How would you like to spend a few days in the world’s only country named after a woman?

In this 3-day St. Lucia itinerary, I’ve curated a collection of this Caribbean island’s best offerings from south to north. So whether you’re looking to dive into action-packed adventures, indulge in the island’s tantalizing treats, or blissfully veg out on the beach, I’ve got you covered.

Come follow along as we drive through St. Lucia uncovering the island’s top views and can’t-miss activities!

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Ideally, you should spend about three to five days in St. Lucia to get the full island experience. If you’re able to extend your stay up to a week that’s great, but I’d suggest a minimum of three full days (not including travel days).

The island has two primary seasons – a wet season (June through November) and a dry season (mid-December through mid-April).

Since most tourists understandably prefer to visit the island during the dry season, this is also considered the high season. During this time, you can expect the activities to be at their busiest and accommodations to be at their most costly.

The cheapest month to visit St. Lucia is generally October, which is during the wet season. Since October falls within the Caribbean’s hurricane season, you’ll find cheaper flights and accommodations this month than you would the rest of the year.

Many tourists tend to avoid traveling to St. Lucia during September and October, due to hurricane season. While you’ll find it’s much cheaper to travel during this time, that reduced fare can ironically come at a high cost – a potentially spoiled trip!

While a car is certainly not a requirement, you may wish to rent one if you’re looking for the ultimate freedom of movement while in St. Lucia. I’ve actually designed this itinerary around renting a car, as I found this to be the best way to navigate without limitations and time restrictions.

If you’re also looking for a self-guided experience, check out my guide to driving in St. Lucia, as there’s a lot to consider before renting a vehicle.

Otherwise, if the idea of driving this mountainous island is too overwhelming, you can also get around by private taxi or by joining group tours. Just keep in mind that you may need to rearrange the order of these itinerary items to coincide with tour times.

Before we dive in, I wanted to make mention that this St. Lucia itinerary is intended to be for three full days on the island. It does not account for travel days to or from the island.

Full Disclosure: My husband and I spent four nights in total at one of the top boutique hotels in St. Lucia, so this itinerary is meant to reflect three complete days of exploration.

Two out of the three days are allocated to Soufrière in Southern St. Lucia, as I believe this is the best area to focus on within this timeframe. It also includes a day on the northern side of St. Lucia.

As always, this itinerary can be modified to suit your unique needs, so if you’d prefer to spend more time up north, I’ll share additional recommendations for that as well.

As a Caribbean island, there are two ways to reach St. Lucia – by plane or by boat.

There are two airports on the island – Hewanorra International Airport (to the south) and George F. L. Charles Airport (to the north). The majority of travelers fly into Hewanorra, as this is the main hub for flights arriving from international destinations.

Alternatively, if you’re flying into St. Lucia from one of the surrounding Caribbean islands, you’ll generally fly into George F. L. Charles Airport on the northern side. This airport is considerably smaller, as it mainly services flights to and from neighboring Caribbean islands.

If you’re arriving to St. Lucia by boat, the island is linked via ferry to Martinique, Dominica, and Guadeloupe. Cruise ships entering St. Lucia will generally dock up north by the capital city of Castries.

Deciding where to stay in St. Lucia is one of the most important decisions you’ll make on your trip. That’s because for a relatively small island, St. Lucia offers vastly different experiences depending on where you decide to base yourself.

The good news is, regardless of where you stay, you can navigate from the northern to southern tip in a 3-day timeframe.

That said, I recommend that you carefully consider the two halves of the island before you book for the best possible experience.

In essence, you’ll first want to decide whether to base yourself in Northern or Southern St. Lucia. While both halves of the island offer interesting highlights, they each have associated cons as well.

Northern St. Lucia is significantly more built-up than Southern St. Lucia in terms of roadways and overall amenities. This half of the island is known for its restaurants, nightlife, shopping, and water sports. It’s more geared toward families and provides closer access to the island’s main cruise port.

Pros of Staying in Northern St. Lucia:

• Easier access to the island’s capital city of Castries
• More restaurants and opportunities for nightlife
• Conducive to snorkeling and watersports
• More family-friendly resorts than in the southern half of the island

Cons of Staying in Northern St. Lucia:

• Closer to the cruise port, which can often be chaotic and crowded
• Further from the iconic Pitons, one of the main island draws

With its incredible natural beauty, Southern St. Lucia offers the perfect mix of outdoor adventures and tranquility.

This half of the island is known for its numerous hiking trails, waterfalls, hot springs, and even the world’s only drive-in volcano!

Plus, with its magazine-worthy resorts geared toward couples, Southern St. Lucia is ideal for honeymooners and those seeking privacy, tranquility, and romance.

Pros of Staying in Southern St. Lucia:

• Breathtaking views of the island’s iconic Pitons (UNESCO World Heritage Sites)
• Easy access to the island’s most stunning natural wonders (waterfalls, drive-in volcano, etc.)
• Incredible hiking opportunities
• Luxurious resorts geared toward couples and honeymooners
• Closer to Hewanorra International Airport (main airport for international flights)

Cons of Staying in Southern St. Lucia:

• Considerably less restaurants outside of the resort setting
• Driving is more challenging with steep terrain and treacherous roads
• Soufrière town center isn’t conducive to wandering at night 

Make sure to check out the best boutique hotels in St. Lucia to determine which area and accommodation style appeals to you most!

I personally prefer the natural beauty and tranquility of the south to the chaos of the north.

Although St. Lucia is far from a budget destination, you can help keep costs down by exchanging currency in advance.

Since the US dollar is pegged to the Eastern Caribbean dollar with no moving exchange rate – and most tourist attractions accept U.S. currency – you can take advantage of a small “discount” by paying in ECD rather than in U.S. dollars.

As a point of reference, the exchange rate has remained 1USD to 2.70ECD since 2021.

Get ready for an action-packed first day in St. Lucia! For your first full day on the island, I recommend exploring the exciting area of Soufrière.

Located on the west coast of St. Lucia, Soufrière is known for its incredible natural beauty. This area attracts adventure-seekers with its numerous hiking trails, waterfalls, hot springs, and even the world’s only drive-in volcano!

Soufrière is also home to the Pitons, the two volcanic peaks that offer some of the best views in St. Lucia.

If you’re staying in or around Soufrière and you’ve rented a car, you should be able to hit all of today’s spots in around 30 minutes, depending on your resort. As a point of reference, we stayed at the Green Fig Resort & Spa and enjoyed its centralized location to many of the activities I wanted to do in and around Soufrière.

Soufrière is known for its beautiful nature trails. Whether you’re hiking up one of the Pitons or trying out one of the surrounding trails, you can expect to enjoy stunning natural views as you go!

While there are numerous hiking trails in Soufrière, I recommend choosing one of these three:

1. Gros Piton Nature Trail*
2. Petit Piton Nature Trail*
3. Tet Paul Nature Trail

*If you decide to hike either Gros Piton or Petit Piton, expect it to consume the majority of your day, meaning you may not have enough time for the other activity on today’s agenda.

The Gros Piton Nature Trail takes you up Gros Piton, the larger of the two Pitons. The hike typically takes about two to three hours each way, so prepare for a 6-hour time commitment, maximum.

If you decide to do this trail, it’s highly recommended (though technically not required) that you go with a guide. There’s no need to plan this excursion ahead – you can simply show up and link up with a guide at the start of the trail.

If you decide to hike up Petit Piton, be prepared to have people give you odd looks!

Jokes aside, this difficult trail is not only not often attempted, it’s also rarely finished. That’s because it’s not full-on hiking in the traditional sense.

Instead, it involves rock-climbing and mountaineering. There are also many dangerous drop-off points, so going without a guide is basically asking for trouble.

That said, you’ll probably have a more difficult time finding a guide for this trail than you would Gros Piton, as that’s the way more popular one to hike. The Petit Piton hike will require more advance research before your trip. I wouldn’t just show up here, as there may be no one to take you up!

Ultimately, I chose to hike the Tet Paul Nature Trail and I’m so glad I did!

Shortly after you start the hike, you’ll see why the trail is nicknamed the “Stairway to Heaven” – there’s a heavenly view of the Pitons at the top!

Not only does it offer views over both Pitons, but it’s also a much easier hike and way less of a time commitment than hiking the Pitons themselves. That means you can easily fit my other activity suggestion into your itinerary without an issue.

Beyond the amazing Piton views, your guide will also educate you as to the different flora and fruit as you climb. The one you see below is a Caribbean fruit known as the soursop.

I first tasted this juicy fruit at the Green Fig Resort & Spa where we spent our four nights and now I’m hooked!

This was also my first time seeing a pineapple in the wild!

If you decide to do this hike, you’ll find a parking lot at the start of it. Here, you can purchase your entrance ticket at the small ticket booth for the reasonable rate of $10USD for adults and $5USD for children. Tickets include access to a guide who will take you up the trail.

Expect to hike up in a small group. (We had about six people total in our group.)

The trail is open daily from 8AM to 5PM.

Tet Paul Nature Trail is located at Chateau Belaire in St. Lucia.

The Morne Coubaril Estate just might be the most underrated excursion in Soufrière.

Although I never heard anyone talking about it before our visit, it ended up being one of my favorite stops of the trip.

If this is your first time hearing of it and you’re wondering what the estate is all about, you’re in for a treat (literally)! That’s because this estate/plantation produces a range of delicious offerings from cocoa, to coffee, to tropical fruits like limes, oranges, grapefruits, and coconuts.

Morne Coubaril also bears the name of “historical adventure park,” as it offers an exciting ziplining canopy tour which takes you under Petit Piton.

But even if adventure isn’t what you’re after, not to worry! I assure you that there’s plenty to keep you busy here – even with your feet firmly planted on the ground.

Beyond ziplining (and a ziplining-combo excursion), the estate offers the following tours:

• Historical Estate Tour
• Rum & Chocolate Tasting Tour
• Sapphire Falls & Hike

My husband and I did the Historical Estate Tour and really enjoyed it.

With this tour, you’ll follow a knowledgeable local guide through a replica village modeled after historic stick-hut villages on the island.

You’ll have a chance to peer inside the model homes while learning about past island practices.

Your guide will also lead you through a fragrant garden where you’ll spot and sniff a variety of fresh herbs.

In addition, you’ll also see how cocoa is made, sample a ripe cocoa bean, learn about the husking of a coconut, and drink its delicious juice right from the source!

But the sweetest part of the tour (besides all of the sampling, of course) is the donkey-powered cocoa mill! Here, you’ll watch a live demonstration of this sweet creature circling the mill and contributing to the production line.

For the grand finale, you’ll check out the beautiful estate itself and the stunning grounds on which it sits.

You’ll see a sign from the main roadway advertising the Morne Coubaril Estate. Once you enter the grounds and park your car, you’ll be guided to a little orange hut where you can purchase tickets for your chosen tour.

Pricing will vary depending on the tour you choose, but you can check out the tour options here.

Today is all about getting wet (and muddy), so wear casual clothes and be sure to bring a bathing suit (or two) and a towel along!

We’re kicking off day two with a visit to one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. Sulphur Springs, a.k.a Soufrière Volcano, is the world’s only drive-in volcano!

(And yes, it really is what it sounds like – a volcano that you can drive up to, park your car, and explore.)

I’ve intentionally included this as the first activity of the day. That’s because it’s best to arrive early if you wish to do the mud baths, as they tend to get crowded later in the day. (More on the mud baths in a moment!)

Under the direction of a local guide, you’ll get up-close-and-personal with the volcano (while still remaining safely behind a barrier).

Your guide will tell you all about the history of the volcano while you take in the splendid sight – and the strong sulfuric smell! In case you’re curious, the scent reminded me of a combination of egg salad and Campbell’s soup, an “appetizing” combination! (To be honest, I kind of enjoyed it!)

Beyond the awesome volcano itself, this amazing site is also home to the top-rated natural mud baths on the island. The mud is said to have healing properties that can work wonders for easing stiff joints, soothing sun burns, and reducing eczema.

If you decide to try out this unique experience, you’ll start by scooping mud out of a bucket and rubbing it over your skin. Once you’re fully coated, you’ll soak in a hot bath and enjoy the rejuvenating effects!

Once you’ve finished your bath and you’ve soaked up that mud in every imaginable crevice, you’ll be led to a natural-rainforest bath where you can wash off.

At the entrance, you’ll select from the following ticket options:

1. Black Water Pool (this is for the mud baths exclusively) / Adult Ticket: $10USD
2. Tour Experience (this is for the drive-in volcano exclusively) / Adult Ticket: $9USD
3. Combo (this is for the mud baths & the drive-in volcano)/ Adult Ticket: $15USD

Since purchasing the combo ticket is the best value if you’re planning to do both the volcano tour and the mud baths, I suggest deciding before you arrive.

Otherwise, you’ll end up paying an additional fee if you start with one activity and then decide to add on the other later.

Something I also want to emphasize – which is totally misleading on the Sulphur Springs website – is that you do not need to book a full-on tour as advertised in order to see the volcano and/or soak in the mud baths.

This was a major point of confusion for me when I was initially putting together my own St. Lucia itinerary. It’s my belief that the website only advertises the priciest tours for the purpose of making more revenue.

However, you can absolutely drive to this place yourself, get a tour guide on the spot (or book the mud baths on the spot), and have a great time for a fraction of the cost. Just FYI!

That said, if you’re looking for the complete tour experience, the additional fee includes a transfer to and from your hotel/cruise as well as water and snacks in the package.

Sulphur Springs is open daily from 9AM to 5PM, including weekends and holidays, with the exception of the first Friday in September when they are closed. 

After an invigorating visit to Sulphur Springs, head over to Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens & Mineral Baths to witness one of my favorite views in St. Lucia – Diamond Falls!

This pretty waterfall contains a high mineral content which gives it its colorful look.

While Diamond Falls is definitely the star of the show here, the gorgeous and lush surrounding garden isn’t to be underestimated, either!

Once a working plantation, the historical estate on which the gardens sit is now one of the most significant heritage sites on the island. The size of the grounds – spread out over six acres – truly exceeded my expectations, as did the fascinating flora.

There’s really something interesting to see (and sniff) everywhere you turn, whether it’s at eye-level, draping from a tree, or underfoot!

The garden is also home to mineral baths that are built on the site of the original, 18th-century baths. These therapeutic heated pools can help soothe sore joints and muscles after yesterday’s hike!

For an additional fee, you can book a session of approximately 30 minutes in one of the baths. You’ll choose between a public bath and the private option.

Sorry to burst any bubbles, but swimming in Diamond Falls is strictly prohibited. As in, don’t even think about trying it. There’s a “danger” sign clearly posted due to the high sulphur content in the water. This is not a place to experiment with those risqué Instagram shots, trust me!

Besides, the actual pool area is super small anyway, so there’s hardly room to stand, let alone swim. This is one to enjoy just with your eyes and your camera lens!

Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens Hours:

Monday – Saturday: 10AM – 4PM
Sunday & public holidays: 10AM – 3PM

Diamond Falls is open daily.

Admission Costs:

General Admission: $7USD Adults (half-price for children)
Private Baths: $7USD
Public Baths: $6USD

Tickets can only be purchased upon arrival at this time.

Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens & Mineral Baths is located at Soufrière Estate in St. Lucia.

After a fun-filled afternoon, it’s time to polish off the day with a relaxing visit to Sugar Beach, one of the most stunning beaches on St. Lucia.

Part of Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort, this beach offers dramatic Piton views and soft white sand. (In case you didn’t know, the original sand was black from volcanic activity; the white version you see today was actually imported from Guyana!)

I was originally concerned as to whether we’d be allowed to enter the beach at all. I’d read a lot of conflicting information online, including sources citing that it’s a private beach exclusively for hotel residents.

Fortunately, after some digging, I discovered that Sugar Beach is actually a public beach and that anyone can technically access it.

So…here’s the lowdown on how to enter Sugar Beach as a non-hotel guest. First, the good news – admission is free!

(I’ve heard about certain security guards charging a “mandatory fee” which grants you access to a restaurant on the beach, but I didn’t personally have this experience. We were admitted free of charge.)

Now, the not-so-good news – you’ll need to walk down (and eventually back up) a very steep hill to reach the beach. Provided you’re fine with that, you’ll have no issue.

When you arrive at the main resort parking lot, tell the security guard that you’d like to be directed to the parking lot designated for day visitors. (This lot is located next to the tennis courts.)

Once you park your car, look for the start of the steep hill going down to the water. Follow this down until you reach the beach.

Just keep in mind that the loungers/umbrellas are for guests only (as far as I can tell), so come prepared with some towels for lying out.

Part of the resort of the same name, Sugar Beach is located at Val Des Pitons Forbidden Beach La Baie de Silence in St. Lucia.

As someone who suffers from FOMO, I’m all about having options!

So whether you’re feeling ambitious and want to include additional Soufrière activities or you’re just not jiving with one of my original recommendations, here are some others to consider.

• Snorkeling at Anse Chastanet
• Sapphire Falls hike with a cruise & Creole lunch
• Full-day sailing & ziplining adventure
• “Tree to Bar” chocolate tour from Hotel Chocolat

After spending the bulk of time in Soufrière, it’s time to head up north for a change of scenery! We’ll be swapping the dramatic Pitons for breathtaking Fort Rodney.

Pigeon Island National Park is an absolute must when you’re exploring the northern half of the island. Although it’s quite a departure from the topography of the south, what this half of the island lacks in Piton views it makes up for in stunning vistas from Fort Rodney!

Frankly, you could easily spend a half day (or even a full day) at the park if you want to take it slow and soak in everything it has to offer, including the two beaches. As a point of reference, my husband and I spent several hours here ourselves, not including any beach time.

In addition, be sure to dedicate some extra time to this excursion if you’re traveling here from Soufrière like we did; it’s quite the adventure on these wild island roads!

While Pigeon Island has lots to offer, I personally came primarily for the fort views, which are easily some of the best views in St. Lucia.

Beyond incredible views, this national park is also quite historic, as it’s home to military remains dating back to the 18th century.

If you’re not already aware, the British and French have a long history of fighting for ownership over St. Lucia. Well, Pigeon Island National Park was once an important battle site for the two countries.

In fact, after you first enter the park, the first thing you’ll see is a huge field with interesting ruins from former military buildings.

After checking out the ruins, it’s time to get your legs ready for a workout as you make your way up to Fort Rodney! The hike isn’t particularly long, but it is steep, so come prepared with comfortable sneakers.

I promise the view at the top is well-worth the climb. Once you reach the top of Fort Rodney, you’ll be greeted with unreal panoramic views. In fact, you’ll enjoy views of both the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea from up here!

If you’re feeling up to the challenge, you can also climb up Signal Hill, which is the grassy-green land mass in the distance. This one is an even steeper climb, but it’s considerably shorter than the hike up to Fort Rodney, if that’s any consolation.

Pigeon Island National Park is open daily from 9:30AM to 5PM.

The admission fee is $10USD for non-residents and 10ECD (approx. $4USD) for residents. Children ages 5 to 12 cost $3USD.

Pigeon Island National Park is located at 32RP+WX9, Unnamed Road, Gros Islet in St. Lucia.

There’s quite a large parking lot by the beach on the Caribbean side, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a spot.

Once you’ve made it back down to ground level, you’ll probably want to take a little rest. I suggest heading over to one of the two beaches to really unwind.

The cool thing about the beaches is that each one faces a different body of water. The calmer beach is on the Caribbean side. This one has softer sand and is surrounded by a few small local eateries.

The beach facing the Atlantic Ocean is on the opposite side. You’ll be able to differentiate between the two as this side has the bigger waves and will probably be a lot windier. I was actually blowing around like crazy just getting a shot here!

I realize that I haven’t made mention of any restaurants in this St. Lucia itinerary until now, which is highly unusual for me. Typically, I’m all about sharing the best places to eat when I travel.

(Speaking of, check out my guide to the best restaurants in Curacao if you’re looking to extend your stay in the Caribbean!)

In this case, there’s a very good reason for my silence in the restaurant-recommendation department – we ate at our Soufrière resort every night except for the evening we were up north! That evening, we ate along the Rodney Bay Marina.

While you’re in the area, I highly suggest you do the same. Although it’s more touristy, this area has a laidback vibe and offers beautiful views over the bay.

There are a handful of restaurants with varying cuisines running along the bay, so you’ll definitely have your pick.

As I’ve mentioned earlier, it’s no secret that this St. Lucia itinerary favors Soufrière as the main point of interest. Since that’s where we stayed and where we wanted to dedicate the bulk of our time, it just made sense to frame the itinerary this way.

(By the way, if you’re still on the fence about whether to stay on the northern or southern side of the island, the southern side wins for me, hands-down.)

However, I realize that plenty of people visit St. Lucia and stay on the northern side instead. If that’s also your plan, traveling down to Soufrière (and back up north again) for two days in a row may not be feasible or desirable.

In that case, I’d either follow along with my suggested day one or day two Soufrière activities. Another option would be to mix and match your favorite ideas from the first two days in Soufrière and consolidate them into a single day.

If you’d prefer to spend two days up north and cut one of the days in Soufrière, here are some additional suggestions.

• Ride the Aerial Tram at Rainforest Adventures
• Take a Segway tour through Northern St. Lucia
• Do Some Shopping in Castries & Tour Reduit Beach

As you can see, there’s so much to do on this incredible little island. Frankly, even with three fun-packed days, you still might feel like you’re just scratching the surface!

In any case, I hope this St. Lucia itinerary has given you plenty of inspiration for your Caribbean escape.

Which of these activities are now on your wish-list? Let me know in the comments below!

Planning a trip to St. Lucia? Check out my other island guides!

• 15 Dreamy Resorts & Boutique Hotels in St. Lucia
• Essential Guide to Driving in St. Lucia (Plus Key Tips)
• 15 Best Views in St. Lucia & Top Photo-Worthy Locations