St Lucia Holidays

For most of the year, kites are an occasional sight in the blue skies over St Lucia. At Easter weekend, they’re everywhere. This popular Caribbean tradition sees the island’s beaches and open spaces burst into colour as families rush out to launch kites into the sea air. Many are handmade and crafted with care as joyful pilots compete over who can fly their intricately designed kites the highest, fastest, or longest. It’s a great day to walk along the beach or grab your own kite from a local store and join in the fun.

Running for two weeks from the end of April, the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival is one of the biggest musical occasions on the island and the Caribbean’s premier jazz festival. Running for over 30 years, this globally renowned celebration attracts artists and fans from all over the world to share and enjoy not just jazz but rock, gospel, soca, reggae, zouk, pop, and cultural beats of all kinds. Visitors are welcome, and festival passes can be bought to access a wide collection of events held at Mindoo Phillip Park, Rodney Bay, and Pigeon Island National Park.

Like most Caribbean islands, St Lucia isn’t short on lovely beaches. Tucked between Gros and Petit Piton, Sugar Beach leads for location and famously shimmering sands. Meanwhile, Grand Anse on the east coast is known for its dramatic cliff backdrop and the chance to spot nesting leatherback turtles at the right time of year. Or head to Pigeon Island Beach for a mix of historic intrigue, marvellous views and classic Caribbean sun lounging. 

If you’re into watersports, swimming and oceanfront restaurants, pick popular spot Reduit Beach. This pretty beach lies to the west of Rodney Bay – it’s worth staying until evening for spectacular sunsets. For something different, visit Anse Chastanet. This place bucks the trend with black lava shores, as well as some of St Lucia’s best coral reef snorkelling. And if you visit the island capital, Castries, take a break from the town’s cheerful bustle on blissfully peaceful La Toc. It’s one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets.

A holidays to St Lucia gives you the chance to explore your passions. Over 20 world-class dive sites, pristine coral reefs, shipwrecks and stunning marine life make this place a natural fit for scuba enthusiasts. Sailors of all types can stretch their sea legs on luxurious day cruises, or take advantage of trade winds for serious yachting. Back on dry land, why not climb up the famous Pitons? The walk is less strenuous than it sounds and well worth the effort for sensational views. And the rainforest offers all kinds of adventures. You can try everything from hiking, biking and horse riding, to treetop zip-lining and rope bridge strolls through the canopy.

Explore further afield on atmospheric Soufrière, one-time island capital and the Pitons’ nearest neighbour. Wander round Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens and take a swim in the natural mineral waters – or, for a real treat, head to one of St Lucia’s rainforest spas. And sweet-toothed visitors should definitely go on a tour of Rabot Estate – Hotel Chocolat’s famous cocoa plantation. 

St Lucia holidays are peaceful and romantic – but the island still knows how to kick off its shoes and have a good time. Head to Rodney Bay Village any Friday evening and join the Gros Islet Street Party. One of the longest-running and liveliest ‘jump ups’ in the Eastern Caribbean, it’s a mix of amazing street food, dancing, music and pure party spirit. The party starts early, finishes late, and welcomes everyone to join in.

Anse La Raye Fish Fry is another great Friday night tradition, where you can expect fabulous seafood and a laidback atmosphere. This is a hot gig for local DJs and musicians, but don’t make it an alternative to Gros Islet – just do both. You should also aim to catch the Seafood Fiesta at Dennery on Saturday night. And any night of the week is ideal for a stroll along Rodney Bay’s Strip – the liveliest spot on the island, where you’ll find bars, restaurants and live music.

Weather-wise, St Lucia is wonderfully easy to understand. It’s a tropical Eastern Caribbean island with two distinct seasons and consistent temperatures around 28°C year round. The sea is always warm and balmy, even when it’s raining. And everything’s open for business, whatever the season. 

The most popular time to visit St Lucia is between December and May. Naturally, everything’s more expensive during the dry season, but the days are hot and sunny with a lower chance of rain. Plus, lower humidity levels mean more comfortable conditions for rainforest exploring, piton climbing and watersports.

June to November is St Lucia’s official wet season and rainfall’s fairly high, especially between July and October. There’s also a good chance of dramatic tropical storms at this time of year. But don’t dismiss early summer entirely – May and June are often dry, warm and sunny, and both months are a great option if you’re looking for a budget-friendly holiday to St Lucia.

Visas: UK visitors to St Lucia don’t need a visa

Language: English

Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD)

Time difference: GMT -4 hours

Flight duration from London: A direct flight takes between eight and nine hours

Capital city: Castries