Post
Jagged cliffs jutting out to sea with sheer drops that would make anyone’s hair stand on end. Hairpin turns so tight that only one car can fit, yet it’s a two way road. Did we make the right decision bringing our children on The Ultimate 7-Night Family Getaway In St Lucia?
Contents
The Land That Time Forgot
As we rounded another bend that left our two year old revisiting her lunch, I was reconsidering my decision.“There’s a T-Rex around the corner .. I know it!” exclaimed my very excited son as we passed our first view of the famous Pitons. I can see his point of view as the stunning views of the Pitons unfold in front of my eyes. Two perfectly cone shaped volcanos arise out of the sparkling turquoise water dripping with dense green foliage reminiscent of scenes from the Jurassic Park films.
Whilst we may not have seen a T-Rex foraging in the jungles surrounding us, we have experienced the Ultimate 7-Night Family Getaway In St Lucia, one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. As the mother of two young children, it was always going to be an adventure. However, I was determined to discover just how family friendly St Lucia really is.
Tourism
St Lucia is more commonly known as a honeymoon destination but much to our pleasant surprise, this is all changing. According to Travel Weekly, St. Lucia has recorded the highest visitor numbers in 2017. This led to more than 1.1 million visitors in 2019 with a 12.5% rise from the UK alone. For a tiny country that is largely rural and rustic, this is quite an amazing set of figures.
The Saint Lucia Tourist Board is now focused on welcoming a wider range of visitors to the island. This includes families and individuals seeking both relaxation and adventure. Realistically though, how well prepared is the infrastructure to welcome anyone who doesn’t spend their entire holiday canoodling? As we were travelling with two children aged 2 and 9, I felt we had a good enough representation of age groups to make a fair assessment.
We spent seven blissful days exploring the island, sampling incredible Creole cuisine, experiencing a variety of adventures and witnessing outstanding hospitality. Here is how we got on with our Ultimate 7-Night Family Getaway In St Lucia!
Read our Family Travel Guide To St Lucia and start planning!
Educational Insights
Where We Stayed
There are a vast number of high end luxury resorts lining the island. We spent some time visiting many of those, but I was looking for something more than a beautiful beach resort. I wanted to experience true St. Lucian culture and hospitality during our Ultimate 7-Night Family Getaway In St Lucia. If we could have THAT glorious view of the Pitons thrown in, I would be a happy momma!
Caille Blanc Villa has all this in spades. This unique property is a one of a kind luxury boutique bed and breakfast. Previously a private home, it now offers six luxury suites, all very unique and all very beautiful. Yes, you still may get the honeymooners and couples, but you also get families staying here that are looking for a home away from home. The friendly staff go out of their way to help and they were very sweet and engaging with our children. No request was too troublesome. My children are challenging eaters and the Chef onsite was always able to accommodate and make special meals for them. It truly felt like we were staying in a private home.
We spent some wonderful afternoons by that glorious pool, soaking up the views and atmosphere. When we felt the need for a beach, we would spend a day at Sugar Beach, located at the Viceroy Sugar Beach Resort. All beaches in St. Lucia are public beaches so you don’t have to be a guest of the resort to enjoy them. However, there are a few perks that come along with purchasing a day pass so this is something you may well want to consider before heading out there.
Check out How To Spend A Day At Sugar Beach St. Lucia
What We Did
DIAMOND FALLS & MINERAL BATH
Staying in the Sourfriere area, we were spoiled for choice with activities and experiences. On our first day we planned a brief hike through the jungle to experience Diamond Falls which was about a 20 minute drive from our base in Soufriere. As this was a brief hike, it was an ideal activity to do for a first excursion, particularly with a young child.
Diamond Falls is a six acre multi award winning botanical garden surrounded by vibrant foliage and flowers frequented by numerous beautiful hummingbirds. The falls themselves are a stunning feast for the eyes which change colours throughout the year due to the mixture of rainwater and volcanic minerals that flow down the falls. There is even an opportunity to take a dip in on-site mineral baths, dine at the Old Mill & Waterwheel Restaurant or explore the Soufriere Estate.
There are guides available onsite who can spend time walking you through and explaining about the plants and trees which is very educational for the children. When they come across the caster oil plant which produces ricin, the deadliest poison known to mankind, it’s amazing how quickly the children become fascinated with botany!
Helpful Tips
Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The attraction is located in Soufrière, less than 3 miles east of Anse Chastanet. The cost of entrance is $7 but visiting the on-site baths will cost an additional $6 to $7. If you want to experience the mineral baths be sure to bring your own towels. There are changing rooms on site.
TET PAUL NATURE TRAIL
You can actually hike up the Pitons themselves and from what I hear the views are absolutely stunning. However, there are no two ways about it … it’s a challenging hike over challenging terrain with a high ascent. For this reason I would only advise doing this with older children.
As we had a young child with us, we elected to do the Tet Paul Nature Trail instead which is a more gentle hike but with equally stunning similar views. It is located about a 10 minute drive from Soufriere. Since this experience has won the Certificate of Excellence on Trip Advisor for several years running, I felt it was certainly worth checking out on our Ultimate 7-Night Family Getaway In St Lucia.
The Hike
The hike is approximately 45 minutes long and classified as easy to moderate. It is ideal for families or anyone who wants to learn about the local history and vegetation whilst seeing breathtaking views along the way. We were joined by a very knowledgable local guide who accompanied us throughout and assisted in taking photos.
As we began winding our way up grand stairways past spectacular vistas, we stopped in many areas en route. We learned about the trees and plants indigenous to the area as well as the medicinal properties of the plants which the locals still use. The views from the Tet Paul Scenic Trail are absolutely heavenly with a vista of the majestic Pitons and the neighbouring islands of Martinique and St. Vincent.
The Traditional House
As our climb continued I could hear our children screaming with glee as we came upon a very small dilapidated building which resembled a toy house to young eyes. With something new to explore, they darted off to discover whatever treasures it may be hiding. The Traditional House along this nature trail gives visitors an opportunity to learn about the ancestral history of the residents of St. Lucia and how they lived. Local residents have wisely taken it upon themselves to preserve this bit of history and maintain this property for visitors.
Inside is a truly unique example of how the St Lucian ancestors lived in the past. Our tour guide explained that he himself grew up in a house similar to this so we had the benefit of a first-hand account. It was a wonderful opportunity for our children to hear and see the reality of living on such a paradise island in the past. The house is furnished and children are encouraged to sit on and experience the furniture for themselves and spend a bit of time with their imaginations.
Helpful Tips
The Tet Paul Nature Trail is open daily 9am to 5pm daily. Charge for adults and Juniors is $10 USD while under 10’s are charged at $5 USD and all prices are inclusive of guide. No advance booking is necessary and timing can be flexible if you inquire in advance.
CHOCOLATE EXPERIENCE
Our first few days were filled with incredible experiences for the children. However, there was one experience I was keeping a secret until we arrived in St. Lucia. For a child it is an experience like no other and it was one I was definitely not going to let them miss.
Consider the one food children love most (besides ice cream). If you came up with chocolate you are absolutely spot on. Our children are no exception in their love for the sweet stuff. My logic is if they eat it, they should know where it comes from and how it’s made. This led me to book a chocolate making experience in St. Lucia through the Rabot Hotel.
Rabot Hotel
Rabot Hotel, previously known as Boucan, is a boutique property located on the Rabot Cacao Estate. This unique property lies in an extravagant setting, just opposite the Petit Piton in an organic and sustainable 140-acre cacao farm. Being situated on the southwest side of the island makes it easy to get to if you are staying nearby. Cacao grown here is used for Hotel Chocolate products and they also operate a hotel and restaurant on site. Sadly the hotel is only for guests 18 years and above but we were able to enjoy the restaurant and participate in the cocoa making experience with our children.
The experience is divided into two parts, each lasting about an hour and you can choose to do both or either one. We chose to participate in both as I wanted our children to have the entire experience.
Tree To Bean Experience
The first part of the experience is called “Tree To Bean”. We strolled through the sun dappled cocoa groves and spent some time discovering how the cocoa plants grow. At this stage, the children still weren’t convinced that the delicious chocolate bar they demolished earlier came from a green pod hanging on a tree.
After a relaxing and informative stroll through the plantation groves, we made an extended stop at the cocoa seedling nursery. Here we watched and participated in grafting plants with the aim of learning how cocoa pods are fermented and dried. I felt my son learned a new skill here today as he delicately tied cocoa branches together. This new addition of branches he was working on will accelerate the cocoa plant’s growth rate. The plantation team were all very patient and took pleasure in teaching him the skills required. As a result, the feeling of being a part of this growth process gave him a real sense of accomplishment.
Bean To Bar Experience
The second part of the experience is called “Bean To Bar”. We had an opportunity to taste the cocoa bean, see it from the de-shelling process to conch grinding and then recipe creation. We certainly worked up a sweat grinding the cocoa nibs with a mortar and pestle!
Our children were now able to appreciate the amount of work it takes to enjoy a small bar of chocolate. The highlight of the experience was being able to pour our own individual chocolate bar. We were then able to finally enjoy the fruits of our labour after a 30 minute setting process.
Our little one making sure all the bowls are left clean of chocolate!
Helpful Tips
This chocolate experience at Rabot Hotel is by far one of the highlights of our Ultimate 7-Night Family Getaway In St Lucia. It is a popular experience and does get booked up quickly so advance booking is recommended. Another treat to round up your experience is to have lunch at Rabot Hotel and enjoy a menu where even the savoury dishes are inspired and infused with the plantation’s own cacao.
DRIVE-IN VOLCANO AND SULFUR SPRINGS
Imagine a cauldron of red hot magma underground within inches of your feet. Now you have a clear picture of the experience ahead when you explore the Sulphur Springs Natural Park. This geothermal wonder is located in the town of Soufriere. Being able to drive into the heart of all the action is a unique experience. Bubbling mud pits, steaming fumaroles hissing and hot thermal springs make up the fascinating area of this dormant volcano. A visit here is a perfect activity to do with children on the Ultimate 7-Night Family Getaway In St Lucia.
Steaming Sulphur Springs!
You know you have arrived when you are subjected to a sulphur smell (hydrogen sulphide) emitted from the volcano and permeating the air. Visitors are able to take a tour which is 20-30 minutes long. There is a stop at the interpretation centre where a 5 minute video is shown about the geology of the area. During this tour, visitors learn about the area’s history, geology, mythology, flora and fauna which makes it an ideal educational experience.
Hot Springs
The visit culminates in a fascinating dip in the sulphurous hot springs. These hot springs are world renowned for their healing properties. The water has been proven to reduce stress, cure rheumatism, and treat certain skin conditions such as psoriasis. Following this is a full on mud bath during which time you begin to appreciate all the Peppa Pig books you read to your children and they begin to appreciate mud! Be sure to bring your own towels as there are none on site.
Experiencing the hot springs is a must do activity during the Ultimate 7-Night Family Getaway To St Lucia. It is easy to forget that this island is made up of volcanos with bubbling hot water right under your feet and nothing beats experiencing this first hand. Numerous tours are available which you can book online or through your hotel but please be aware this is an extremely popular experience and more than likely it will be very crowded.
Sapphire Falls
It is only for this reason we decided to forgo the above tour for a more personal and private experience. I was put in contact with a guide who gives private tours through the jungle to a stunning hot spring waterfall located immediately adjacent to the Sulphur Springs National Park. I jumped at the chance for a little adventure and we all met up with Jahrod, our guide for the next three hours.
Jungle Trek
Our time was filled with a delightful trek through the lush green jungle. This was interspersed with stops to learn about the medicinal plants still used by locals. We discovered bubbling sulphuric streams hidden amongst the dense foliage and a myriad of birds and insects. Jahrod was an interesting and interactive guide pointing out special things along the way and he was very patient with our youngest child. We sniffed medicinal plants, tasted sweet fruits and chopped up coconuts with a machete. All this before we even reached the spectacular waterfall we were about to experience.
Waterfall
Sapphire Falls is locally known as a “gift from the Piton Gods”. Away from the crowded Sulphur Springs Park, this is a natural oasis which will transport you into the world of the ancient islanders and how it was meant to be discovered. We spent a blissful hour at the geothermal waterfall covering ourselves with the local mud and being massaged with pummelling water from the falls themselves. This was a truly unforgettable and unique experience which we highly recommend for all families.
Be sure to bring some hard soled water shoes as the ground underneath the falls consists of small rocks. The hike itself is through meandering paths through the lush jungle so wear sensible footwear as the ground is not always even.
Helpful Tips
Taking a mud bath at the Sulphur Springs National Park requires a booking in advance of your visit. Remember to bring a darker bathing suit as the mud may stain lighter colours. Camera, towel and sunscreen change of clothes for after waterfall experience are also advised.
The mineral rich waters have been known to heal sunburns, eczema, arthritis, sore joints and more. Check any pre-existing medical conditions with a doctor before entering the water.
This area can get extremely busy so try to time your visit for early morning or late afternoon to avoid the worst of the crowds.
For a very unique and private experience, check out St Lucia Eco Adventures who specialise in taking you to the hidden gems of the island, away from the crowds.
PILGRIMAGE TO THE NORTH
Most of our activities were based in the south part of the island. I felt it was be remiss of us not to experience what the island has to offer further North. I planned a day trip driving to Fort Rodney on Pigeon Island so we could spend some time exploring the ruins of an old British naval base. As we were situated near Soufriere, the drive north was approximately 2 1/2 hours each way. It’s a much bigger island than you think!
Marigot Bay
The drive took us along winding mountainous roads with stunning views and through quaint old fishing towns untouched by time. It is a beautiful drive well worth doing if broken up with stops along the way. Visiting Marigot Bay is a must with its charming atmosphere accentuated by yachts lining the local harbour and sheltered by towering palms. This tiny bay is said to have once concealed the entire British fleet from its French pursuers. Seclude and calm, it is a lovely way to spend spend some time before continuing your road trip north.
There are numerous places to stop and have lunch along the way. Windjammer Landing or St James Club are equally good for lunch options and this also gives an opportunity to explore another hotel/resort while you are there.
Pigeon Island
After a very pleasant lunch at St James Club, we make our way to our final destination, Pigeon Island. We are keen to explore this 40 acre island which is now joined to the mainland by a man-made causeway. Parking is easy along the dirt road and you have to pay a small fee to enter the park. There is some easy to moderate hiking involved to reach the ruins and fort but it is a lovely walk surrounded by what some say is one of the best natural white sand beaches in St. Lucia.
Pigeon Island’s first French settler was Francois le Clerc or better known as Jambe de Bois (Wooden Leg). Our children were very excited to hear he used Pigeon Island as a pirate base sometime during the middle of the 16th century. Whilst all evidence of pirates disappeared long ago, there is still a fascinating history as the British built a fort here during the 18th century. It was primarily used to spy on the French ships and the French naval base in Martinique.
Signal Hill
Climbing up to Signal Hill offers spectacular views over Rodney Bay and surrounding areas. Access to the fort structure at the top culminates in climbing ladder like steps which may be challenging for those with little children. However once up there, the panoramic views are unforgettable and children have fun playing on and around the numerous original cannons spread around the site. As there are no barriers, do exercise caution with little ones.
Fort Rodney
Once we made our way down again, we discovered further ruins at the base of the hill. Signs strategically placed around the fort explain what the rooms were once used for. In addition, there are illustrations of what the rooms looked like historically. This is extremely helpful for children to visualise the origins of the buildings.
Helpful Tips
Entrance fees to Pigeon Island National Landmark are $12USD per person 12 years and older, $2USD for children 5-11 years old, and free for children under 5 years old. There are also guided tours for an additional $22USD per group of up to 8 people.
HORSEBACK RIDING
Galloping with a horse along a stretch of golden beach is a true Caribbean experience. It is one we certainly could not miss. My husband and son went on a very special horse ride one morning with the Morne Coubaril Historical Adventure Park.
The trail took them through the centre of Soufriere and onto a magnificent beach. They were able to gallop and even swim with the horses in the water. This is a unique experience as many horse riding places we have been to around the world do not allow galloping on the beaches, so this was a real treat.
Helpful Tips
The Morne Coubaril Estate is a genuine 18th century plantation with many activities to do onsite. There is a working mill where children can learn about the early historical steps in the making of sugar cane syrup. There are also numerous historical features on the estate itself with authentic huts in a traditional village setting that children can visit. You can also indulge in 8 exhilarating zip lines, horse riding to the beach or the volcano as well as a mineral waterfall hike leaving from the Estate.
SNORKELLING AND DIVING IN ANSE CHASTENET
Snorkelling
Anse Chastenet offers the best snorkelling the island has to offer. Colourful corals and schools of fish are plentiful here. The beach itself is stretched out in front of the resort of the same name, resting on a sheltered bay protected by high cliffs. Some of the best snorkelling is right off shore and you can walk and swim right out to it providing hassle-free access. The resort offers day passes if you wish to use the facilities, otherwise you are free to snorkel as you please. If you aren’t using the resort’s facilities be sure to bring your own towels and snorkelling equipment.
Diving
If diving is your thing, then staying in the south around the Soufriere marina is ideal. Most of the dives happen from that location. Divers will find colourful coral reefs teaming with tropical fish. Most of the sea creatures seen around St. Lucias waters are of the smaller variety as the larger ones tend to congregate much further afield.
Popular dives include Anse Chastenet, Fairy Land and Coral Gardens. Your best bet for diving is Scuba St. Lucia located on the Anse Chastenet stretch of beach and is a 5 star PADI dive centre. It is also the island’s longest established dive centre which offers a host of diving equipment to rent as well as a variety of courses to take.
Anse Chastenet is an ideal location for beginner divers as the waters are shallow and calm to learn in. There is a gorgeous reef just 15 yards from the shore. A host of tropical marine life is evident in as little as 20 feet of water. For those looking for a deeper dive, the marine life is plentiful all the way down to 140 feet of wall drop-off . Potential sightings include flounders, octopus, needle fish, turtles, puffers, moray eels, parrot fish, lobsters and even sea horses. Furthermore, it is also an ideal place to learn macro photography as the waters are calm and clear. All photographic equipment can be rented on site and there are also courses available.
The Bottom Line
We didn’t know what to expect when we booked the Ultimate 7-Night Family Getaway In St Lucia. We were pleasantly surprised to visit an island that gives people a true Caribbean experience, which we imagine was the way things were before commercialism hit the islands.
It is raw, it is unchanged, it is unspoiled since the beginning of time and that’s the way we will remember our experience of St. Lucia. The warmth and hospitality of its people combined with the jaw dropping beauty of the island makes this one of our favourite destinations to visit with children.
Our children had amazing experiences that they couldn’t have anywhere else in the world. They left with an impressive knowledge about the island, its geology and its history. And, of course, they were thrilled to quench their insatiable appetite for chocolate.
So don’t hesitate to add St Lucia to your educational bucket list!
We hope you have enjoyed reading The Ultimate 7-Night Family Getaway In St Lucia.
Don’t Forget …
During our Ultimate 7-Night Family Getaway In St Lucia, we encountered some challenges while staying on the island. Here is a small list of helpful tips for your own journey.
Bring a child booster for dining out. Some larger resorts will have child seating options but some of the smaller local restaurants may not.
Depending on the season you travel, bring insect repellent. It is both expensive and hard to come by in St. Lucia.
There are no road names so independent driving becomes challenging. Be sure you have access to a map for when you get lost.
Avoid driving at night as street lights are not common outside of the villages. Roads are often pitch black with only the fireflies to light your way.
Leave a Reply