Beaches
It stands to reason that, if you are holidaying in the Caribbean, you will appreciate wonderful beaches and St Lucia doesn’t disappoint! All beaches are open to the public and, literally 5 minutes from the villa, you will come across the secluded, picture perfect “Smugglers Cove”, with a breathtaking beach and turquoise sea framed by steep, sandstone cliffs. 10 minutes away is the world renowned “Reduit Beach”, a never-ending expanse of white, sandy beach which caters for those wanting the thrills and spills of water sports or those that just want to lie back, soaking up the sun whilst sipping on a spicy rum punch from a nearby beach bar. On the Atlantic side is “Cas-en-bas”, a wild, undeveloped beach, ideal for anything from romantic walks or kite-surfing to the exhilaration of galloping at full pelt into the surf on a horse from the nearby International Pony Club (see links).

Sports
As mentioned above, there are numerous water-sport activities run off Reduit beach. Anything from windsurfing and sailing to para-sailing, wake boarding and skiing will keep you busy and, if that’s not enough, there is usually a friendly game of volleyball or beach cricket on the go for the more competitive personalities. There is an abundance of sea-life to be seen by just snorkelling off the beach. However, if you fancy a deeper adventure, then scuba diving is available, either at the local marina or at Marigot bay, which is 45 minutes drive south.

In keeping with the marine theme, deep sea fishing (Captain Mike’s 758-4521216) and sailing boat (DSL 758-4528531) charters are also run out of the marina, offering a variety of packages to suit all individual needs.

The local 18-hole championship St Lucia Golf and Country Club (758-4508523) is also 5 minutes from the villa and they welcome anyone holidaying on the island plus will happily hire you a set of golf clubs if you so wish along with golf carts and caddies etc.

The recent Cricket World Cup used St Lucia as one of its venues and the Beausejour Cricket Ground is a mere 10 minutes away. During the season, entrance to cricket matches is cheap and a lot of fun, offering an alternative to beach centred activities.

The International Riding Stable (758-4528139), near the cricket ground, provides well groomed horses catering for horse riders of all abilities. As mentioned above, riding along Cas-en-Bas beach is a unique thrill and, to top it all, you can remove the saddle at the end of a hard gallop, to ride out into the surf, bare-back style!

Pitons and Sulphur springs
St Lucia is a volcanic island that formed out of a vast igneous intrusion and where better to experience this than the south of the island near Soufriere, an hour south of the Villa. Just outside this historic town the two vast, world famous Pitons, soar skywards from an envelope of sub-tropical rainforest plus there are the bubbling, sulphurous springs nearby serving as a testament to the area’s volcanic heritage. In recognition of their service to France, three brothers Devaux were granted 2000 acres of St Lucian land by Louis XIV. The estate was turned into a convalescent retreat for injured French soldiers and the heated volcanic spring water was harnessed into a series of large outdoor baths which can be used by visitors to this very day. The surrounding bush was then transformed into a lush sub-tropical garden with many indigenous plants and trees punctuated by the spectacular Diamond Waterfall nearby.

Forest hikes and canopy rides
In the centre of the Island is a sprawling 19000 acre St Lucia National Rainforest harnessing a vast multitude of exotic birds and plant life. To help visitors to appreciate all this natural splendour, there are organised hikes available and there is an exhilarating “canopy ride” that leaves you breathless as you skim above the verdant canopy below! (758-4585151)

Turtle watching
At certain times of the year on the east coast, you can navigate down small roads to deserted beaches that act as the perfect breeding ground for giant turtles. It is advisable to get further information about where and when to go from the St Lucian tourist board and a ranger guide is advisable but it is a magical sight and one certainly worth travelling to see.

Bounty Rum Distillery
A few miles south of Castries lies the Bounty Rum Distillery (www.sludistillers.com) which not only gives an interesting insight into the local ‘fire water’ but also serves to highlight the local architectural and musical heritage that is so rich on St Lucia.

Pigeon Island
As one of the Jewels of the Caribbean, St Lucia has seen the French and English trade furious battles over the right to govern her, with Pigeon Island acting as a strategic vantage point from which aggressors such as Jambe de Bois (wooden leg) could control battles. Now this historic island is connected to the mainland by a causeway enabling visitors to sample her 2 secluded, sandy beaches at their leisure, plus there is a restaurant, various ruins and a museum to commemorate the epic battles that helped shape her history. The world famous St Lucia Jazz Festival (www.stluciajazz.org) is held early in May with Pigeon Island acting as the fulcrum for activities. Just picture it; a long lazy beach day rounded off by the sun slipping below the hill, rum punch in hand taking in the mellow sounds of jazz filtering out over the waters – perfection!

Rodney Bay
Named after the infamous British Admiral George Rodney, Rodney Bay is situated 10 minutes from the Villa and is thus ideal for a large variety of shops, charters and a myriad of restaurants and bars.

Castries
This vibrant, cosmopolitan Capital of St Lucia is located in the north of the island and is home to one of the busiest ports in the Caribbean. Pointe Seraphine is adjacent to the port and is a ‘Duty Free’ shopping complex catering for all visitors looking for designer goods at very competitive rates. To get a more local taste of Creole, head into the Castries market where you can buy anything from large, succulent oranges, mangoes and watermelon to locally made batiques that will act as a gentle reminder of your Caribbean adventure!

Marigot Bay
This pretty, natural harbour is a ‘Bay within a Bay’ approached from the south of Castries. Not only is it a protected anchorage for yachts and boats but it has recently been transformed into a pocket of luxury, with a vibrant nightlife, upmarket restaurants and a spa.