The Caribbean unveiled: Discovering Saint Lucia’s local side

Play your part in community tourism

Credit: Anna Hardy

Home is where the heart is, so into homes you should go if you’re serious about getting to know Saint Lucia. Community tourism initiatives are your way in.

Howelton Estate’s ‘bean to bar’ chocolate-making class is one of several immersive workshops that celebrates the island’s identity. On an outdoor terrace perched high above Castries, our teacher Julianna expertly guides us through the process of hand-grinding cacao nibs (harvested from cacao fruit grown on site) in hot mortars, combining cocoa butter and sugar to form a luscious molten paste. It’s poured into moulds, frozen and returned to us as a bar of rich, bitter indulgence – each piece as unforgettable as the experience itself.

Coconut candle making and craft decoration sessions are also held at Howelton, two community-led activities that will soon expand to include basket weaving, table mat making and a new sea moss experience.

My interest piques at the mention of this nutrient-rich seaweed – a wellness world hit that’s touted to boost energy levels and digestive function and now an emerging export for Saint Lucia. Just like the chocolate making, this new workshop would invite tourists to be part of the island’s story, and (literally) taste its success.

Seek out the island’s inner beauty

Credit: Saint Lucia Tourism Authority

Mother Nature didn’t hold back when she made Saint Lucia. While the beaches are every bit the Caribbean dream, the island’s inner beauty secrets range from the tree-clad peaks of the Pitons to the lush flora of Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens.

Cradled within the caldera of La Soufrière, shrouded in steam plumes and bubbling mud pits, Saint Lucia’s Sulphur Springs are like a scene from Mars. It’s the mineral-rich mud, said to detoxify the body and heal the likes of eczema and arthritis, that has us getting in line to lather ourselves in the slick, ashen stuff before submerging into one of the 38C thermal pools. It’s messy and the sulphur fumes aren’t Radox approved, but it’s the best DIY spa treatment around.

Credit: Saint Lucia Tourism Authority

Further inland, Saint Lucia’s rainforest will reward you with the finest display of natural beauty going. Covering over 70% of the island’s interior and carpeted top to toe in giant ferns, vine-tangled trees and fluorescent flowers – the habitat of Saint Lucia Amazon parrots and whiptale lizards – its biodiversity is extraordinary.

As is the scenery. Zip-lining is the logical way to admire it, according to Rainforest Adventures. Eight lines, varying in speed and length, provide a bird’s-eye panorama as we whizz through the canopy of Babonneau rainforest, Tarzan-style.

That’s not to say the views from the ground can’t compete. Across the island in the leafy outskirts of Soufrière, Toraille Waterfall’s 50ft cascade showed us a rainforest shower to remember.

Get a lesson in Creole history through the cuisine

Credit: Saint Lucia Tourism Authority

Food for thought takes on a literal meaning in Saint Lucia. An intoxicating fusion of Caribbean, American, Indian and European influences, the cuisine here is an edible archive of the island’s Creole heritage.

Start with the national dish. A duo of the island's biggest food export: bananas (known locally as green figs) and saltfish – a colonial-era staple imported from Canada – combined with peppers, herbs and spices, it’s Saint Lucia’s past and present rolled into one beloved plate of food.

This intermingling of influences is evident in every local meal we eat, from tangy jerk chicken tacos smothered in mango salsa to sticky soy ginger-glazed mahi mahi kebabs. And it's served everywhere too – from restaurants and bakeries to roadside grills and beachfront shacks.

Then there’s the rum, distinctly smooth and complex in character. A visit to Saint Lucia Distillers will reveal the spirit’s evolution from its first production in the 18th century to today’s 25 or so varieties. The signature, Chairman’s Reserve, all caramelised fruit and oaky-vanilla tones, is as moreish neat as it is in a fruit punch. Bring your curiosity along with your appetite.

Feel the island’s good vibes at a festival

Credit: Saint Lucia Tourism Authority

Thousands of people from all corners of the Caribbean and beyond sing, sway and raise their arms to the sky beneath a strobe-lit stage, united by the same feel-good vibe Saint Lucia’s Jazz and Arts Festival is known for.

Our visit coincides with the final few days, so we waste no time embedding ourselves among the buzzing crowd to watch electrifying performances from Patrice Roberts, Summer Walker, Earth, Wind and Fire, and John Legend.

This music-filled extravaganza is one of the biggest events of the year, bringing together local and international artists for a ten-day showcase of jazz, soul, R&B, afrobeat and Caribbean rhythms. From the calibre of the line-up to its unparalleled location on Pigeon Island, it’s riveting – something I’m glad I underestimated as it made the experience rave-worthy in every sense.

The spectacle only gets bigger when Carnival rolls around. Over three weeks in July, pulsating beats, sequin-adorned costumes and non-stop parties fill the streets of Castries, combining history, community and creativity in the ultimate celebration of Caribbean life. Feel that joie de vivre and let it inspire you, and you’ll have found the beating heart of Saint Lucia.

Saint Lucia FAQS

Credit: Anna Hardy

How do you get to Saint Lucia?

You can fly direct from the UK to Hewanorra International Airport from Gatwick. The flight takes around nine hours.

When is the best time of year to visit Saint Lucia?

Saint Lucia’s tropical climate means you can expect year-round temperatures reaching highs of 30C. The dry season runs from December to April and is considered the busiest period as rainfall and humidity levels are at their lowest.

While rain is common in the months between May and November, showers typically pass quickly, and the weather remains warm throughout. It’s a great time to visit for cheaper hotel rates and events. The Jazz and Arts Festival takes place at the start of May (30 April – 10 May 2026), and Carnival in July (1 - 23 in 2026).

Where should I stay in Saint Lucia?

The flagship Sandals resort on the island and the base for our trip, Sandals Grande St. Lucian excelled in every category, from the warmth of the hospitality to the quality of facilities.

This five-star all-inclusive resort has thought of everything. We’re talking five pools, 12 specialty restaurants, seven bars, a state-of-the-art fitness centre and a private beach. Rooms range from deluxe kings to overwater bungalows, all with plush furnishings, en suite bathrooms and fully stocked bars. When it comes to entertainment, take your pick from watersports, golf, tennis, live shows and music. 

You’ll find it on the north west of the island, a half-hour drive from Castries and within easy walking distance from Pigeon Island.

This trip was provided by the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority and Sandals Grande St. Lucian. For further information, check out www.stlucia.org.