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.
St Lucia is one of the most popular honeymoon destinations in the Caribbean.
St Lucia offers several gorgeous beaches, all of which are open to the public, including those that front upscale resorts. By law there is an access path to the beach.
Umbrellas and sun loungers are typically free for guests, with non-guests generally having to pay a small fee. There are usually no lifeguards operating on St Lucia.
The beaches on the western side of the island front the tranquil turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea and are best for swimming and water sports, while the wild and rugged eastern coast hosts the crashing surf of the Atlantic Ocean.
The best beaches in St Lucia, include …
(West Coast) – Pick your own spot to swim and sunbathe on the soft golden sand of this 1.2km-long stretch of beach that faces the calm waters of Rodney Bay.
Come for a day and enjoy views across to Pigeon Island or stay longer at one of the resorts that line the beach, including Royal St Lucian Hotel, the Rex St Lucian and the Bay Gardens Resort.
Facilities include sun loungers and umbrellas, with a range of water sports available from beachside kiosks and the water sports centre in the Rex St Lucian.
A choice of bars and restaurants are just a short walk away in Rodney Beach Village. Reduit (pronounced red-wee) Beach is located on the northwest coast of St Lucia.
(West Coast) – Relax on the soft white sand of this small and quiet palm-fringed beach facing the calm waters of Rodney Bay on the northwest coast of St Lucia.
The beach sits within the Pigeon Island National Historic Park, which is joined to the mainland by a long causeway. Two beachside eateries serve snacks and cold drinks, but this pristine and uncrowded spot is also ideal for a picnic.
Follow hiking trails from the beach to the hilltop remains of Fort Rodney, with its colonial fortifications, small historical museum and old cannons in situ.
Come for a day or stay longer at the luxurious Sandals Grande St Lucian Spa & Resort, and be spoiled with a range of creature comforts.
(West Coast) – Unwind on the unspoiled golden sands of this 1.2km-long palm-fringed beach that overlooks nearby Rat Island and shelves into calm turquoise waters that are perfect for swimming, making it especially suited to families with small children.
Come for the day or relax in comfort at the exclusive Sandals Halycon Beach Resort, which provides umbrellas and sun loungers for guests as well as water sports equipment.
Choc Bay Beach is located a few kilometres north of Castries and the international airport.
(West Coast) – Running parallel to the George F. L. Charles Airport runway just north of Castries, and continuing on to become Malabar Beach, this 3km-long palm-fringed beach offers pristine golden sands shelving into warm, turquoise waters that are perfect for swimming.
(West Coast) – Relax on the natural silver-grey sands of this 300m-long palm-fringed beach that lies surrounded by lush green hillsides framing a tranquil cove that is perfect for swimming, snorkelling and diving.
Enjoy facilities such as sun loungers and umbrellas as provided by the beachfront restaurant and bar. A dive shop offers water sports equipment for hire.
Visit for the day and dive the offshore reef drop-off or stay longer, enjoying the comforts of the exclusive 5-star Anse Chastanet Resort, which sits in a forested hillside overlooking a palm grove facing the beach.
Anse Chastanet Beach lies around 29km north of Hewanorra International Airport and 3km north of Soufrière.
(West Coast) – Dip your toes into the soft white sand of this gorgeous 200m-long palm-fringed beach that nestles at the edge of Pitons Bay between the twin volcanic peaks of Gros and Petit Piton, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Savour this stunning setting from a sun lounger on the beach or from the towering palm trees. Swim in the clear waters and snorkel or dive the 589m drop-off at the base of the Pitons.
The white sand on this crescent beach is imported and spread over the natural black sand.
Come for a day or stay at the exclusive property The Tides Sugar Beach (formerly, the Jalousie Plantations Resort), which nestles in 77ha of magnificent rainforest stretching up a verdant hillside in front of the beach.
Anse des Pitons is located about 2km south of Soufrière and is accessible by boat or through the resort.
(South Coast) – Unwind on the pristine windswept white sands of this kilometre-long beach that stretches along the southern end of the island, near Vieux Fort and south of the runway at Hewanorra International Airport, facing the Maria Islands.
A reef protects the crystal clear waters here, which are perfect for swimming, kite surfing and windsurfing.
The beachside bar and restaurant offers windsurfing gear and kayaks for hire as well as cold drinks and good food.
(East Coast) – Pick your own spot to sunbathe on this pristine 1.3km-long stretch of golden sand set against a backdrop of dramatic bush-clad cliffs.
The beach is a nesting ground from February to October for endangered sea turtles, including hawksbill, green, loggerhead and leatherbacks – the largest species of sea turtle. Also look out for various bird species such as the white-breasted thrasher.
There are no facilities here so you may need to pack a picnic. Access is best by four-wheel drive vehicle from Desbarra.
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 honeymoon 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.
More about what to do in St Lucia…
St Lucia offers an excellent range of honeymoon 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 unwind 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.
Anse Chastanet
Location: Anse Chastanet Beach, Soufrière
Rating: 4.5-star
Prices: from AUD388 per room
Description: This luxury resorts sits on a lush hillside above palm-fringed Anse Chastanet Beach, while the twin Pitons, rising from the ocean, form a dramatic backdrop. The retreat is regarded as St. Lucia's premier dive resort. A choice of spacious villas and suites - styled as West Indian plantation villas – are comfortably appointed with locally made furniture and are decorated with original art and native woods, and cooled by ceiling fans and breezes: no televisions, radios, clocks or telephones intrude. Typically, guestrooms have only three walls, to allow for an unobstructed view of the Pitons and the Caribbean. Facilities incl.: 2 restaurants, 2 bars, bikes, concierge, gym, full-service spa, dive shop and watersports equipment including sail boats, snorkelling, windsurfing and kayaks.
Discovery Hotel
Location: Marigot Bay, Castries
Rating: 4.5-star
Prices: from AUD361 per room
Description: Nestled in a lush, landscaped 3-hectare tropical hillside overlooking Marigot Bay, described by author James Michener as "the most beautiful bay in the Caribbean." Guestrooms evoke alpine Europe more than the Caribbean with dark-stained wood and masonry foundations. Spacious bathrooms come with a walk-in 'drench shower'. Amenities include premium bedding, balconies, LCD TVs with DVD players and wireless Internet access. Suites come with full kitchens and living rooms, and half of them also have plunge pools. Facilities incl.: 5 restaurants, 3 bars, 2 outdoor pools, full-service spa, 24-hour room service and numerous watersports.
The Jalousie Plantation
Location: Jalousie Beach, Soufriere
Rating: 4-star
Prices: from AUD430 per room
Description: Perched within a lush tropical forest, this elegant resort sprawls across 130 hectares overlooking secluded Jalousie Bay between St. Lucia's signature twin peaks, Petit Piton and Gros Piton. This resort offers a choice of guestrooms, villas and villa suites in one-story wood-and-fieldstone villas and in two six-room, two-story buildings. All are arrayed on a steep, forested hillside and on a lower slope along the bay. Complimentary 24-hour shuttles transport guests up and down the hill and around the resort. Both villas and guestrooms offer garden, mountain or ocean views, Guests may book either an All-Inclusive plan or a Room-Only (No Meals) plan. Facilities incl.: 4 restaurants, 4 bars, concierge, outdoor pool, health club and full-service spa, 4 outdoor tennis courts, Wi-Fi Internet, dive shop and various watersports.
The best time to visit Saint Lucia is during February to mid-April, when you can expect the least amount of rainfall and cooler temperatures averaging 26°C (78°F).
However, anytime from January through to mid-April during the cooler, dry season is good, with temperatures ranging from an average high of 29°C (85°F) to a low of 23°C (73°F).
Saint Lucia experiences a hot and humid tropical climate year-round, with a relatively cooler and drier season from January to mid-April, and a hot, humid and rainy season from June to mid-December.
Rain can fall at any time in St Lucia but usually as light showers. Rainfall varies depending on area but is more frequent and abundant from June to mid-December, and less frequent from January through May. February and March are the driest months.
For more climate info: St Lucia Weather Guide…
St Lucia is the second largest of the Windward Islands, located around 39km (24mi) south of Martinique and 40km (24.8mi) north of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The most convenient route to St Lucia is by air to Hewanorra International Airport (UVF), located around 5km (3mi) from Vieux Fort on the southern tip of the island, and about 53km (33mi) from Castries, the capital of St Lucia.
Hewanorra is the larger of the island's two airports and receives daily direct flights from New York, Atlanta and Miami, as well as from London and several Caribbean islands.
The country's smaller airport, George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU), formerly known as Vigie, is located 2km (1.2mi) north of Castries, and mainly services inter-Caribbean flights.
More about how to get to St Lucia…
Hiring a car offers the best way of exploring St Lucia. Taxis are also available and can be hired for the day, while helicopters offer the island's most dramatic sightseeing trips.
St Lucia has a reasonably good road network. However, many roads are narrow, and mountainous roads are steep, often with hairpin bends which are not marked. In rural areas you need to watch out for livestock crossing the road.
The main cross-island road runs between Vieux Fort in the south of the island to Castries in the north.
Water taxis are an easy way to access private beaches or go island hopping. Boat charters are easily available at Castries, Marigot Bay and Rodney Bay.
More about how to get around St Lucia…
Latest update: St Lucia Honeymoon Guide: 8 July, 2022
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