Saint Lucia

Gros Islet

The most popular beaches in Saint Lucia are here, with Rodney Bay, Pigeon Island, Marigot Bay and Vigie all getting very busy at peak times. There's always plenty to see and do on the beaches, in the resorts and town so if you're after a holiday where the people provide the entertainment this is the perfect place. None of the beaches in Saint Lucia are private so you're free to explore the area and choose any place you wish, although you may pay a small fee for sunloungers. Pigeon Island Nature Reserve is home to the island's oldest dwellings and you can see across the sea to neighbouring Martinique.

Castries

On Saint Lucia's sheltered west coast there are some quiet beaches as well as some great diving spots for beginners such as Anse Cochon. Castries itself is a pretty colonial town centred about the waterfront making for a lovely relaxing atmosphere. La Sikwi Sugar Mill is in this area if you fancy delving into the island's past as a sugar producer, or go back to the battles between the French and the English at La Toc fortress.

Soufrière

Home to the iconic Pintons Mountains and the drive-through volcano of Mount Soufrière, there's no shortage of high altitude action in this part of Saint Lucia. You can also relax at the Diamond Botanical Gardens or enjoy the pastel colours of the dwellings in Soufrière town itself. They're best viewed from the Old Courtyard by the waterfront. There are a whole host of beautiful beaches such as Jalousie and Anse Chastanet, the latter being a great place to head into the hills for some jungle biking too. The dive spots here are numerous but are generally suited to competent divers.

Vieux Fort

The southern tip of Saint Lucia is where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea and this produces one of the top windsurfing points on the island. The beaches here are lovely but hard to get to, with most of them only accessible by boat. The Mankote Mangrove is a great place to go to see the native bird species.

East Coast

Away from the popular resorts Saint Lucia island becomes increasingly wild and the Atlantic proves itself inhospitable for swimming, despite stunning beaches. Instead, you'll have to enjoy watching the wide variety of animals that make the coast its home, not least the giant sperm whale. Grand Anse Beach is the nesting ground for leatherback turtles and they can be spotted all year round whilst Fregate Island is a haven for birds.

Centre

Saint Lucia island's centre is dominated by thick rainforest and there are plenty of companies that offer a wide variety of excursions into the jungle. Walking tours, bird watching and taking a 'sky ride' where you are elevated above the canopy are all popular.