Travel and leisure
Destinations
Highlights of St Lucia
Are you suffering from the winter blues? What you need is a holiday in sun-drenched St Lucia. Nicola Iseard dons her sun-hat and goes in search of the island's highlights:
Beautiful beaches
Peppered with dozens of soft, sandy beaches shaded by coconut palms, the island is ideal for relaxation. St Lucian beaches are on the whole relatively short, but the windswept Anse de Sables, on the southern tip of the island, boasts 1.5 miles of powdery white sand - perfect for a long, lazy stroll at sunset.
For snorkelling, head to the clear, turquoise waters of Jalousie Beach between the stunning Gros and Petit Piton volcanic peaks. One of the island's most secluded beaches is the lovely Grande Anse Beach, on the north coast. Set against a dramatic backdrop of cliffs, it is a popular spot for turtle watching; come March, endangered leatherbacks trundle out of the water and onto the beach to lay their eggs. It's a magical sight.
Glorious gardens
Imagine a secluded, tropical garden, filled with brilliant flowers, exotic banana trees, warm mineral baths and a gentle waterfall? Sound too good to be true? Not if you visit the Diamond Botanical Garden on the western tip of the island. It is part of the Soufriere Estate and for a small fee you can slip into your swimsuit and take a dip in one of the pools - great for cooling down on a steamy hot day.
The Mamiku Gardens - the largest gardens in St Lucia - are also well worth a visit. Built around the hilltop ruins of the Baron Micoud Estate House, the gardens contain a vast range of tropical plants, orchids and herbs, as well as several secluded secret gardens.
Bustling markets
Saturday morning is market time on St Lucia. Grab your loose change and make your way to the 100-year-old Central Market in the bustling capital of Castries, on the northwest coast of the island. Perfect for stocking up on souvenirs, the thriving market is brimming with rows of craft stalls selling wooden carvings and pottery, as well as local foods and spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon. For more tasty treats, the market at Vieux Fort is worth a visit too. You can buy locally grown fruit and vegetables - fresh from the tree or ground that morning - as well as lots of locally caught fish.
Exciting excursions
Sometimes all you fancy doing is lazing by the pool with a good book. And sometimes you want to ride on horseback along the beach, wind in your hair, without another person in sight. On St Lucia both are possible. The island is great for those looking for a bit of excitement. As well as horse riding (a wonderful way to see the countryside), you can also learn to windsurf or go on a kayaking trip in the gentle waters along the southwest coast. For something a little different, hop onboard a beautiful 18th century pirate ship, as featured in the Pirates of The Caribbean films. It takes you on a cruise around the west coast, stopping to take in the sights along the way.
Historical sights
The island is filled with remnants of St Lucia's turbulent history. One of the most popular places to visit is La Toc Battery, a 2.5-acre hilltop gun emplacement that was put in place to protect the mouth of Castries harbour and thus offers fantastic views. It features mounted cannons and dim, underground bunkers and tunnels.
Another historic landmark worth visiting is Pigeon Island, a stunning 40-acre islet connected by a causeway to St Lucia's west coast. The island once served as barracks for the 18th century battles between the French and English for possession of the island, and you can explore the military ruins. Keep your eye out for artefacts of the Arawak Indians too, who inhabited the island long before the French and English.