ISLELANDER TRAVEL-WWW.ISLELANDER.COM 2009

St. Lucia Itineraries & Day Plans for St Lucia Itineraries & Day Plans for St Lucia Most tour operators on the island are based in Castries, but they serve tourists island-wide. One Soufriere-based company offering tours and transportation to all attractions is your very own Islelander Travel. Phone 758-486-1561 or 758-457-1543. Day By Day We believe that one week is the absolute minimum stay in St. Lucia. It's a beautiful island—don't rush through it. We recommend picking one hotel and making it your base for the week. Day 1—Arrive in St. Lucia. Day 2—Relax and enjoy a nearby beach. Day 3—Spend the day at Pigeon Point. Tour the ruins, museum and historic Fort Rodney, and then spend the afternoon on the beach. Day 4—See the sights in the Soufriere area. Day 5—Spend the day on the beach. Or spend half the day shopping and exploring the town, if you are staying near Castries. Day 6—Take the cruise aboard the Brig Unicorn. Day 7—Depart St. Lucia. If you're in St. Lucia on a Friday night and you like loud music and dancing, join the late-night street party at Gros Islet or arrange for a ride to Anse la Raye for the Friday Night Fish Fry. Day Plans To help you get the most out of your time in St. Lucia, we've designed five different itineraries. Day Plans PLAN A (Castries) A Gorgeous Bay and a Bubbling Volcano Find others to join you and hire a cab for the day. First, drive down to Marigot Bay, one of the most scenic coves you'll ever find. Swim or just relax on the beach. Check what the beach vendors are offering—usually jewelry, items woven from palm fronds (including lifelike grasshoppers and birds, which make unusual Christmas-tree ornaments), straw hats and other crafts. For refreshments, stop at one of the small bars that dot the coast. Afterward, drive south to Soufriere, stopping along the way to enjoy the gorgeous views of the Pitons. Then make your way to the volcano at Sulphur Springs Park (the sunset colors of the bubbling landscape are caused by mineral deposits).

ISLELANDER TRAVEL-WWW.ISLELANDER.COM 2009

PLAN B (Castries) First Shop, Then See Rodney Bay Begin with the boutiques around the cruise-ship terminal, then proceed to Castries for island crafts and clothing and a stroll around town. Look inside the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception—its decorations are an interesting mixture of African and Christian traditions. Then take a taxi up to Morne Fortune for the view. Have lunch in the garden restaurant at Auberge Seraphine near Pointe Seraphine or pick up some authentic roti, dal or bouillon from a vendor in the Central Market (in town). Then take a taxi north to Rodney Bay and Pigeon Point. If you want to swim or sunbathe, take a towel and a swimsuit and enjoy the beautiful white-sand beach at Pigeon Point. Or get a taxi driver to take you just north of Castries to the Union Nature Trail for an easy, 45-minute hike. Arrange to have the driver return when you're done. PLAN C (Castries or Soufriere) The Best Spot for Snorkeling Some of the best of St. Lucia is at the Anse Chastanet Resort. The most exhilarating way to get there is via boat from either Castries or Soufriere. (You can also go by road, but it's a bumpy 90-minute ride from Castries and a shorter, though still bumpy, drive from Soufriere.) The resort offers superb scuba diving and snorkeling just off the beach, plus lunch and shopping. Great views, too. You could take in the underwater scenery first or take an easy walk or a short boat ride to Anse Mamin (pronounced ma-MEEN) for a tour of a 17th-century sugar plantation. There's an optional tricky climb to some ruins, but the nature walk is easy. You'll learn plenty about the local vegetation and about the harrowing conditions slaves endured cultivating the sugarcane fields that once covered the area. Be sure to sample some raw cocoa. You can also hire a motorboat at Anse Chastanet to take you for a close-up view of the massive Pitons. Or have lunch at the resort and spend the rest of your time in the shops. PLAN D (Soufriere) The Volcano, the Falls and the Baths Explore Soufriere on foot, then hire a taxi to take you to La Soufriere volcano and Sulphur Springs Park. Next, visit Diamond Falls and Botanical Gardens (you can soak in a restorative mineral bath, if you wish). Finish the morning with a drive to Anse Chastanet for lunch at the resort and some time on the beach, with a fine view of the Pitons. When you feel like moving again, stroll the grounds of the nearby Soufriere Estate, taking in the exhibit of vintage farm equipment, and then head back to Soufriere. PLAN E (Soufriere) The Rain Forest

ISLELANDER TRAVEL-WWW.ISLELANDER.COM 2009

Contact the Forest and Lands Department in advance to arrange to hike a portion of the 7-mi/11-km Edmund Forest Reserve Rain Forest Trail. You'll need a guide and basic equipment—sturdy shoes, rain gear, water and food. (Or ask at the tourist office on Bay Street—the staff might be able to find a place for you on a tour that's already scheduled, perhaps through one of the resorts.) The view will be spectacular. Your guide will point out lesser-known plants, many of which have been used for centuries as folk medicines. Be aware that this can be a very strenuous trek.

Make you next vacation a memorable one. Vacationers book with Islelander. www.islelander.com