Nightlife

Most hotels and resorts offer some form of entertainment throughout the week - including local live bands and cultural performances. There are also a number of bar and restaurants all over the island that are fun spots at night. Popular nightclubs include:

• Indies , Rodney Bay tel: 758-452-0727
• Le Charlet, Rodney Bay tel:758- 450-0022
• Rumours Nightclub, Rodney Bay Village tel: 758-452-9249
• The Lime, Rodney Bay tel: 452-0761
• Upper Level Nightclub, Rodney Bay tel: 758-452-9350
• Mango's Bar, Rodney Bay , Choc Bay
• La Roulette, Rodney Bay , tel: 758-487-8611
• Happy Day Bar, Rodney Bay
• Jambre de Bois, Pigeon Island , tel: 758-450-8166
• Margarita's, Rodney Bay , tel: 758-717-5414

Soft Adventure

Not interested in lazing on the beach all day long day after day? St. Lucia is the right choice for your vacation. Organizations like the St. Lucia National Trust and the Department of Forestry offer a number of nature trails some more strenuous than others. In the mountainous rainforests of St. Lucia there are approximately 30 species of birds. You may be lucky to spot the rare and beautiful parrot, Jacquot.

Caribbean islands' 2000 Ecotourism Award
St Lucia was the proud recipient of the Caribbean islands' 2000 Ecotourism Award for its Heritage Tourism Programme. So, whatever your mood, St Lucia can offer you a tour which will enchant you. Wherever you go, colours will mesmerise you. Vistas will astound you. And the tropical air will caress you. You'll find all your senses working overtime on St Lucia .

All-Terrain Vehicle Riding
See the wild side of St Lucia on an All Terrain Vehicle. Experience the thrill of riding an ATV through St Lucia 's lush countryside...over mountains...through banana plantations... and lots more!

Biking
Biking has also become popular way to enjoy the island, and there are some excellent biking tours for beginners and the more experienced off road riders. There's lots to see on 2 wheels in St. Lucia . For the adventurer, head into Soufrière for an ocean-side trail ride at Anse Chastanet. With a beautiful view of the world-famous Gros Piton and Petit Piton mountains, this is one ride you can't find anywhere but St. Lucia .

Camping
St. Lucia recently opened its first campsite, Anse La Liberte for those really attuned to nature.

Hiking
Exploring the beauty of Saint Lucia 's majestic rain forest is a great way to relax and appreciate the island. A variety of natural trails lead hikers through the rain forest, to the top of Saint Lucia 's mountains, through old plantation grounds, along beaches, to Cactus Valley , to Pigeon Island and more. As visitors hike, they will see spectacular rain forest waterfalls, flora and local birds like the Saint Lucia Parrot, the Saint Lucia Oriole and the Saint Lucia Black Finch. Comfortable shoes are a must.

Hiking Trails

• Eastern Nature Trail: This invigorating exploration along St Lucia ’s Atlantic coastline – Start with the leisurely and exciting 3½ mile trek along the rugged and beautiful East Coast of St Lucia. Along the trail you should see several species of birds, three of which and endemic to St Lucia , as well as migratory birds, which include the magnificent Fregate bird and the Red Bill tropicbirds. After the hike, drive to Latille where one can indulge in a twenty-foot waterfall surrounded by lush vegetation and additional pools downstream. To book contact Heritage Tours.
• Forestiere Tropical Forest Trail: This tour takes you into the heart of the St Lucian countryside to a typical rural community of Forestiere. An exhilarating hike takes you through dense tropical rainforest, whilst the fascinating flora and fauna is pointed out to you by a well informed guide.
• Rainforest Hikes: Explore the Rainforest Reserve with a guide from the Forest and Lands Department on a 3½ hour trek. Visitors trek past indigenous tree species and along paths lined with tinier plants, bromliads, orchids and mushrooms. Throughout the tour, beautiful birds including the indigenous St Lucia Parrot (Amazona Versicolor) can be seen. Emerging from the dark shade of the forest into the open, a magnificent view of Mount Gimie , St Lucia ’s highest peak. For more information contact Forest & Lands Department.

Contact the Forest & Lands Department at (758) 450-2231 for more information on exploring one of the following Nature Trails:

• Barre de L’isle Rain Forest Trail
• Union Nature Trail
• Naturalist Tour
• Fregate Island Nature Trail
• Morne le Blanc-Laborie

Horseback Riding
The ambiance of Saint Lucia can be captured through a number of horseback riding excursions. The International Riding Stables offers an assortment of trail rides, including a ride winding through the countryside along the beach, with time for swimming and a beach picnic at Cas en Bas. Trim's Riding Stables offer a variety of treks including a carriage tour to Pigeon Point and Fort Rodney .

Trek the lush trails of St Lucia , canter along almost deserted beaches on horseback and revel in pure serenity. Cantering a horse along a stretch of beach on the Atlantic coastline with the tropical wind whipping your face and eager mount springing forth uncoaxed. Touring St Lucia on horseback will enable you to truly take in the sights and feel part of the surrounding giving you a chance to take in more of the interesting aspects of the country.

For information on horse riding contact:

• International Riding Stables: a fantastic tour offered by these stables is their beach picnic at Cas en Bas. This is not only a super ride but extra time is allowed for swimming of more riding along the beach. For more information contact Floria on Tele: 758 452 8139 or 758 484 9995.
• Trims National Riding Academy :Trim's National Riding Academy promises horseback riding in a way you've always dreamed of. We can make all of your riding fantasies come true because riding with us is truly fun, exciting, and adventurous! We have four riding sessions a day where you can enjoy one or two hour rides, swimming is optional. The times are as follows: 8:30am, 10:00am , 2:00pm, 4:00pm. Ask about our group coastal tours where we also serve a spectacular lunch. . For further information telephone: 758 450 8273 or 758 450 0637 (24hr).
• Morne Coubaril: Unleash your curiosity by visiting a family plantation, which is full of activities, one of which includes horseriding. Discover the traditional ways of processing cocoa, copra and Manioc. Walk through a mixture of tropical flowers. For more information: 758 459 7340.

Whale and Turtle Watching
St Lucia is recognised as one of the leading whale watching sites in the area. Over 20 species are regularly spotted throughout the year, including humpbacks, pilot whales, sperm whales and spinning and spotted dolphins.

Turtles are another fascinating thrill for nature-lovers. The abundance of these majestic reptiles on St Lucia is due to the protection provided by local environmental activists, who have ensured there is a permanent suspension on turtle hunting.

Tropical Island Attractions & Tours

St. Lucia simply fresh, floral and fantastic!
St. Lucia is rich in natural beauty – and there is so much to see and do. This tropical island beckons the visitor to explore. Historical, cultural and heritage sites can be found throughout the island. Local tour companies combining several of the sites and attractions offer a large variety of tours.

Attractions and tours can be sought by location as well as by type. More recently St. Lucia has developed a multiplicity of community based heritage tourism sites, these are well marked with Heritage Tourism Site signage.

Of course, St. Lucia being a tropical island, is surrounded by water. Boat tours – daytime or at sunset are also options to choose from.

Culture Heritage Tours

• Fond Latisab Creole Park - Babonneau: Experience the truly St Lucian way of life, with a tour that takes you to a community in Babonneau called Fond Assau. There you will experience traditional practices such as preparation of cassava bread, cooking on macambou leaves, catching crayfish in the river, collecting honey from a beehive and the very authentic display of wood-sawing while in Chak Chak band plays traditional music in the background.
• Castries Heritage Walk: The historic buildings of Castries come alive as well informed tour guides take you on a walk through the architectural history of an old colonial island city, whilst at the same time enjoying the spirit and life of the modern Caribbean .
• Pigeon Island National Landmark: Pigeon Island contains more history than any other part of St Lucia . Once the home of the Amerindians it has been a pirate hideout and military base. Visit Fort Charlotte , now a college but once the site of some of the firecast fighting between the French and the British. Or view the Choiseul Heritage site, a village rich in history, crafts and offering spectacular views.

Plantation Tours

• Fond d'Or Nature Historic Park : Enjoy the tropical island's natural beauty on a tour that combines historical St Lucia with the tranquility of a nature sitem the Find d'Or Nature Historic Park includes symbols of the Amerindian settlement and historical buildings of the sugar age. Follow a hiking trail through an estuarine tropical forest to a wide white sand beach that is frequented by nesting Leatherback Turtles, then visit and relax at the Interpretation Centre. From there, drive to the Latille Waterfall where a twenty-foot waterfall surrounded by lush vegetation and additional pools await you. To book contact Heritage Tours.
• Fond Doux Estate: Follow the scenic country road to a tropical Caribbean-style working plantation called where you will heighten your senses by smelling, touching and tasting a variety of tropical fruits and plants. Once you have explored the plantation you can relax in the plantation house sipping local rum punch, local fruit juices and coconut water before being treated to an authentic Creole Lunch.
• Morne Coubaril & Marquis Estates: There's the 400-Acre La Sikwi Sugar Mill plantation with a museum, theatre and a 40ft waterwheel. The Morne Coubaril Estate with its worker's village, sugar mill, manioc and cocoa houses is a meticulously preserved museum, restaurant and botanical garden. The Marquis Estate is another nearby plantation where you can tour and see the production of St Lucia 's main export crops, bananas and copra.

Botanical Gardens
Visitors can choose from three exquisite tropical botanical gardens; each brimming with rare and exotic flora. These tropical gardens present a riot of colour, perfume and lush tropical vegetation. Mamiku Gardens is situated on an historic site with a fascinating history. Nature trails meander through the gardens with scenic vistas and peaceful resting points.

• Diamond Botanical Gardens: The Diamond Botanical Gardens in Soufriere features mineral baths and a picturesque waterfall.
• Mamiku Gardens : On the Vieux Fort Highway , Mamiku Gardens which encircle the ruins of an 18th Century Micoud Estate.
• Tropica Gardens : in the North of the island is the lovely Tropica Gardens .

Soft Adventure

• Maria Island : The Maria Island experience takes you through the backroads to Vieux Fort and by boat to the home of two species found nowhere else in the world: the Kouwes Snake and the Zandoli Terre lizard.
• Fregate Island Tour: Fregate Island Tour, visits the small fishing village of Praslin and the Fregate Island Nature Reserve, a tropical sanctuary for rare birds, Southern Safari takes you to the islands interior from North to South. Heritage Sunday is held weekly during the summer.
• Soufrière: View the majestic Pitons as you travel to the Diamond Waterfall located in a beautiful botanical garden surrounded by nature finest plants and flowers. From the Diamond Waterfall, drive through the quaint town of Soufriere to the world's only drive-in volcano with its bubbling holes of sulphuric waters.
• Anse La Raye Adventure: Visit the traditional fishing village of Anse La Raye, where you can explore the waterfront with its quaint wooden houses, colourful fishing boats and perhaps see bread making in a traditional bakery. Head inland to visit a beautiful waterfall set in enchanting tropical tranquility.