Tailor-made Saint Lucia holidays shaped around your passions

In Saint Lucia, you could hike up a volcanic peak, explore rainforests and waterfalls, go whale watching or birding, visit historic plantations, or enjoy the nightlife at a brightly painted fishing village. Along with secluded beaches lapped by turquoise seas and tropical reefs teeming with fish, Saint Lucia offers plenty for the active visitor.

Whether you wish to explore local culture on a visit to a fishing or farming village, join the celebrations at a communal Friday-night fish fry, or learn about folklore and customs, there are lots of ways to get an insight into life on the island.

Saint Lucia offers a wide range of places to stay, from boutique hotels and large resorts on the coast to guesthouses on working plantations inland. Dividing your time between two locations gives the best overview of the island, so you could stay in an intimate coastal retreat known for its fine dining and follow it with a few days at a family-run hotel in the heart of the rainforest where you can follow nature trails into the jungle or learn about the work on a cocoa plantation.

Or maybe you’d like a private plunge pool and framed views of the volcanic Pitons at a characterful boutique hotel or a stay at a luxurious adults-only resort with water sports and idyllic views. Take a look at our collection of places to stay in Saint Lucia for some ideas.

Saint Lucia is quite small, and most visitors go to Rodney Bay, Anse La Raye, and Soufrière while here.

To the north of the island is the capital, Castries, and lively Rodney Bay, the island’s most popular visitor hub with its hotels, restaurants, and bars. The west coast of Saint Lucia is fringed by powdery soft beaches and, while here, it’s worth visiting the waterfalls near Anse La Raye or heading further south to Soufrière to visit old plantation estates. The east coast is quieter and offers secluded coves and small farming communities to explore.

It takes around nine hours to fly from the UK to Saint Lucia.

The time zone in Saint Lucia is UTC-4 hours. Daylight Savings Time is not observed in Saint Lucia.

The best way to get around Saint Lucia is to rent a car. Distances between sights are relatively short and you’ll get complete flexibility to travel when you wish. If you’d prefer not to drive, there are plenty of local taxis and a public minibus service that runs between towns and villages.

Alternatively, you could sail around the island on a private yacht visiting little-visited towns, marine parks, and lively marinas. Yacht hire also offers the possibility of combining a trip to Saint Lucia with a visit to Bequia, Tobago Cays, or Martinique.

Use our travel tool to find up-to-date visa and passport requirements for Saint Lucia. Enter where you’re travelling to and from (including any stopover destinations en route or flight layovers), along with your intended travel dates and passport details, for a full list of requirements.

• Entry requirements travel tool

Your doctor is best placed to offer vaccine advice for Saint Lucia. You can also check the suggested vaccinations on the Travel Health Pro website. It’s also a good idea to ensure you’re up to date with the recommended vaccinations at home.