We absolutely enjoyed our time at Sapphire in St. Lucia. It was a joy to be around the great people of St. Lucia.

Robert + Marjury
Miami + FL Keys, FL, USA 
July 8- 13

Tet Paul Trail: Amazing views! The trail was easy + the tour didn’t take too long, which left plenty of time for other activities. It was a beautiful day + we got lots of great photos from the trail. The view of Petit Piton and Sugar Beach from the top of the trail is something you can’t miss.
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Sulphur Springs: Our tour guide was fun. She shared a ton of interesting information about the volcano + St. Lucia. Very cool to see the boiling hot minerals exiting from the volcanos core. The mud baths felt great and so will your skin. Be prepared to have mud on everything. Well worth it! 

Diamond Botanical Gardens + Waterfalls: Beautiful garden + nice waterfall. You can’t go in the waterfall but there are a few private mineral baths if you’re interested, we passed. Worth a visit. Since it was low season we had the place to ourselves. If it was high season + packed, I might skip it. Good place to kill an hour though.

Sugar Beach: I was excited to go because of past reviews I read + the beaches location between the pitons, but we did not have the same experience as many previous guests. Maybe we were spoiled after visiting Pigeon Island + Reduit Beach. The resort has covered every inch of the swimming area with chairs that they charge $50 US each for. It appears to be done in an effort to monopolize the beach + discourage non-guests from visiting it. Your only opinion is to put down a towel in front of the no swimming area or right next to a chair. We also found the hotel staff to be poor representation of the people of St. Lucia. We were told if we let the gate guard know we were having drinks at the beach we would be allowed to use the shuttle. This particular guard requested a $100 US deposit to ensure we spent that much before he would allow us to use the shuttle. We chose to walk the beach is not worth the hike. Upon arriving to the beach, we were told by another employee we would have to pay $15 US per chair for the “free” chairs. We took some photos, had a drink then left. Also in the short time we were there seven tour boats stopped in too snorkel. There had to be 100 plus more people snorkeling in their little area. You’re much better off taking a day trip to Reduit Beach or Pigeon Island. Janus can arrange transportation.

Anse Mamin: Way better than Sugar Beach if you’re looking for a beach in the south. Much more secluded, very peaceful. Still it’s nothing like the post cards beaches you will find in Rodney Bay area. The water near Soufriere are nowhere near as calm. 

Feel Good Water Taxi $ Tours: Janus recommended feel good + it was great advise. We chose the Marigot Bay Cruise + Snorkel. The ride up the coast was beautiful. Not something everyone who visits the island gets to see. Captain Daniel managed the wheel and Levi gave the tour. Levi was one of the great St. Lucians we met on our trip. His tour was excellent and getting to know him was fun. In Marigot Bay we were able to get out of the boat to check out the shops and beach. They gave us a private tour I should add. All other tour boats that entered the Bay had about 20 guests on board and them and were not allowed to check out the area. They got to take a look at the Bay area then exited. After looking around Marigot Bay, we snorkeled at Anse Cochon and Anse Chastanet. Both of these were great snorkel locations and weren’t many others there. Nothing like what we saw at Sugar Beach. After snorkeling we enjoyed a few cold ones as we cruised back down the coast to Soufriere. Highly recommend feel good tours! 

En Bais Saut Trail: Definitely one of my favorite parts on the trip. I came across a local farmer named mango who lives just outside the trail. He served as our guide. I must say it was one of the best decisions. Other tours targeted at Cruise shippers and charged an outrageous price for taking you down half the trail with lunch and pick up, but Mango provides a truly authentic experience for a fraction of the cost. Mango’s farm land has been passed down from generation to generation so he knows everything about the forest. He taught us about all the beautiful flowers and trees and pointed out the sound of the parrot so we could stop and listen. He showed us a tree with sap that contains healing properties and loaded us up with that also. He taught us all the ways they can be used and how to use them. When we arrived at the waterfall we shared fresh fruits provided by Mango from his farm and enjoyed the cool waterfall. Not only is the waterfall much larger than the other commercialized ones on the island but it is also secluded. We had the falls all to ourselves. After we completed the trail Mango gave us a bonus tour of his farm and loaded us up with fresh vegetables. Majury used them all to cook an amazing dinner our last night. Mango is definitely one of the people I won’t forget from this trip. He does a variety of tours and I can’t advise you enough to use him as your guide. You will not regret it. When I return to St. Lucia, after Janus. Mango will be the first person I call. You can reach Mango at 7158542 on a local phone.

Island ATV: After hiking En Bais Saut we took an ATV tour on the southern coast. Our guide took us through plantations and shoed us all the different fruits and vegetables growing in the area. Many we hadn’t seen in other parts of the island. We took the bikes through trails all created by Itum, touring black sand beaches, drove through a river about 20 mins etc. It was a blast. The scenery was beautiful as ever with many colorful birds long the way. At the second beach you are given time to swim or let loose on your ATV. The tour goes through an area of St. Lucia that many visitors will never see. Pick up is provided and it is much closer to Soufriere than other ATV tours on the island.

Petit Peak Restaurant: Our first meal on the island. It was incredibly busy when we went so a little slow, but the food was good. We had a fish roti plus the fish steak plate.

Pier 28: Went to dinner around 8pm one night and most places were closed or had stopped serving food. Went to pier because they were open, unfortunately they were out of most of the items on the menu so we ordered a couple of burgers which were excellent. The menu selection wasn’t worth another trip in my opinion but you can’t complain about the food.

Boucan Restaurant: If there is one meal you splurge on, then this is the place. Incredible views from the restaurant and the food is just as good. Tuna Tartare, Fillet steak, lamb shank and chocolate Lava Cake were all phenomenal. There were also  a few complimentary items provided throughout dinner. Everything was great. Very good night at Boucan. 

Stone Yard Restaurant: One of my favorite meals on island. Recommended by Captain Daniel after our tour. We both got the local food plate, which is packed with different local items like a thanksgiving. Dinner comes with your choice of meat and we chose grilled tuna. It was perfect. Meal was very affordable and authentic meal. We loved it! 

Ruby’s: Great spot. Loved the ambience. Loved the music, loved the food. No pizza so we got calamari, fish fingers and the summer pasta. Everything was flawless. Also, some of the best cocktails I had while here. Highly recommend. 

Tips: 
- Rent a 4x4 trough Janus. You can do a lot more w/wheels, and if you’re from the US and concerned about driving, you only drive on your left.

- Don’t trust google or TripAdvisor for business hours, they were wrong on multiple occasions.

- As many others said, Soufriere is a lunch town, many restaurants close early.

- If you want to go to the other side of the island in a short amount of time or don’t want to drive consider a water taxi. An hour and a half drive Is a 30 mins boat ride and the views don’t compare.
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- Go to the Gros Islet street party on Friday night. Great food, liquor and beer stations flood the streets and there is dancing throughout the streets.

We absolutely enjoyed our time at Sapphire in St. Lucia. It was a joy to be around the great people of St. Lucia. So friendly, helpful and hospitable. Janus is the cream of the crop. He is an incredible resource so take advantage. Thank you, Janus and Fabian, for everything. We’ll be back for that sexy villa at the top of the hill!

Rob + Marj