Sapphire 4: Reviews From Those Who’ve Lived, Shopped, Explored & Dined in St. Lucia

Best Things:

Sugar Beach: We rented a car for the majority of our trip, and Sugar Beach was a (relatively) easy drive. Guest can use (free) beach chaise in an isolated area to the right of the entrance/dock; nice beach chairs can be rented near the main resort. Beach is the most idyllic place we found- rested between the Pitit Piton and the Gros Piton, could not be more beautiful.

We went to 4+ beaches and this was our # 1- snorkeling was $10/hr but we borrowed masks from people we met on the beach for FREE Not as great as other Islands but shallow and good for an hour or so. Drinks were ok but not great; for a lite bite slit a pizza!

Gros Piton: This is not an easy hike. We went up with a guide (required/recommended) who wasn’t that great but if you like hiking and/or a good challenge, do it! The views are anti-climatic since there is no naked peak. Maybe this shouldn’t go under “best things” but it’s really a must-do for the experience.

Marigot Bay: We rented sea Kayaks here and it was the highlight of our trip. Water is so clear and shallow, rays in hidden caves along the coast were perfect for kayak adventured. Water taxi for E.C5 roundtrip shuttle between parking and the other side of the bay where there is a small beach.

FOOD: 

In Town:

• Pitit Peak: Not cheap, but OK priced. Have an early dinner & watch the sun set (Sun sets about 5-5:30pm). Good reliable choice- friendly place!
• Pier 28: Skip the food here- basic burger and fries. Head instead to the small hut that serves as a small bar on the water. Super cheap drinks.
• Waterfront by Belle View: near Pitit Peak. This is a hidden gem (upstairs) that serves reasonably priced local food. We got a late lunch here and were the only ones there- try upstairs location, make it the perfect place to watch the afternoon sun lower in the sky while having a drink and some home cooked roti.

Out Of Town:

Don’t plan to eat @ Anse Chastanet; super expensive!

Martha was sick  so we missed out on Martha’s Tables but heard it’s great
Go to the local supermarket and pick-up some cheap groceries so you can bring lunch on excursions

Drinks are generally expensive but rum punch is usually good and Piton ( LOCAL BEER) is decent!
General tips and tricks

• Having a rental car makes for a fun & spontaneous vacation – we loved it
• Credit Card gave a better exchange rate than local places so use a card vs .cash when possible
• If you’re doing the Piton Hike, absolutely do the Sulphur Spring and Mud Bath after! This was the best decision. Skip the drive-in Volcano tour and just pay for the baths. You see the same thing and friend said the tour was a waste. 
• Ruby’s is great for a local dinner in the neighborhood and portion sizes are huge – we had leftovers for another dinner!
• Driving is scary until you get used to it etc. ; then its kind of fun?
• Download an offline version of Soufriere in Google maps! This saved us, allowing for super easy navigation between locations. Offline maps are a lifesaver. 
• Walk to town, we did it during all time of day, including in the dark. We felt safe and it only takes 10-15 minutes.
• Tet Paul Nature Trail is super short, more like a 20minute round-trip walk. No guide necessary. Views are very worth it though. The only spot with 360 degree views.
• Bug spray recommended for those prone to Mosquito bites.

Alexandra 

​We came to St. Lucia for our first ever holiday together! The apartment is brilliant and Soufriere is absolutely, stunning. The people are fantastic too.

Day 1: Arrived at the airport and the transfer we had arranged through Janus was already there and waiting for us. Fabian (driver) was lovely and told us all about the island. Janus met us at the apartment and was friendly and welcoming. Later we walked into town (15minutes) and found a restaurant on the waterfront for dinner- it was okay, a bit pricey. It seems to be that the main meal of the day here is lunch rather than dinner. Jetlag then got the better of us so we headed home!

Day 2: We arranged to have a driver through Janus, his name was Jamal and he picked us up at 9:00. We headed straight to Sugar Beach. It was a beautiful, boiling hot day and we headed straight to the free sun loungers on the right. Sugar Beach is stunning and we had an amazing day sunbathing and snorkeling- we saw tones of beautiful fish and a couple of eels! We bought a fresh coconut for $5 but a beer will set you back quite a bit more! We had planned to go to the big cold waterfall, but Jamal told us we should do that the next day so we went to the warm waterfall instead. The waterfall itself is pretty- small, but there are three different temperatures to bathe in and it was a beautiful setting to relax in. For only $3 and a 5minute walk from the car park, Highly recommended! Jamal then took us back to the apartment- he cost us U.S $40.00 for the day and we arranged our trip for the next day with him. For dinner, we walked down into town and went to Hamming-bird. It is an elegant restaurant and very romantic in the candle light. The food is more pricey than other, restaurant but TOTALLY, worth it! We had the fisherman’s Catch & Shrimp Coconut Curry and they were really, delicious.

Day 3: We woke up to a tropical rainstorm! It was really coming down. Jamal arrived bang on 8am as planned and we drove to the Gros Piton Hike. The rain was really, torrential, monsooning left right and downwards. We managed to hike up the mountain despite the rain and overcast cloud. The hike itself is a good work out, much harder down than it is up! We couldn’t go to the Sulphur springs due to the weather so had an early lunch. Lunch seems to be the main meal of the day and we can see why! We went to Fedo’s and it was excellent! In the eve we sat on the balcony and watched a brilliant sunset. The apartment is perfect for relaxing and enjoying the scenery.

Day 4: The rain continued to the next day so had to cancel our plans but that didn’t stop us from enjoying the town. Everyone was incredibly friendly giving us directions and chatting. We ate at the Yard for the lunch having had a coffee at Zaka at the waterfront (definitely have to go there) The coffee is amazing. We spent the majority of the afternoon in Mambo bar and spoke to the locals and played cards, a great way to meet the locals and see the town.

Day 5: We dud the Tet Paul Nature Trail and learnt all about St. Lucia’s plants and history. The guide was great. We then went to the Sulphur Springs for a mud bath, an absolute must. W finished after with some waterfalls and left incredible. The Day was made by our driver Stephen, who was an absolute pleasure and really took care of us.

We have had an absolute brilliant time in Soufriere and were looking forward to exploring the rest of the island.

​Hannah & Tommy