DESTINATIONS CARIBBEAN | SAINT LUCIA
WHAT’S NEW IN SAINT LUCIA
Cabot Saint Lucia
ABOVE: Catamaran tour; Toraille Waterfall; Gros Piton PICTURES: Saint Lucia Tourism Authority; Jacob Sjoman; Alice Barnes-Brown
UNDERWATER WORLD On the way, our guides make sure we see plenty of locations used to film Hollywood blockbusters. The yacht marina at Marigot Bay has two: it was the setting for 1967’s Doctor Dolittle; and is home to a natural stone arch that featured in Pirates of the Caribbean, today used by local daredevils as a cliff-jumping point.
Pulling up to the Pitons, the
Knotty Girl pauses at the Anse des Pitons Marine Reserve. Beneath the waterline, the twin peaks came into their own: the green-blue sea fell steeply away as the rock rooted into the earth, creating a deep trench and dive site nicknamed ‘Superman’s Flight’. Even if clients aren’t Padi- certified, they can still see what lies beneath by snorkelling off nearby Sugar Beach. I spot surgeonfish, iridescent blue fish and even moray eels through my goggles. If I’d wanted some dive training, my base at Sandals Regency La Toc
40 26 SEPTEMBER 2024
would have been the place to learn, with Padi lessons available in a specially designed pool. Qualified divers can enjoy up to two free dives a day, while water-based activities such as Hobie Cat sailing, paddleboarding, kayaking and windsurfing are also included.
EAU NATURELLE Many speedboat tours along the island’s west coast give guests the opportunity to disembark at Soufrière, where they can visit
Standing under the 15m-high Toraille Waterfall, the water pelts hard on my skin but it feels nothing short of baptismal
the nearby Sulphur Springs to cover themselves in mineral-rich mud, before washing it off in pungent geothermal water. They could also discover the 15m-high Toraille Waterfall, one of few falls on the island where visitors can swim, and although the water pelts hard on my skin, it feels nothing short of baptismal.
LAND AHOY
Even while exploring on land, it’s clear that Saint Lucia’s history revolves around the water. Germaine, a guide from local operator LucianStyle Experiences, leads us on a Segway tour to Mount Pimard, a rugged headland near hotel hotspot Rodney Bay that privateers and later the Royal Navy once used as a stronghold. Abandoned bunkers and dark, dank jail cells dot the gravel path as we steer towards the summit. Germaine tells tales of torturous punishments (think snakes thrown
E Cabot Saint Lucia’s Point Hardy golf course opened in August, and 12 luxury suites are due to be added next year. E Adult-only Secrets St Lucia Resort & Spa is set to open in February 2025 with 355 rooms and suites, plus nine restaurants. E Hyatt-operated Cas en Bas Beach Resort will open on the northern tip of the island in April. E A Courtyard by Marriott hotel is under construction at Pointe Seraphine in Castries cruise port, with plans to take guests from December 2025. E Sandals Regency La Toc is adding 20 Rondoval Butler suites and extra restaurants. E By November, four-star Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa will have renovated a quarter of its rooms and suites as part of an ongoing upgrade. E Sugar Beach,A Viceroy Resort will introduce a luxury nine-bedroom villa, the Spice of Life, early next year. E The beachfront and butler- service Sapphire Sands Villas will open at Bay Gardens Resort next year. E Boutique resort East Winds is embarking on a three-year, $1.5 million refurbishment, with upgrades to its Superior and Deluxe rooms underway. EWindjammer Landing has revamped its restaurants and added a beachfront dining spot.
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
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travelweekly.co.uk
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