"When we first stumbled upon this flat on Airbnb, it seemed almost too good to be true. I thought “there must be a catch.” Everything was perfect as it seemed online. Janus is the most thoughtful and amazing host. He provided us with all the information we needed. Showed us around as well as some of his other villas. The flat is perfect, kitchen is compact and provides with everything we need. The bed is comfortable and sight from out flat is amazing. Thank you, Janus and Sapphire we had the best time, and will be back. Federica & Montinal Not much to add to all the great advice already given!. We had an amazing time and Janus and his team were beyond helpful.
Our two cents: 1. Ate at the dream down town and it was fantastic and reasonably priced. Order the chicken or fish meal- amazing (they also take credit card if you are running low on cash) 2. If you are on the fence about hiking Gros Piton, do the Rainforest hike instead. En Bas Saut Trail. You don’t need a guide but you do need a 4x4 to get to the trail. We chose to book through Janus for the full experience (guide and food) and would highly recommend. A lot more expensive but was given breakfast, fruit, water and our Mango and lunch on his near by family Farm. Hike was 2 hours including a break to eat lunch and swim in the waterfall. 2nd Half of the hike is all stairs and not easy but at least its shaded and shorter than Gros Piton. The farm and lunch were Beautiful and cant recommend Mangoes Tour enough. You can book him directly at (758) 715-8542 if you don’t want the full experience Cant wait to come back to see what else Janus has to offer. We had the most wonderful stay here! We are excited for the next chapter of our travels but sad to say goodbye to Soufriere and the Sapphire condos. 1.Our First day we did the Tet Paul Trail. We used the on-call chauffeur number provided with the condo info package on the table. The trail was beautiful and has stunning views. We recommend a guide so you can learn more about the island. 2.On Monday we spent a rainy afternoon at the Sulphur mud baths. Highly recommend. We went on our own around noon. And enjoyed more time than what the tours seemed to allow for. We then went to the torille waterfall not to far from the town. We went via drive since we didn’t rent a car. 3.Snorkeling at Anse Chastanet is a must. Check out the local dive shop on the beach to see if you can hitch a ride with them for a better fee than a water taxi. We spent an hour there in the morning and we felt that was more than enough. My boyfriend dived with them the day previously and would totally recommend them. 4.We decided not to hike Gros Piton for the fact that it is so hot!!! We read a few reviews about the length, speed and heat and decided not to make but we don’t regret it in the end. 5.The Bakery at the bottom of the hill is amazing. We stopped in multitude times a day. Try everything!!! 6.The beach bar along the Pier is so great! Affordable beer, great spot to sit back and watch the boats come and go. I could go on but now it’s time for you to get out and explore P.S -Fans a ac blocs out the barking dogs and rooters Marisssa & tyler Yellowknife, NT, Canada. Janus and his team were amazing. They helped me create a beautiful moment for my engagement at The Tet Paul Nature Trail! Jamal, the driver strayed along for the hike to make sure I got the best moment possible in the loveliest view. A few opinions (theyre all worth visiting, but if you want…) Skippers – Orlando’s – no really Sugar Beach – Anse Chastanet – save for snorkeling Stock up the market, all the food, beer, liquor you could ever need! The island will forever hold a place in our hearts now and we will return to check out Janus’s other properties. They look amazing and the service is the very best. Janus personally come over to wish us well on our engagement and it came from the heart. Forever grateful Tiffany & George Christa & Kane
Ottawa,ONT This was our first trip to St Lucia and it won't be our last. We stayed here our second last night and it was perfect! We were so welcomed, the keepers here brought us fruit and fresh bread and took us on an excursion. Thanks for making this trip so memorable. P.S. If you're looking for a challenge climb the piton. The view from the top is incredible especially if your guide takes you to the other side at the top. Janus and his team made a great effort to make us feel at home. Very friendly, accommodating, courteous and caring.
A special note for our driver Jamal, who is a great host and very engaged in our enjoyment while we were here Tips: 1) Breakfast at Fedos. They have great choices and also cook to order. very good omelettes. 2) Do the Soufriere tour with Jamal. 3) Dinner at Hummingbird resort. 4) Pizza at Ruby’s. call first to make sure they are making pizza that day. And also, they open at around 3 !! 😊 5) Anse Mamin is one of the most spectacular beaches in the world. 6) Visit our friends Martial and Mavriaa at Tik Tak Café down town. Lovely couple say hi to them from us… 7) Sugar Beach Is not for people looking for romance and relaxation. There are free chairs but at the end of the beach and very crowded. I would rather go the Anse, but that is just me. 8) Water Taxi’s. Jamal organize dit for us with “Feel Good”. Awesome people, we enjoyed rides twice and had a blast with captain Dan and Tevi. Enjoy your time on lovely Saint Lucia. Thanks Janus and Team Arturo and Carolina I only spent two nights here Oct 8th-9th. A very short stay, but all I needed. This is my second trip on the island, attending a friend’s graduation. (2) The remaining of my stay will be up north. I decided to come 2 days before my friends because I wanted to do some of the island staples. Sapphire offered what I love when I travel; a convenient and affordable place that allows one to see how the people live. I have traveled many island and knowing about the people is the true beauty of anywhere to me. Janus and everyone else I have come across have provided stellar services. I did not fall in love with St. Lucia on my first trip but I certainly did this time. I call it a honeymoon with myself #mehoneymoon. I came to this part of town to chase the Pitons. I absolutely love them. I posted pictures with the Pitons on Instagram with different titles: Breakfast with Petit Piton, Happy hour with the Pitons at Ladera Resort (Best View). I took a water taxi and was at sea with the Pitons. By the way if you live an active life it is an easy walk to the bay. Also Pier 28 has Wifi and bathrooms and it is right across from the bay in the adjacent road. Their rum punch was great too! Sugar beach is nice as well by water taxi and you can save $$ by avoiding the shuttle ride. You can sit on the local side and get a drink from Blaze. I bet his rum punch + Pina colada are great but for myself I had coconut water and smoothie. Best smoothie ever!!! I am an island girl, with roots from Haiti. I truly enjoyed St. Lucia and eavesdropping on the local’s conversations (Shame on me!) love that they speak creole! My heart is full. Thank you Janus! If I ever come back I know where to stay. I will be providing recommendations to this place. Mesi Elika P.S Thank for the soap. It saved me Monday evening. I forgot to bring any. My husband and I spent a week in Sapphire 1 for our honeymoon (oct 11- oct 18). The locals we’ve encountered are nice and friendly. The town of Soufriere is highly dependent on tourism but don’t let that bother you. Prices are a bit high for the Gros Piton Hike and Ruby’s Pizzeria, but the experience is worth it. I would highly recommend going to the restaurant called Pier 28 (5 min drive, 20 min walk). It has a wide selection of food and drinks at an affordable price.
To get the most out of Soufriere attractions, take the Soufriere Orientation Tour, but start early!! If you happen to be here on a Friday nigh, ask around about the Friday Night Street Party in Gros Islet . 1 hr. 30 min drive. ( and eat at Duke’s place—fish w/garlic sauce is amazing!) On Saturday morning, they have a small market open from 6am -10am, where locals sell fruits and fish. Many thinks to Janus and his team for their hospitality. We hope to be back soon!! Marianne & Daniel Macapagal Joshua (a.k.a badass Navy Pilot)
+ Emily (a.k.a JJ’s speedboat Dance Comp Winners). First, Thank you Janus for the mazing place to Stay!! Thank you for checking on us and taking care of us. When the power went out! Second, Ruby’s Closed ☹ Botanical Gardens? Closed ☹ Dive Trip? Cancel ☹ #Tropical Storm Kirk 2018 Third, St. Lucia is beautiful and we enjoyed the island immensely but, visiting during the off season proved to be a bit difficult as we were unable to accomplish some of the island staples. We hope to return again one day and experience tall that the island has to offer. Cheers, Joshua + Emily P.S Thank you Fabian! P.S.S Try the lunch spot in town right across the street from the Cathedral. Super cheap and delicious cooking. Jeremy and Becca—New York
What an amazing place to spend a few days. We cannot speak highly enough about Janus and his kind staff. We communicated with Janus using the Airbnb app and he was very quick to respond each time. He is great, be sure to use him! Janus will offer suggestions of places to eat and places to see, but the arrangements he made for us regarding travel were extremely helpful! His drivers will take you where you need to go (airport, restaurants, tours) at a reasonable price in US dollars. Based on reviews, entries, taxi cabs charge high prices in the area. While in town for two nights, we had dinner at Pier 28 and Ruby’s. Both offered good food at reasonable prices. At Pier 28 our first night, we had the jerk chicken sandwich and fries with Piton Beers. It was very good. The food offered on the menu is basic and familiar but seems to be done well (chicken wings, fish & chips, chicken sandwiches etc.) According to previous entries, Ruby’s is known for outstanding pizza. However, our second night the server noted they were not serving pizza at the time but the grilled Mahi, Mahi, salad and chicken wings were good. A bit more expensive than Pier 28. With tip, the meal at Ruby’s came about $50 USD. The highlight of our story was hiking Gros Piton. The hike was at the top of our to do list. We scheduled a ride from the condo to the trail through Janus. He also arranged for us to have a private guide for the trip. It is required to go up the mountain with a trained guide. It will cost you $50 USD per person to hike the mountain. The hike is hard and it takes 2 hours up and 2 hours down. Be prepared to sweat. Bring a few bottles of water and snacks. We brought steady hiking shoes and we were thankful for it. While the hike follows a trail, it is steep and includes several stretches of scramble. The views at the midway and top are worth the sweat and energy. As hard as it gets, power through and just keep walking. You will be thankful for it. Our guide was very nice and made us go at our own pace. We are spending the next week of our vacation at St. James Club Morgan Bay in Gros Islet. Our stay at Janus’s condo has been a great start to our adventure. We recommend hiking Gros Piton, walking through the town to restaurants and enjoying breakfast on the patio. It’s a great view to wake up to. Also, the locals are very friendly. When passing by them on the streets, don’t be afraid to say hello. Each time we greeted them we received a warm kind reply, the people are just so friendly and nice here. Enjoy your time here. We certainly did. Janus is a top-notch host. Thank you. Jeremy + Becca |
WEATHER IN SAINT LUCIA
While most places in the world have four well-defined seasons, its proximity to the equator means that this is not really the case for the island of St. Lucia. Archives
March 2020
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