest on a canopy tour. Adrenaline lovers can fly along a series of ziplines from 30-150m (100-500ft) in length connecting nine platforms 9-15m (30-50ft) above the ground.

? Nature trails and hikes: St Lucia Department of Forestry and the National Trust organise a variety of rainforest, mountain and plantation walks. Local guides are available to help climbers tackle the Pitons. The main areas designated for birdwatching are the Bois d'Orange Swamp , Boriel's Pond and the Rain Forest. Arrangements can be made through the St Lucia Forestry Department.

Tourist Information : St Lucia Tourist Board in the UK
1 Collingham Gardens, London SW5 0HW, UK
Tel: (0870) 900 7697.
Website: www.stlucia.org

St Lucia Tourist Board in the USA
9th Floor, 800 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 867 2950 or (800) 456 3984 (toll-free).
Website: www.stlucia.org 

    

      

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Important Cities in Saint Lucia