Romantic St. Lucia

by Paris Permenter & John Bigley

The island itself sets the scene for a romantic excursion by offering not only sun and sand but much more.

Couples in the mood for love--whether that means an exchange of vows, a honeymoon, or a romantic getaway--will find plenty of options on St. Lucia. This fertile environment, overflowing with tropical birds, fragrant blooms, and spectacular scenery, is just what many travelers picture when they imagine a romantic island retreat.

The island itself sets the scene for a romantic excursion by offering not only sun and sand but much more. "I think St. Lucia remains one of the islands in the Caribbean that can really stand out for its uniqueness," says Hilary Modeste, Director of the St. Lucia Tourist Board. "This is reflected in the surveys we take of visitors. St. Lucia is volcanic, with diverse topography, the Pitons, and a volcano --these are some of the things other islands don't have."

The symbols of St. Lucia are the Pitons, rugged mountains that climb from the sea on the island's southwest coast. Clients who enjoy nature will find plenty of diversion in this part of St. Lucia starting with the rain forest. Couples will need a guide to enter the restricted rain forest region, and can sign up for a tour to walk through the dense foliage, swim in a tropical waterfall, and learn more about the plants that make up this fragile ecosystem.

This area is also home to a unique Sulphur Spring volcano, often called the "drive-through volcano." Couples can walk to the edge of the volcano which last erupted two centuries ago. Near the volcano, the Diamond Waterfalls and Gardens are perfect for honeymooners. A flower-lined trail winds to Diamond Waterfalls, a cascade that leaves a spray of "diamond" twinkles suspended in the air. Here steamy mineral baths built among ruins of the first baths commissioned by French King Louis XIV for use by his troops can still be enjoyed by today's travelers.

On the northern end of the island, the capital city of Castries is located near some of the island's top attractions: excellent beaches, the nine-hole St. Lucia Golf and Country Club (nine additional holes and a new clubhouse are presently being added and are scheduled to open in February), the Friday night Jump Up in the small fishing community of Gros Islet, and Pigeon Point National Landmark. Formerly an island now connected to the mainland by causeway, this site is one of St. Lucia's most popular wedding locations.