St Lucia travel guide

Soufriere is the oldest town on St. Lucia, as it was founded by the French in 1746. The location is one of the most picturesque, right on the shore at the foot of the island's two iconic peaks, known as pitons. The name Soufriere means "sulphur" in French and refers to the smell at the vulcano near by. The sleepy town has a wonderful collection of old shabby buildings, some colonials, and though it sees a fair share of tourists, it somehow managed to stay local and authentic.

Coming from Sugar Beach and going back to the main road you pass the Spring Waterfalls. It's a hot spring with a couple of concrete pools with different temperatures and a little waterfall with hot spring water. It can get pretty crowded in the pools, if you arrive at the same time as one of the cruise ship buses.

Probably the most pretty beach on St. Lucia is Sugar Beach, set right between the two pitons. The beach is right infront of the luxurious hotel Sugar Beach (Jalouise Plantation), but since all beaches on St. Lucia are public, anyone can enjoy it. The sand is sugar-white and apparently imported from Guyana. The water is equally perfect, crystal clear and calm.

Technically, it's a volcano crater but the only thing you see are some bubbling mud pools and white smoke – in addition to the sulphur smell. The volcano's last eruption was in 1700s and is considered to be dormant today. For an additional fee, it's possible to take a dip in the hot spring which are rich in minerals and believe to be good for your body. However, if you hit the crowds from the cruise ships, you will be in for a wait.

Though Vieux Fort is the second largest city on St. Lucia, it has no interest for most travellers, besides the pretty journey to get here. It's too big to be cute and too small for any significant landmarks or buildings. Even the city beach lacks of any appeal.