St Lucia Honeymoon

St Lucia is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in the Caribbean. With a lush, tropical, mountainous landscape encircled by warm turquoise waters, St Lucia hints of the South Pacific (think Bora Bora in Tahiti) and offers all the ingredients you need for an unforgettable Caribbean honeymoon or romantic getaway.

Things to do and see
Sunbathe on a selection of gorgeous white-sand beaches, hike through tropical rainforest to panoramic mountain-top lookouts and be pampered in style at upscale beachfront resorts and romantic retreats.

St Lucia offers a variety of activities and attractions for active couples: start by exploring the rugged mountainous interior on foot or by open jeep or stroll winding trails through tropical rainforest at Cape Moule-Chique.

Enjoy panoramic vistas over the Caribbean from the verdant summits of Gros Piton (738m) and Petit Piton (696m) – St Lucia's iconic volcanic peaks, or tour the famous ‘drive in’ volcano at Mount Soufrière, a rocky lunar landscape where you can peer into open craters of boiling sulphur.

Then bathe in the naturally occurring mineral waters found in the lush tropical gardens of the Diamond Botanical Gardens, where the average water temperature hovers around 41°C. While there, don’t miss the Diamond Waterfall, a cascade that changes colour (from yellow to black to green to gray) several times a day.

Explore the scenic coastline aboard the brig Unicorn, a modern replica of an historic sailing ship that was used in the television mini-series Roots and in the film Pirates of the Caribbean. Picnic on the palm-fringed golden sands of Marigot Bay, a yachties haven and one of the most beautiful bays in the Caribbean.

Learn about St Lucia’s fascinating history at Pigeon Island National Historic Park and snorkel or dive steep coastal drop-offs lined with coral and sponges and teeming with colourful reef fish. Wander wildlife trails at the Fregate Islands Nature Reserve and the Maria Islands Nature Reserve to see native birds, including colonies of scissor-tailed frigate birds, various terns, the Caribbean martin, the red-billed tropicbird and the brown noddy.

In the capital, Castries, browse for local handicrafts, tropical fruits and spices in the sprawling public market (open every day except Sunday).

For scenic views over the harbour, visit the splendid gardens and lookout at Morne Fortune, adorned with colourful bougainvillea and site of the 18th century Government House, the official residence of the governor-general and one of the few examples of Victorian architecture that escaped destruction by fire in 1948. Visit Castries in early May to see world-class musicians perform at the annual weeklong St Lucia Jazz Festival.

After dark, join the Gros Islet ‘Jump Up', an often raucous Friday night street party pulsating with Caribbean beats and offering delicious (and inexpensive) local food and drinks.

Accommodation
St Lucia offers a range of accommodation options, from charming budget inns to boutique hotels and all-inclusive resorts. Most resorts stretch along the northwest coast from Marigot Bay to Rodney Bay, just a few minutes drive north of Castries.

Try the exclusive 5-star Anse Chastanet, a remarkable inn set on a forested hillside and in a palm grove facing the gorgeous white sands of Anse Chastanet Beach.

Or stay at the sprawling, all-inclusive Coconut Bay Resort & Spa, featuring a water park, nightly entertainment and 34ha of lushly planted grounds overlooking Savannes Bay.

Perhaps lodge at the luxurious Sandals Grande St Lucian Spa & Beach Resort, a megaresort set on a causeway linking the main island with tiny Pigeon Island – once the haunt of infamous pirates.

Best time to visit St Lucia?
The best time to visit St Lucia is during the coolest months of the year, from December to March, when temperatures average 25°C and reach a high of 30°C. St Lucia can be very hot and humid, although the climate is tempered with mild, cool breezes. Avoid the hurricane season between May and November. For more climate info: St Lucia Weather Guide

Location – St Lucia is the second largest of the Windward Islands, located around 39km south of Martinique and 40km north of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Getting there – By air, St Lucia receives daily nonstop flights from New York, Atlanta, Miami as well as from several Caribbean islands, including Puerto Rico, Barbados, Jamaica and St Thomas. How to get to St Lucia . . .