Ultimate St Lucia Road Trip Itinerary: A 10 Day Adventure

Our St Lucia Road Trip Itinerary for 10 days will take you on an adventure around this island. It gives you time to experience a wealth of activities and relax on pristine beaches. 

Our route includes well-known destinations of Marigot Bay, Soufriere and Castries. You won’t be driving every day as this is a road trip with a few days in each location!

We’ve incorporated a balance of activities over 10 days. Explore volcanoes, hike, soak in mud baths. Browse local markets, visit national parks and chill on stunning beaches.  

And if you’re yearning for some all-inclusive pampering, don’t worry as this itinerary incorporates this too! 

Our goal with this guide is to provide all you need to plan your St Lucia Road Trip Itinerary. From our experience, we share best activities, typical costs and recommend where to stay and eat.

Where is St Lucia?

St Lucia is part of the Lesser Antilles Islands in the Eastern Caribbean Sea. It’s south of Martinique and northwest of Barbados making it a popular island to combine with others. 

It’s also a regular stop for those on Caribbean cruises who want to see the famous UNESCO Pitons of Soufriere.  

What’s St Lucia Like & How Easy Is it to Get Around?

St Lucia is only 27 miles from north to south and around 14 miles at its widest point.  You’re probably thinking if it’s that small why don’t I just base myself in one place and venture out from there? 

Yes, this is a good question and certainly one, we asked ourselves.  

However, getting between places takes much longer than you think.  From north to the south, allow at least an hour and a half each way. 

When travelling along the west coast, roads in some places are mountainous. Tracks to some beaches are just that – tracks and not paved roads. That’s why we decided a St Lucia Road Trip would be the perfect choice. 

This itinerary is designed not to be rushed with plenty of time to get between places.   Having a car is so worthwhile giving flexibility to stop off when you want.  

You can drive to an area and enjoy it for a few days. Enjoy various activities without having to drive back and forward from one hotel. 

Most natural attractions like waterfalls, hot springs, nature reserves and volcanic peaks are in the west coast town of Soufriere. So it makes sense to stay here as part of your trip. 

Is it safe to Drive in St Lucia?

As you’ve decided to explore St Lucia, your first questions are: how am I going to get around and is it safe to drive in St Lucia? 

Should I hire a car or get a local driver? How easy is it to drive here?  What are the roads really like?  How long do I need a car for?  Can the car be delivered to my hotel?  

Top St Lucia Driving Tips at a Glance

• Drive on the Left
• Rent a 4×4 vehicle 
• Download offline maps
• Take your time

How to Split Up Your Time in St Lucia

Although we wanted to explore the island, we also needed time to relax. Our 10 Days St Lucia Road Trip allows for both. 

You can easily add more or less days to each place depending upon how much time you have.  Our itinerary was divided into 3 main destinations:

Marigot Bay (2 nights). We chose Marigot Bay as our first stop. It’s small and a relaxing location for a couple of days after travelling and before exploring further afield.   

Soufriere (3 nights). By contrast, there is a lot to see and do around Soufriere. We decided to plan for several days here to fit in the activities on our list for our second destination.  

Castries (5 nights). After adventures in Soufriere, we needed some time relaxing at an all-inclusive and we chose to head north to Castries for this. Being the capital, we knew there would be things going on if we wanted to explore the island further. 

Here is a breakdown of our Day To Day Itinerary, and points where we picked up and dropped off our car:

• Day 1:  Arrive into Hewanorra Airport.  Car Transfer to Marigot Bay
• Day 2:  Explore Marigot Bay 
• Day 3: Marigot Bay – to Soufriere  (Pick up Rental Car)
• Days 4-5 : Explore the Soufriere area 
• Day 6 :  Soufriere and then drive to Castries  (Return Rental Car) 
• Day 7-10:  Explore & relax in Castries. (Day 9 – Car Rental for 1 day)
• Day 11: Transfer back to Hewanorra Airport by taxi.  

Use our guide to find out what you can do in each place. Then plan your own trip to suit your interests.

Arrival Into St Lucia

On an international flight, you will arrive at Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) in the south of the island.   St Lucia’s second airport, George Charles Airport, in the North, only offers regional flights to/from other Caribbean islands.  

Most accommodation offer airport transfers.  We recommend you pre-book your transfer either with your hotel or independently.  We used a taxi transfer service as we didn’t need the car for our first night in Marigot.  

 

Another option is to pick up your car at the airport on arrival and drive yourself to Marigot Bay. The recommended route is along the east coast via Dennery – around an 80 minute drive.

It may look shorter on the map to go west but if you do it will take you closer to 2 hours  as you’ll be on slower mountainous roads.   

 

Check into your hotel and enjoy a relaxing evening and a cocktail – after all, you’ve just arrived in the Caribbean!

Marigot Bay

Marigot Bay is not a big resort area at all. In fact, it’s more of a small cove with a marina. There are a few luxury hotels and villas, a couple of restaurants, boutique shops and a small palm fringed beach. 

Because it’s surrounded by steep, lush hills, it’s almost hidden away. 

Featured in the 1967 film Doctor Doolittle, it’s  been described as “the most beautiful bay in the Caribbean”.  It’s certainly very picturesque and we loved our two days here.

You don’t need a car to explore the bay as everything is walkable. However to get to the beach side, you need to take the water taxi as it is only accessible by boat. 

Things to Do

• Pay $2 for a return ticket across from the marina to the beach side. Just turn up as the boats run from early morning to late at night. 

• Spend a couple of hours on the beach – there are beach shacks for drinks and snacks.  Locals set up their craft stalls.  
• Try paddle boarding or kayaking in the bay
• Walk along the boardwalk and view the boats in the marina

• Have a drink or snack at one of the bayside cafes or restaurants
• Enjoy dinner or a cocktail at the famous Doolittle’s Bar (beachside) 
• Go Rum Tasting  (4 km from Marigot Bay) in Roseau Valley

• Hike the Marigot Ridge Trail – also known as the Billy Goat Nature Trail.

This is a challenging 3 hour climb of about 1000 feet up a steep ridge.  Gives you a panoramic view of the bay and even Martinque on a clear day.  Ask your hotel to organise as you will need to go with a guide. 

Where to Stay

📍 Marigot Luxury Palms Apartment  –  We loved our time here! It was a great start to a Caribbean holiday with luxury B&B accommodation at reasonable prices. Gym and swimming pool. Car parking available.  

We stayed in the Sandringham Suite with a fantastic balcony and stunning views over the bay.  Hosts Ann and Danny are brilliant, offering help with booking restaurants, transfers and travel tips.  

📍Zoetry Marigot Bay – All Inclusive – If you’re looking for all-inclusive, consider this hotel. Luxury accommodation that includes everything from a spa and fitness centre, wellness classes to six onsite restaurants.  More expensive with rates from $600 a night! 

 📍Mango Beach – Self Catering – Romantic over the water cabins are gorgeous. There’s a minimum 3 night stay but if you have the time to stay the extra night, this is a lovely option.  It’s also a good place to hike the Marigot Ridge Trail (see below under Things to do).

Where to Eat

📍The Villa – Delicious fresh cooking with a good range of vegetarian dishes and pasta. Outdoor verandah dining with superb views over the bay. 

Ideal if you are staying at Luxury Palms as it is two minute walk away.  If you’re further away, they’ll come and pick you up!  

📍Chateau Mygo – Great location down on the harbour/bay area.  Unbeatable for sundowners, watching the sunset and happy hour.  We had drinks and snacks here: the fish tacos were excellent!  

📍Hurricane Hole – Another dining option on the bay. Casual local menu offering both dine-in and takeaway.  Good option for breakfast served from 7.30am if you are self-catering. 

We recommend spending 1 -2 days exploring the Marigot Bay area. Next stop Soufriere.

Driving from Marigot Bay to Soufriere

Soufriere, has grown into a popular destination for those who want to explore ‘the real St Lucia’.   With lush landscapes and volcanic beauty, it was once the capital of the island. In fact, its name is linked to the geothermal activity in the area means ‘sulphur’. 

What to expect

The drive from Marigot Bay to Soufriere is only 32 km but will take around 1 hour even if you don’t stop en route anywhere. 

The road is windy and steep in places but the views are fantastic. Traffic heading south is much lighter so take your time. Good news: Roads are paved. 

If you’re like us, you’ll want to stop to take photos or perhaps wander around one of the villages. So, plan for 2 and a half hours to get to Soufriere if making a couple of stops. 

Suggested Stops

The fishing village of Anse La Raye is  about 20 minutes from Marigot Bay.  Its tiny narrow streets are delightful. Colourful houses perfectly portray real St Lucia. There are no major hotels here so it’s not somewhere you would stay but we loved its character.  

Don’t be surprised to see locals getting on with their daily life of cooking on the corner of the streets and setting out tiny food stalls.  Head down to the beach area as there’s more parking options here.

Spot fishermen taking in their catch or mending nets. Children will be playing on the beach.  We enjoyed the market and craft stalls on the main road  picking up some souvenirs. 

If you fancy trying some local traditionally made cassava bread, stop at Plas Kassav.  This small bakery 10 km south of Anse La Raye is literally by the roadside.

Buy bread for a couple of dollars and also see it being made in huge ovens.  All gluten free and crisp on the outside but doughy in the middle.  Try different flavours – we liked the cinnamon one best. 

Only a few km further on, another stop we made was at family run Adeline’s Art Cafe. The staff here are lovely and coffee excellent. You will find plenty of outdoor seating and lovely views.  An added bonus is the range of local artwork for sale from baskets to paintings.  

From here, the last part of your journey to Soufriere is 12 km and will take around 30 minutes.   Enjoy the scenery on this final part of your drive. 

Many of the main hotels are not in Soufriere itself but outside of the town. 

Soufriere

What to expect

When coming from Marigot Bay, you’ll drive down a steep hill into Soufriere.  Aside from the Twin Pitons which tower from the sea, you’ll notice all the colourful houses.  It’s a stunning landscape.  

However, as a town, Soufriere is fairly undeveloped so some parts may look rundown.  There’s no cute souvenir shops or many waterfront beachside cafes but locals are friendly and there are some good restaurants. 

The beach here which is called Hummingbird Beach is lovely.

Another plus is that it’s not overly busy with tourists – mainly locals just getting on with their daily life. You can walk through the main town in about 20-30 minutes. 

If you drive here, parking is free. There are a couple of water taxi services on the waterfront but there’s little pricing on show.

Negotiate with a boat operator the fare to take you snorkelling, around the bay to another beach or even on a sunset cruise!  

We recommend at least three full days exploring the Soufriere region.

Things to Do

Although most of the activities we list below are not actually in Soufriere, they are all very close to the town.  Take a look at the locations on this Soufriere Google Map.

Having a car allows you the flexibility to drive between places rather than rely on taxis and tours. You’re also then just paying entrance fees which generally are very low.  

• Explore Soufriere Town – the church, walk along the beachfront, soak up local, daily life.
• Hike Tet Paul Nature Trail – 1 hour with incredible views of the Pitons. 

➡️ Tet Paul and the Sulphur Springs Tour Option.

• Visit Sulphur Springs Park  – choose to do one or both of the Hot Springs Mud Baths  and Drive in Volcano experiences.
• Swim in Waterfalls – Toraille Waterfall or Piton Falls.
• Relax in the three pools at the New Jerusalem Mineral Baths.
• Discover nature at the Botanical Gardens where you can also see Diamond Falls and swim in mineral baths.  

• Go snorkelling or diving in Anse Chastanet. Scuba St.Lucia offer dive trips and equipment hire. 
• Take a water taxi tour.  Although, sadly we didn’t have time to do this, Darrel Water Taxi Services has great reviews and is highly recommended.  
• Visit the beaches – Anse Chastanet, Hummingbird Beach (Soufriere), Sugar Beach.

None of the activities are full day unless you want them to be. We suggest combining them choosing a couple to do each day. Here’s a few great choices:

1. We combined waterfall swims with a visit to the Botanical Gardens. 
2. Tet Paul Hike links well with the Sulphur Springs Mud Bath.
3.  Explore Soufriere town and then head off on a boat trip.
4. Take the water taxi to one of the beaches for the afternoon and try snorkelling. 
5. Hike Gros Piton and then relax in mineral baths.  

➡️ Check Guided Gros Piton Hike Tour Availability

Last but not least, if you fancy something sweet on your St Lucia Road trip here’s a perfect treat to enjoy for a couple of hours.

➡️ Book A Fun Chocolate Making Class Here.

Where to Eat

📍Seashells Beach Restaurant  – a gorgeous beachside restaurant in Soufriere with fabulous views of the Pitons.  Casual dining with local dishes and reasonable prices.  We ate here twice as they had onsite parking and we loved the views.  Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  

📍Martha’s – only open for lunch (12-3pm) and a little out of the way from Soufriere, but if you can get here, do.  It ties in well after visiting The Piton Falls.

It’s not a big restaurant but food here specialises in traditional St Lucia fare.  The fish cakes we had were absolutely fantastic. Authentic and cooked by Martha herself who along with her daughter made us feel so welcome.  They have a small car park on site or park opposite on road.   

📍Felicity’s Rooftop Restaurant  – For great views over Soufriere and excellent food, try Felicity’s in the centre of town.  Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, menus cater for all with vegetarian, vegan, dairy and gluten. Park directly outside the restaurant.

Where to Stay

There’s a wide range of accommodation to choose from around Soufriere to suit all budgets. 

However, if you are going to spend most of your days out exploring, time at your hotel will be limited. You might not use many of the facilities on offer, so consider this in your choice. 

📍$ – Samfi Gardens – Situated a five minute drive (2.8 km) from Soufriere. The views from Samfi Gardens to the Pitons and overlooking Soufriere are incredible.

This small 3 star hotel offers large bungalow style self catering accommodation.  Breakfasts can be ordered in advance.  Small pool, a great budget base and friendly staff.  We loved it! 

📍$$  – Green Fig Resort and Spa. Booking.com link Closer to Soufriere and a 5 minute walk to the beach.  Set on a hill with views to the town.

The spa menu offers a range of treatments, 3 pools, 1 restaurant and 1 bar with evening entertainment. Excursions through their tour desk can be arranged by the hotel so if you don’t have a car, this may suit your needs more. 

📍$$$-  –Stonefield Villa Resort   An adults only luxury boutique resort 2.2 km south of Soufriere.  17 luxury colonial style villas with private pools and views of the Pitons and Caribbean Sea. Fitness and wellness centre.

A shuttle service runs to local beaches. The highly acclaimed ‘The Mango Tree’ restaurant is on site.   If you’re not so keen on exploring and your budget permits the room rate, this might be a good option for you.  Booking.com Link

Driving from Soufriere to Castries

After breakfast, unless you still have activities to do in Soufriere, drive the 40 km north to Castries. 

The best route from Soufriere  is back along the west coast so if you haven’t made all the stops previously mentioned , there’s another chance to do so.   

There’s a town on your way called Canaries.  As you drive down the hill towards it,  pull over to the viewpoint for fantastic photos and views of the town. 

Also not far from here, and heading in the right direction for Castries, is another beach called Anse Cochon.  It’s particularly popular for snorkelling.  At this point you’re halfway to Castries.  

If you drive straight to Castries without any stops,  it will take around 90 minutes.  There are more cars on the road north of Marigot Bay and when you arrive in Castries it will be busier.  But the bonus is that the roads here are less twisty 🙂  

Check into your hotel and relax at your resort for the rest of your day.  For us this was the start of our all-inclusive time. 

Castries

Once you’ve checked into your next hotel, whether that is an all inclusive, a villa or guesthouse, you may just want to relax for the rest of your vacation. 

However, there are lots of things to do around Castries so if you want a break from the lounger, it’s worth exploring.

What to Expect

Although Castries is the capital town of St Lucia, it’s not particularly touristy. 

Many tourists opt to stay further north in the lively area of  Rodney Bay (12km away) which has larger resorts and a wider range of nightlife, shopping and dining options than Castries.  If you want malls, souvenir shops and a marina, this may be more suited to you.   

We would say however, we were happy being close to Castries which may be ‘a bit rough around the edges’ in comparison but it is authentic. It has a busy working port and it’s where the cruise ships dock.   We found it a great base to visit the capital and still explore the north of the island.  

We hired a car for one day heading up to Pigeon Island and some of the beaches in the North.  Otherwise, to do the things below, book a driver for the day or take a taxi. Check with your hotel if they offer a free shuttle service to Castries.

Things to do in and around Castries

• Take a walking tour around Castries to learn about the history and culture of St Lucia.

➡️ Check Casties Walking Tour Prices and Availability

Visit Castries Central Market – a colourful markets selling fruit, vegetables, spices, crafts and souvenirs.  We found this a perfect place to pick up handmade baskets, wood carvings, bags, clothing.  Open daily from 7:30am – 8pm  and on Sundays from 8am- 1pm.

• Try some local street food in Castries. 
• Walk around Derek Walcott Square in the centre of town surrounded by colonial style buildings.  (Walcott won a Nobel Prize for literature) There may be jazz on the square.
• Visit the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception next to the square. The murals inside are a mix of Caribbean and Catholic styles. 
• Take to the water on a full day St Lucia Boat Tour starting at Castries Port. Charter your own speedboat and customise your own itinerary

➡️ Check Boar Hire and Tour tour prices and availability

• Go to Vigie Beach – quiet with golden soft sand, calm waters. Superb sunset spot and popular with locals.   Shuttle bus service from Bel Jou or 2 km from Castries.   

• For great views of the port and over Castries, visit Vigie Lighthouse. 

Where to Stay

From self-catering apartments to luxury villas and all inclusive hotels, there’s a huge range of accommodation in Castries and in North St Lucia.  

Close to Castries

📍 Bel Jou, Castries. Adults only all-inclusive 4 star hotel.  We stayed here! Super friendly staff, wide range of food options, great cocktails. Entertainment program, onsite spa, spacious rooms with ocean views. 

While this is not beachfront, there is a shuttle service to Castries (1km away) and Vigie Beach most days.  Room rates are very reasonable in comparison with luxury high end all-inclusive alternatives.  

📍  Villa Beach Cottages. Self catering luxury villas on Choc Beach and next to a Sandals all-inclusive resort. Highly rated, it’s a short drive to Castries or to Rodney Bay for dining. 4 km from Castries.

📍  Stolen Time St Lucia. If you have a healthy budget and are looking for 5 star beachfront all inclusive, try Stolen Time.  The resort, 2 km from Castries, has a complete wellness centre, yoga, meditation, tennis, water sports all on the beautiful Vigie Beach.

Where to Eat

At an all-inclusive, meals of course will be covered. However, you want to eat out, the following restaurants are popular and have top reviews on tripadvisor. 

📍 The Pink Plantation House – Situated on a hillside with wonderful views of Castries, this is a former plantation house. Expect authentic creole/french cooking. Reservations required.  TripAdvisor Link

📍 The Coal Pot Restaurant – A Waterfront restaurant on the Vigie Marina.  Family run business with fresh seafood the speciality.  Open Monday to Saturday for both lunch and dinner.   TripAdvisor Link 

Things to Do North of Castries

Rodney Bay

Visit Reduit Beach in Rodney Bay around 10km from Castries. You’ll be at one of the most popular beaches in St Lucia with water sports, beach loungers. Stay for the sunset! It can be crowded at weekends so come mid week if possible.

Head to Rodney Bay Village for shopping including duty free, dining and entertainment.  Over 50 stores and restaurants and a casino.  It’s fun to combine these two destinations.

Gros Islet

Gros Islet is a tiny, quiet fishing village 14 km from Castries. Well, except on a Friday night when the weekly ‘Friday Night Street Party’ takes place.

With reggae and calypso music, local St Lucian food, rum punch and dancing, it’s definitely party night. Locals and tourists turn out from 8pm and if you have the energy, the party goes on till 4am!  

Pigeon Island

A highlight of our St Lucia trip was a day at Pigeon Island Beach. (16 km from Castries) Perhaps because it’s a bit further north, it’s quieter here.  Situated next to Sandals Grande Resort, it’s really tucked away.

Hire a lounger and umbrella for $10 for the day. Water sports, snack bars, toilets available and if you have the car, park right up next to the beach.   A taxi from Castries to here will be around $30 per person round trip.  

• Whilst at Pigeon Beach, explore Pigeon Island National Park which is an important National Trust site in St Lucia. The park has ruins of military buildings used during battles between the French and British over St Lucia. 
• Climb to the lookout point of ‘Fort Rodney’ for superb views of the coastline.  
• There’s also two amazing small beaches here.  If Pigeon Beach is busy, take your beach bag and head out here. It’s a wonderful spot to relax.  
• Open daily from 09:30am-5pm. Entrance Fees $10 for adults and $3 for children. 

FAQ’s

Here’s our answers to some frequently asked questions about planning a trip to St Lucia.

What is the weather like in St Lucia?

St Lucia has a tropical climate all year round. You will enjoy a cooler drier season from Jan to mid-April and a more humid and rainy season from mid-June to November. Areas closer to the mountains and rainforests will be rainier. 

Hurricanes can occur over St Lucia and if they do happen, they are most likely from August to October.  

What is the currency in St Lucia?

The Eastern Caribbean Dollar EC$ or XCD is the official currency of St Lucia. It has a fixed exchange rate to the USD of 1$ = 2.70 XCD.  Notes come in $5 to $100.  

US  Dollars are widely accepted and many menus and tours show the US dollar price and the EC$ costs.   If you pay in US$, you are likely to get change in EC$.   For small local shops, markets and taxis, it’s a good idea to have some Caribbean dollars to hand.  

ATMs dispense EC$.  Credit Cards are accepted at most mid-range stores, Massey supermarkets and hotels.  

Is St Lucia expensive to visit?

Known for its luxury resorts, St Lucia can be expensive if you choose to go in high season. Booking top end all-inclusive resorts, taxis costs to get around, tours with an operator and top restaurants adds up fast!  

If you come in the ‘shoulder season’ eg. May or June, the cost of accommodation will be lower. Hiring your own car will save a lot of money on taxis. By having your own wheels, you’ll only pay entrance fees so you don’t really need a tour operator. 

Mixing up your accommodation types can also save dollars.  Eating in local cafes can be much more cost effective and a lot of fun. 

We visited St Lucia in February/March, which was peak season. Yet, including airport transfers, car hire, fuel, mid-range accommodation (with 5 nights all-inclusive), meals out at other times and activities listed, the cost averaged out at around $210 a day. 

We felt we had excellent value for money and certainly didn’t ever feel like we weren’t doing what we wanted.  

St Lucia Wrap Up

St Lucia really is a gem of an island offering plenty of opportunities for both adventure and relaxation.  It’s a perfect destination to enjoy stunning natural beauty, dramatic landscapes and friendly people.  

From the magnificent Pitons to Pigeon Island’s history, we hope we’ve inspired you to plan an unforgettable Caribbean trip.