Saint Lucia: So Much More Than Just A?Beach Destination

It?s so lovely looking forward to that beach holiday we all long for, white sand and all day cocktails. But, who actually takes the time to go and explore the destinations we all pay a fortune to go and visit??

So many countries have hidden stories that we are just not going to find lying on the beach. Taking the time to go and seek out the mystery of your chosen paradise can be more rewarding than you think!?

I recently travelled over to Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. An island known for it?s volcanic ?Pitons? and black sand beaches (and the odd white sand beach), also has a vibrant culture that you just can’t miss out on.?

May has been host to the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival?which has been running for a mighty 25 years. Held on Pigeon Island, Gros Islet in the north of Saint Lucia, this event showcases some of the most interesting parts of Saint Lucian culture and included everything from Jazz, Latin Music, Reggae and R?n?B, to Creole and Caribbean rum and food.

This years line up included huge names such as Shaggy, Omarion and Mark Anthony. Old favourites like Kool And The Gang, George Benson and Creole band Kasavv, stole the show and had crowds singing and dancing like crazy! Even the local hotels took part by putting on art shows and traditional music for their guests.

Next year?s festival runs from May 5th ? 14th 2017 with tickets priced between ?35-?55. It?s definitely an event to put in your diary!

The two ends of Saint Lucia are very different and there is quite a variety of resorts choices available. Whilst visiting I stayed in a gem of a hotel hidden away in Marigot Bay, a natural cove on the northern west coast of the Island about 40 minutes drive from Casties City.

Set in the beautiful marina at Marigot Bay you really get to see the variety of nationalities that this island attracts. This hotel is luxury at it?s finest and everything from the food to the above and beyond service, made staying here a pure delight. The rooms are beautiful and if you don’t get the gorgeous marina views than not to worry as you can cry about it in your very own private jacuzzi!

The setting is very colonial and takes inspiration from the fact that Saint Lucia has been fought over fourteen times by the British and French over it?s history. A lot of the town names and food is heavily influenced by the French and the people of Saint Lucia are all bilingual, speaking both English and Creole (a dialect of French).

Rooms start at just ?475. More info can be found over at Capella Marigot Bay.

Whilst in the north, you can take a trip down to Castries Market where you will find all sorts of home grown fruit and veg along with homemade spice rum and trinkets a plenty.

Don?t forget to stop of and get some rum cake or creole bread on your journeys, it will definitely be worth it!

There is literally so much to do in Saint Lucia and the island is very green due to the volcanic nature. The northern part of Saint lucia is also home to a huge natural rainforest which is very accessible and you can even zip line through it, which is just what I did! It took 8 very high zip lines to swing my way back down through the rainforest! I got to see some amazing plant life along the way with Kennedy, our very vocal guide from Rainforest Adventures giving us an endless bunch of facts and figures.?

The southern side of the island is very beautiful and has it?s own secret treasures. You will find many fishing villages and of course the twin Pitons, Gros Piton and Petit Piton down this side.

Head over to the Rabot Estate cocoa plantation which is home to the world famous Hotel Chocolat. You can even stay on the plantation in one of Hotel Chocolat?s 14 rooms at Boucan.

Enjoy making your own bar of chocolate from scratch or dine at their gorgeous restaurant where everything,?yes EVERYTHING on the menu, contains cocoa in someway.

Soufriere, again along the south west coast of Saint Lucia, is considered to house the world?s only??Drive through volcano? and it is without a doubt, a sight to be seen! The famous Sulphur Springs lie within this very volcano and some of them are so hot you can actually see them boiling on the surface.

You can pay a small admission price of around ?6, to bath in the cooler but still extremely warm black waters and then cover yourself in the natural mud before washing away and finding yourself at least 5 years younger! ;-)

Don?t worry too much about eruptions, as although this volcano is considered??dormant? it is still due an eruption. The last one was in the later 18th Century but park guides informed me that they will see signs up to 2 years in advance of when an eruption is coming….good to know!?

You will find many idilic resorts in Saint Lucia and this is one that?should be at the top of your list.?Ladera Resort, located in?Soufri?re is in a?league of it?s own. The rooms here are open on one side with?picturesque views over the?Caribbean?sea and the infamous Pitons. Take a swim in your private pool and look down?to see one of Saint Lucia?s only white sand beaches which is just a short drive by complimentary shuttle.

Food here is?absolutely delicious and live music is played at dinner every night! You can choose to dine in room or head to the restaurant and enjoy a dance with one of the local bar staff. One of the great features at this resort is that they only employ locals, so the whole atmosphere really is uplifting,

Let?s not forget the spa! Take a dip in a huge copper bath tub to unwind or you can even have the spa come to your room for a super soothing full body massage!

Rates start at around ?396 per night and rooms can be booked at Ladera all year round.

More info on travelling to Saint Lucia and popular attractions can be found via The Saint Lucia Tourist Board.

Return flights with British Airways start from ?564 per person?

Have you been to Saint Lucia? Where did you stay and what did you think?

Let me know and follow me on Twitter. More Travel stories can be found over on my personal blog.

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