Top 10 Islands of the World: St. Lucia

saint lucia 01
Top 10 islands of the world: St Lucia

When reminiscing about the top islands in the world, people tend to throw popular destinations like Hawaii, Zanzibar, Bali, Maldives or Santorini at each other. Don’t get me wrong. These names stand for very beautiful and interesting destinations, but they are not the cream. Starting today, a new series of articles will reveal our list of Top 10 islands in the world. We start with no. 10:

Our #10: St. Lucia Island (Caribbean)

Unlike other Caribbean islands, St. Lucia’s best assets are not those stereotype white sandy beaches. You will find them, too. But St. Lucia itself is drenched in much more topographic drama. The towering Pitons, twin volcanic peaks, preside over luxuriant landscapes, rising more than 700 meters from the sea, provide a breathtaking backdrop to a stunning scenery. Bristling forests of coconut palms, waterfalls, quaint fishing villages, coral reefs, nature trails, and healing hot springs are just some of the sights to explore on this unique island. Pretty Marigot Bay and Anse Chastanet Marine Park are definitely highlights.

Top 10 Islands World St Lucia
St. Lucia offers plenty of scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities.

The volcanic island of Saint Lucia is more mountainous than other Caribbean islands, with the highest point being Mount Gimie, at 950 metres above sea level. But two other mountains, the Pitons, form the island’s most snapped landmark. They are located between the cities of Soufrière and Choiseul on the western side of St. Lucia.

Top 10 Islands World St Lucia
St. Lucia. The Pitons between Soufriere and Choiseul are the island’s true landmark.

Average daytime temperatures are around 29 °C, nighttime temperatures are around 18 °C. Temperatures do not fluctuate much between winter and summer. Tourism is vital to Saint Lucia’s economy. It tends to be more substantial during the dry season, peaking between January and April. But the island is actually charming throughout the year. The local climate on St. Lucia Island is tropical, moderated by trade winds, with a dry season from beginning of December to end of May, and a wet season from beginning of June to end of November.

In case you fancy a drive-in volcano: You are at the right place. Take a tour to Sulphur Springs in Soufrière. The best part of this volcano tour is the mud baths. While the water directly on the springs will be too hot to hop in, further downstream mud and water have the right temperature for a perfect warm bath. Tourists cover themselves in mineral rich mud, relax, and let the mud work its magic on their skin. The Sulphur Springs were created when rain water seeped into the ground through cracks in the volcano’s crust. This water then came into contact with hot volcanic rock and rose back to the surface. Along its way back up, the water mixes with sulphur and other chemicals to create some unique hot springs.

Other tourist attractions include the Botanical Gardens, the Majestic twin Peaks (The Pitons), Pigeon Island National Park, and many hot spots for diving and snorkeling. The majority of tourists visits Saint Lucia as part of a cruise. Most of their time tends to be spent in the capital Castries, although Soufrière, Marigot Bay and  are popular tourist locations, too.

St. Lucia’s national dish is green figs and salted fish. But hang on, there is more. The island’s historic French influence also adds to an exotic appeal. St Lucia’s cuisine is a unique blend of West African, European and East Indian cuisine; this creates dynamic meal dishes such as macaroni pie, Stew chicken, rice and peas, fish broth or fish water, and soups packed full with fresh locally produced vegetables. Typical essential foodstuffs are potatoes, onions, celery, thyme, coconut milk, the very hot scotch bonnet peppers, flour and cornmeal.

The island is also home to the famous fried dough, known by many as a bake or Johnny Cake. These bakes can be served with different sides, such as saltfish which is either sautéed or lightly fried along with red, green peppers, onions, and seasoned well. This is the most common way for bake to be prepared, though it can also be served with meats such as stewed chicken or beef.

Where to stay in St. Lucia

There is a very iconic photo circulating in the internet, showing a good looking couple watching the good looking Pitons from within an infinity pool. The pic was taken at Nick Troubetzkoy’s Jade Mountain Resort at 100 Anse Chastanet Road, St. Lucia. Located on the south-west corner of Jade Mountain this resort will probably give you the most commanding panoramic views of St. Lucia. With an overall rating of Jade Mountain Resort is at 4 of 5, it comes with only one stain: the price. Be prepared for 1,200 euros per night. And even at this price demand is still high.

Top 10 Islands World St Lucia Jade Mountain Resort
St. Lucia: Jade Mountain Resort

Saint Lucia (French: Sainte Lucie) is a sovereign island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea, part of the Lesser Antilles, south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 617 sqkm and approx. 166,000 people call it home. Capital: Castries. Booking.com offers 327 property to travelers. Check them out here ->

Top 10 Islands World St Lucia map
St. Lucia. Book your property here.

Top 10 Islands World St Lucia. By Chili & Churp | © International Destinations | Check out all other Top 10 Islands one by one -> Cook Islands | Seychelles | Tahiti | Palawan | Fiji | Cebu | Bora Bora | Mykonos | Whitsunday Island