In the midst of recovering from the COVID-19 Pandemic, travelers all over the world are searching for destinations that will fulfill their itch to escape from an ever-lasting quarantine, without the requirements of even more quarantining upon arrival. When it comes to incredible COVID-friendly destinations, St. Lucia is no exception. I’m actually still in awe of how many people have never heard of this fascinating caribbean paradise! Vaccinated or unvaccinated, travelers can have an absolute adventure of lifetime visiting St. Lucia right now. For those of you who came here for guidance; I’m here to help you plan your perfect St. Lucian adventure!
Disclaimer: This article was written on July 13th, 2021 and is highly subject to change in accordance to COVID-19 restrictions.
Preparing for your trip:
Before finalizing your trip plans, it’s imperative that you prepare to show proof of either of the following:
- A COVID Vaccination card
- A negative COVID PCR test taken no later than 72 hours before your departure (antigen tests are NOT accepted, so ensure it is PCR beforehand)
Vaccinated travelers will be given a special band by St. Lucia’s customs when they arrive at the airport, and allotted more freedom to roam around the island. Travelers who are not vaccinated will additionally need to bring proof of their stay at a COVID-certified accommodation. If you are unvaccinated and staying at an AirBnB accommodation, be sure to confirm the certification with your host before you reach customs to avoid being detained.
Picking the right accommodations in St. Lucia
As I mentioned before, travelers visiting St. Lucia are required to stay in Covid-Certified accommodations.To define Covid-Certified more in depth: accommodations in St. Lucia that require guests to stay on the premises unless they have approved transportation to/ from the destination of choice.
It may sound like a bummer, but if you pick the right accommodations, tours and drivers, this will not put a damper on your trip. It certainly didn’t on ours, and I’m going to tell you exactly how we managed to make this less than ideal situation an incredible time.
Choosing the right host:
Though all-inclusive resorts like Jade Mountain and Sandals look beautiful and certainly tempting, I would only recommend pricey places like these for those who are coming for their honeymoon, or very special romantic occasions that merit them the opportunity to splurge. If you’re looking for the most adventure, freedom to roam and to save a quick buck- take the route we did below:
Through some very extensive research, we were able to find a Covid-Certified stay with GORGEOUS views of the Pitons, surprisingly affordable rates and most importantly, hospitality that went above and beyond. Once we chose our stay with Islander Villas, we were quickly connected with our host, Janus, who provided set us up with tours, restaurant reservations and our awesome transportation specialist, Jermal!
Without the reliable communication and help we received from Janus and his team, our trip wouldn’t have been half the breeze it was. Luckily for you readers, Janus has an extensive amount of property rentals all over Saint Lucia, with rates, views and amenities tailored to any specific needs. Check out some of his properties here.
Choosing the right location:
Many people may get stuck trying to choose between staying near the mainland/ capital in Castries, or further out to the town of Soufriere. After researching the web and speaking to enough locals upon arrival, we were able to confirm that choosing the breathtaking natural beauty of Soufriere over the industrialization of Castries is a no-brainer if you want to enjoy St. Lucia to the greatest extent. Not only is it located near all the must-do tours and activities (listed below), but it will offer the most gorgeous views of the breathtaking Pitons to wake up to in the morning (especially great for those who enjoy a little more leisure!)
Top Things to Do in St. Lucia
While many of the most favored activities like bathing at Sugar Beach are currently off limits from COVID restrictions, there is still wide variety of fun and BREATHTAKING activities you simply can’t miss out on during your time in St. Lucia.
St. Lucia Tours:
With help from our hosts and drivers at Islander Villas, we were able to find the most affordable and convenient ways to explore the island with a new adventure each day.
Hike the Stairway to Heaven ($10 USD pp)
I recommend this easy-moderate hike for anyone trying to catch amazing views without the work of hiking the strenuous Pitons (which we heard from multiple sources was not worth it.)
Visit the world’s only drive in volcano and rejuvenate in the sulphur springs ($10 USD pp)
You won’t feel as wild and indigenous while practicing fun self care ever again.
Soak off in a waterfall
Luckily for visitors, this refreshing waterfall visit is on the way out of your trip to the sulphur springs.
Kayak, snorkel, and sunbathe on the Paradise Hotel beach
It may be the only open public beach on the Island right now, but I can promise you won’t feel jipped on views and fun activities to enjoy some more leisure-friendly fun.
Enjoy fresh cooked St. Lucian Cuisine at Sunset Beach ($400 USD + tip)
While this was the most expensive splurge of the trip, I recommend this tour above anything else we did in St. Lucia. We spent a day snorkeling around the entire island with the best, most entertaining Captains and chefs using Feel Good Tours. We ended our day at Sunset Beach where they prepared us the most delicious BBQ dinner that still makes my mouth water just writing about it.
Visit Marigot Bay by Boat
Marigot Bay is a gorgeous oasis that you cannot miss out on when you visit St. Lucia, it’s no wonder famous celebrities like Mc Jagger chose Marigot for their vacation homes. I recommend reaching out to our friends over at Feel Good Tours for this endeavor (or any that involve boats!)
-Dine at the following restaurants:
Boucan
Located inside the beautiful Hotel Chocolat, Boucan is famous for their dinner entrees that manage to mix in one sweet ingredient to lots of savory-chocolate! If you have a sweet tooth like mine, this is guaranteed to be your favorite meal.
Mango Tree
Great food, and the most EXCEPTIONAL dinner views. Don’t forget to go with the “island time” mentality while you’re here.
Dasheen
Dasheen also boasts some of the most incredible dinner views in St. Lucia, so long as you can get there before the sun goes down. I adored their live music, and their hospitality was just as impressive as their local cuisine.
Concluding Tips for your trip to St. Lucia:
- When booking airport transportation, ask your driver if you can stop off at a grocery store to load up your accommodation with all the food and beverages you could need to keep you satisfied for the duration of your trip. Unless you are staying at an all inclusive resort, this tip is MUST to follow, curfews in St. Lucia end around 9pm, and you will not be able to walk to the nearest store under the current conditions.
- Pack converters, and make sure they’re the correct ones. Buy a Type G converter for your trip to St. Lucia here.
- Bring an underwater phone case/ camera: The St. Lucian waters are stunning, vibrant and SO CLEAR. Make sure you have the right tools to document! Buy my favorite (and most affordable) underwater trinket here.
- Be aware that St. Lucia is the top honeymoon destination in the world, so if you’re coming solo- be weary of any triggering circumstances. (In other words, if you aren’t traveling with your S/O, I’d consider a different travel destination.)
- Understand the meaning of Island Time: Growing up in Key West, I thought I understood this well, but the people of St. Lucia certainly take it to a whole new level. If you’re a person that has a tendency to be impatient, or gets offended easily by a lack of punctuality, I recommend that you mentally prepare. If you consider yourself more on the lax “go with the flow” side, you will LOVE this place.
- Try the Weed Spice: Weed Spice is a local treat composed of healthy ingredients like ginger, and some more questionably fun ingredients, like 90 proof alcohol. If you’re having trouble getting with the “island time” mentality, a little weed spice is certainly the remedy.
