Things to do in St. Lucia in 2023

There is so much to do in this paradise. This is our recommended list of sport activities and other things to do in St.Lucia that are easy to access from our guesthouse. We have parking for your rental. There are plenty of cab services. The bus stop is a 5-10 minutes walk down the road. From here you can directly access the villages, the Marina and also much more:

Kitesurfing

St. Lucia kite spot

The winds are super steady here! We are a short drive away from a fantastic kitesurfing spot. Locals call it “the stadium”, a truly perfect flat water spot protected on the inside of a reef to master your tricks on any level. The horseshoe shaped beach makes the spot safe and the consistent winds are perfect for an awesome session. Local kite schools offer lessons. For wind forecast and some details check our kitesurfing St. Lucia page.

Beach access

Rodney Bay Beach St. Lucia

The Caribbean side beaches are calmer than those on the Atlantic side. Gros Islet on the calm side is 15-20 minutes walking distance. Frequent minibuses are available 10 minutes down the road, they go by plenty of beaches on the Caribbean side. We drive our guests to the above Atlantic side “Plantation Beach” when the wind is up. A natural beach with activity options such as wind- or kitesurfing and horseback riding. There are plenty of options, check Top Beaches in St. Lucia’s North

Gros Islet village

About 15-20 minutes walking distance is the vibrant village of Gros Islet. Nice bars and restaurants are located close by the ocean. Every Friday night the village center transforms to an outdoor party. Dance in the streets and get food and drinks from the food stalls in the roads. It has banks with ATMs and shops. Our favourite local bar is “Irie Bar” a block away from the waterfront. Favourite restaurant is “Dukes” right next to it facing the waterfront. Go on weekends for their famous fish barbecue.

Marina yacht harbour

About the same distance is the marina yacht harbour with it’s restaurants by the water. Have a breakfast at the Cafe. Dine Sushi or have an Italian Pizza by the waterfront with a nice view of the boats in the harbour. Stroll along the piers with a homemade ice-cream. There are also shops, a car rental agency and an ATM. If you walk there, try a fresh coconut from the farmers on the roadside.

Shopping

As for groceries since you have your own kitchen the closest options are mini markets down by the main road. Right at the intersection you will see a gas station with supplies. If you cross the main road continuing into Gros Islet coming from the house there is a mini market with a good selection on your right. At the corner and on the Gros Islet road are also bakeries.

The big malls are in Rodney Bay, which is a 3-4 minutes ride with the mini bus from the main road intersection. Within the malls you find the Massey’s supermarkets.

If you’re looking for other shopping items, the malls have several stores for clothing, shoes, a pharmacy, sport items, etc.

Eating out

The closest options are the local food courts down by the main road close by the fire station in walking distance. Lots of choices such as local fish plates, wraps, burgers and BBQ for a small budget. Also in walking distance is the center of Gros Islet with many choices of local food places close to the waterfront. About the same distance is the marina yacht harbour (see above) with very good Italian food, sushi, Latin, Thai food and more. You can dine right by the waterfront for a great value.

Even more choices and higher end restaurants with more international cuisine (Indian, Steak house, Italian) are in Rodney Bay, which is a 3-4 minutes ride with the mini bus.

Pigeon Island natural reserve

Caribbean sideOn the historic pigeon island site the French and English built their forts. Explore it today by nice hikes, stunning views, restaurants and bars and a beautiful small beach.

Horseback riding

Ride horse in Caribbean

There are staples close to the guesthouse. At Plantation beach you can get them right at the beach and go in the water with them.

Golf course

Towards the north is a 18 hole golf course. A par-71 that plays 6113 meters.

Castries Market

Browse through the vibrant capital of St. Lucia and explore the market. Try a fresh squeezed “Sour Sop” juice or local tropical produce.

Sailing

Right from the Marina which is in walking distance from us you can do sail trips or get your sailing certification. First4Sail offers sailing around Rodney Bay, an  overnight trip along the coast of St. Lucia and trips to neighbouring islands such as Martinique or St. Vincent

Rodney Bay

Bars, restaurants, malls and beaches. Rodney bay is a cool center for everything: Shop swim or island wear, groceries, cafes, bars, DJ music, restaurants, beach access, beach bars, ATMs, parking, …

Hiking

There are a few great hikes near the guesthouse. The Pigeon island natural reserve being the easiest. From the park entrance to the nearest peak it’s a short 15 minutes climb. No special gear needed. Incredible views from the top. There is a second peak that needs a little bit longer to climb. You can walk from the Guesthouse to Gros Islet and follow the beach towards north. You can cross the small channel by boat. Or drive to the gate, there is a large parking lot.

You can hike the rough Atlantic side of the island. The coastline is beautiful and remote. From the guesthouse it’s about 30-40 minutes walk. If you drive, that shortest dirt road is too bad to drive. Go around the paved long way, cross the golf course and park at Cas En Bas beach.

Mt Pimard at the south end of Reduit Beach is bit more challenging. You need a bit better shoe wear, parts of the hike have a rope to assist with the steep climb. About 1 hour. The reward is an awesome view. It is the mountain right by Rodney Bay which you can see from your balcony. You can take the bus to Rodney Bay and walk towards the south end of Reduit beach. If you have a rental, park right by the beach past the south wall of the Starfish hotel. Walk by the last bar at the beach and follow the trail up the hill.

If you want a real physical challenge you can climb the Pitons. It takes about 2-3 hours to climb the 771m peak of the Gros Piton. Go in the early morning, a car ride from the house takes about  1 1/2 hours. In the village by the mountain are mandatory tour guides to hike to the peak with you.

Beach Volleyball

Beaches

A short minibus ride away, between Castries and Rodney Bay is nice beach with 2 courts. Nothing beats a dip in the ocean after an exciting game!

Adventure tours

There is plenty of activity starting from Gros Islet. Like scuba diving tours, paragliding, boat tours, drive your own buggy on the beach,  …

Plenty of beautiful beaches

The Caribbean side has the calmer beaches for lounging, snorkelling and swimming. The Atlantic side the more wild ones for water sport activities. Our personal favourite beach is Smugglers Cove with the Naked Fisherman restaurant. Check Top Beaches in St. Lucia’s North.

Scuba diving

A scuba dive operation is located in Rodney Bay. They can bring you with their boat to dive sites in the south right from their pier close by.


Getting around in St. Lucia

There are more things to do in St. Lucia that requires transportation to the south of the island. We have parking for your rental. There are plenty cab services. The bus stop is a 5-10 minutes walk down the road. From Castries you can switch to another minibus. It is very cheap to connect to the south with those busses, but you will need plenty of time. Easier option, especially to go past Castries is a rental car. The closest rental pick up station is in the marina harbour.

Here is our list of best picks in the middle and southern part of the island. You can explore on your own or take a tour. Some of the tours pick you up from here.

  • Waterfalls Dennery, LaTille

  • Snorkeling

  • Mud bath at the volcano

  • Lush jungle – explore the rain forest

  • Tet Paul Trail

  • Zip Lining

  • Hiking Pitons

  • Marigot Bay

  • Soufriere

  • Lighthouse Moule a Chique very south end

And there is much more… just ask us. We like to share our local knowledge with our guests.