Saint Lucia is chosen by sector more than by hotel, because the island is mountainous and transfer times change everything. Between the international airport in the south and the northern hotels there can be two hours of mountain road. Here is how the island is organised and what that means.

The essentials in four lines

  • About five hours on a seasonal non-stop from Montreal to Hewanorra (UVF), at Vieux Fort on the southern tip.
  • Transfer to Soufrière: forty-five minutes. To Rodney Bay and the north: ninety minutes to two hours.
  • Driving is on the left, on narrow winding roads. East Caribbean dollar, US dollars accepted.
  • One hour ahead of Montreal in winter, same time in summer.

The three sectors

The north: Rodney Bay and Gros Islet

Reduit Beach, the longest pale-sand beach on the island, with the densest hotel cluster, a marina, restaurants and shops within walking distance. It is the most convenient and liveliest sector, and the only one where you go out in the evening without a taxi. On Friday nights the village of Gros Islet closes its main street for a street party open to all.

Just north, Pigeon Island, joined to the mainland by a causeway, offers two quiet beaches, the ruins of Fort Rodney and a viewpoint that reaches Martinique.

The mid-west: Marigot and Anse Cochon

A deep, narrow bay ringed by wooded hills where sailboats shelter. Little beach, a great deal of quiet, restaurants at the water’s edge. A good compromise for anyone who wants to be halfway between the north and the Pitons.

The southwest: Soufrière and the Pitons

The most spectacular sector and the most expensive per metre of sand. Anse Chastanet and Sugar Beach are two dark volcanic-sand beaches at the foot of the two lava domes, with a reef you swim to from shore. The hotels are smaller and often built into the slope: check how many steps separate your room from the beach.

What is reachable from each sector

From the north, allow ninety minutes to reach Soufrière by road. Many travellers prefer the boat: day excursions follow the Caribbean coast, stop for snorkelling and arrive at the foot of the Pitons from the sea, by far the finest approach.

From Soufrière everything is within reach: the Sulphur Springs and their warm mud baths, Diamond Falls and its botanical garden, the climb of Gros Piton in three to four hours round trip with a mandatory guide.

On the east coast, between March and July, leatherback turtles nest on the Atlantic beaches; viewing is at night with a licensed guide.

Getting around

The mountain roads are narrow, twisting and sometimes steep. Renting a car makes sense if you want to explore, but many travellers prefer taxis at a fare agreed in advance or organised excursions. A temporary local driving permit is required.

Some southern resorts offer boat or helicopter transfers from the airport; that is arranged when booking and changes the arrival day entirely.

Accommodation

The all-inclusive offering is strong and segmented: couples resorts in the north, large family properties with water parks near the airport in the south, more intimate addresses around Soufrière. Several adults-only brands have made the island a honeymoon destination, which explains the density of suites with plunge pools.

Three things to check before booking: transfer time from the airport, the real nature of the beach in front of the hotel, and how much climbing you will do on site. Our criteria for choosing an all-inclusive hotel cover the rest.

When to go

The dry season runs December to May: clear skies, calm water on the Caribbean coast, air around 29 °C. From June to November, showers turn daily but brief and rates fall.

The jazz and arts festival is held in May, carnival in July. Sargassum affects the Atlantic coast to the east; the hotels are almost all on the Caribbean side, largely spared. Our guide on when to travel south from Montreal sets out the pricing calendar.

To plan this trip, see also our Sainte Lucie page and our month-by-month calendar.

Frequently Asked Questions

The west coast, between Castries and Soufriere, is sheltered and holds most of the hotels. The north, around Rodney Bay, offers more restaurants and life. The east coast, open to the Atlantic, is windy.
Yes. Gros Piton takes three to four hours up and down with a mandatory guide. Petit Piton is steeper and not advised for most visitors.
La Soufriere, near the town of the same name. You drive up to the fumaroles and mud pools, with developed hot springs nearby.
December to April. The rainy season runs June to November and overlaps with hurricane season.
Less than the Dominican Republic or Mexico. The island is mountainous, the beaches are short and several hotels are adults-only. It is first of all a destination for couples.
From Hewanorra in the south, count forty-five minutes to Soufrière and the Pitons, but ninety minutes to two hours to Rodney Bay and the north, on a winding mountain road. It is the first thing to check before choosing a hotel.
The north around Rodney Bay for the longest pale-sand beach and evening walking. Soufrière in the southwest for the Pitons and smaller hotels. Marigot in the mid-west for quiet halfway between them.
Gros Piton is climbed in three to four hours round trip with a mandatory guide. It is not a stroll, but no special technique is needed. Petit Piton is markedly harder and rarely permitted.
Mainly on the Atlantic coast to the east. The hotels are almost all on the Caribbean side to the west, which is largely spared.
English is the official language, but Kwéyòl, a French-based creole, is also spoken. The place names carry the trace: Vieux Fort, Anse La Raye, Choiseul, Gros Islet.