Steal My St. Lucia Itinerary
- Alexa Renee
- 17 hours ago
- 4 min read
Where to Stay
We stayed at Ladera, and it exceeded every expectation and more. The resort is heavily eco-focused, with the room concept being "open-wall". Meaning, there's no AC, and you're truly one with nature. Pair that with A+ service, luxury amenities, and so much to do, you'll never want to leave the resort. It was the perfect place for our honeymoon.
For those looking to be in Soufriere, but looking for something a bit more budget-friendly, I'd suggest checking out:
Ladera set up EVERYTHING for us, from transfers to tours. It was truly the perfect stay.
Things to do
If you're visiting the Souferie area, here's what I recommend doing, which I added to my itinerary.
You'll visit the Sulphur Spring which is home to the world's only drive-in volcano. There a baths at different temperatures, and natural mud that you can cover yourself with. Afterwards the tour takes you to Toraille Waterfall to rinse off under a beautiful cascade in the jungle. It's a full morning and absolutely worth it.
A hidden waterfall tucked deep in the rainforest near Soufrière. It's a bit of a walk to get there but the payoff is a gorgeous, secluded spot that feels worlds away from the resort side of the island. Try to go in the morning before the day-trip crowds arrive.
Even if you're not staying at Ladera, come for dinner at least once. Dasheene is an open-air restaurant perched above the Pitons, and I think it's the best spot for sunset. The food is all locally sourced,farm-to-table Caribbean cuisine that's divine. I recommend booking a table a head of time!
This is the one thing I didn't get to do, and I'm so sad about it. Sugar beach is known as one of the prettiest beach in the area. The beach sits right between the two Pitons, so you're swimming in calm turquoise water with that stunning view. The beach is public, but the property is surrounded by the Viceroy Sugar Beach Resort, so renting chairs will come at a cost.
We opted for Marigot Beach instead, still beautiful but doesn't have that same Piton view!
You sail along the coast as the sun goes down, rum punch in hand, with the Pitons silhouetted behind you. I think sunset in this part of the island is glorious, but you can also take a Catamaran out to go snorkeling for a morning excursion.
Since this was our honeymoon, Ladera organized a private sunset catamaran charter for my husband and I. Unforutnatley, I can't remember the company name, but the price was around $400.
St. Lucia grows genuinely exceptional cacao, and this workshop at the Rabot Hotel Chocolat lets you see exactly why. You'll go from raw bean to finished chocolate bar on a working estate, learning about the fermentation and roasting process along the way. Listen, making chocolate is hard work and I learned during this class.
Every Friday night, the streets of Gros Islet fill up with locals and visitors for an open-air seafood street party with grilled seafood andmusic that goes well into the night. And I CANNOT BELIEVE I MISSED THIS. Trust me, when I come back to St. Lucia this will be the first thing I do.
I also wish I did this cooking experience with Claudia’s Kitchen.
Things to know before your trip:
Book your airport transfer in advance
St. Lucia's main international airport (Hewanorra, or UVF) is in the far south of the island, and the drive to Soufrière can take up to two hours depending on traffic. Book a private transfer before you travel if you don't plan on renting a car. And gear up for the car ride, because it's a bit windy. You may want to bring dramamine for your drive.
Getting around the island
St. Lucia drives on the left side of the road, and the mountain roads, especially the route between Castries and Soufrière, are narrow, steep, and winding. We were also on our honeymoon, so there's no chance either of were going to drive. If you're traveling to Soufrière like we were, most if not all of the excursions came with some kind of transportation. And taxi's are widely available for a hotel or for you to arrange. If you do rent a car, it will definitely maximize your ability to explore, and will likely bring down transportation costs.
Cash/Money/Currency
The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$), but US dollars are widely accepted at hotels and restaurants. Like other island in the region, you may get change back in EC$. It's worth picking up some local currency for markets, street food, tips, and smaller vendors who may not take cards. ATMs are available in major towns and dispense EC$ just watch out for international transaction fees from your home bank. When in doubt, choose your bank's conversion rate, and not the ATM.
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