Things To Do
Nearby Beaches
View of Anse Galet from atop Les Chaudieres
Anse Galet
This is the beach just below the house, your secluded beach. For those with a little extra "spunk" there is a trail and stairs (132?! depending on who is counting) leading down from the pool terrace to the beach. Down is easy, coming back up earns you a rum and a dip in the pool!
Alternatively, you can walk the long way around by the road or drive your car around. Many say that this peninsula has some of the best snorkeling and diving on the island. Look for the bouy to see where the reef starts.
Another remnant from its British rule is the Queen's Chain which provides that a ring around the island from the high water line to 100 feet inland is common, public land. So all beaches on the island are considered public. No hotel or individual owns any of the beaches nor can prevent peope from being on any beach. So, Anse Galet is private in the sense that there is only one other villa in the Anse Galet valley and no hotels, and so the beach is often deserted and you have it all to yourselves.
Anse Cochon, is only a few minutes drive south and is the home of the small, exclusive Ti Kaye Resort, offering a beautiful white sand beach and excellent snorkeling. Ti Kaye has excellent dining options a beach bar on Anse Cochon with drink service on the beach and a formal dining restaurant up the hill. It is a wonderful private resort if you want to extend your stay a day or two. They do charge a fee for the use of their lounge chairs, or bring the beach chairs from Les Chaudieres.
May we suggest?
You can arrange for a traditional "Anse la Raye fishing boat" charter which will pilot you down the coast to enjoy private sandy beaches, snorkeling, beautiful views of the Pitons from the water, the bat cave, a stop at the Anse Chastanet hotel for drinks, a meal or to enjoy their beaches for awhile. Or, instead of having a meal at one of these hotels, pack a cooler with food and drinks and enjoy a picnic at the deserted beach of Anse Couchon or wherever you choose. Whatever your itinerary, the boat will wait until you are ready to move on to the next spot. Be sure to pack a few Heinekens for the boat "crew". This can be arranged by Christy.
Day Trips and Sightseeing
Hilary, Les Chaudieres' caretaker, can be your guide for certain day trips (those marked with *) and others can easily be done on your own daily adventures.
- Ziplining (three options on the island)
- Climb the breathtaking Pitons in Soufriere
- Open air markets in Castries
- Waterfall hikes in Canaries and Soufriere.*
- Guided rainforest hike.*
- Mountain Bike rentals and trails at Anse Chastanet.
- The Sulphur Pits and Mud Baths south of Soufriere - a "walk-in" volcano!
- The Diamond Botanical gardens and historic French baths in Soufriere.
- Historic distillery behind Anse La Raye*
- Friday night "Fish Fri" in Anse La Raye.*
- Heritage Tourism 451-6058, 451-6220, 451-6967
- Tours with the St. Lucia National Trust, 453-7656
- Sailing charters out of Marigot Bay
- Leatherback turtles, call Jan Sparks 452-8100
- Maria Islands Nature Reserve and Fregate Island
- Golf
Hike The Pitons
Located on the outskirts of Soufriere, which itself is in the crater of a long extinct volcano, the Pitons are the iconic landmark of Saint Lucia, and present a unique hiking challenge. Take a guided tour to the top of either Gros Piton or Petit Piton. Gros Piton is the larger of the two and slightly eaiser to climb. The Petit Piton requires more vertical climbing occasionally using ropes. Tour guides are required and come with the price of admission - $50 per person. The Pitons offer an unobstructed view of the landscape, Soufriere, the ocean, and the rainforest surrounding the town. Plan to get there as early in the morning as possible to avoid the worst of the hot sun. Enjoy a "Piton", the local beer, at the top!
Snorkeling and Diving
Although some snorkeling equipment might be found at the house, if you are interested in snorkeling or diving we suggest you bring down your own equipment. Proper fitting of the masks and fins is important, and these rubber items tend to degrade in the tropical heat and humidity. Therefore we cannot guarantee the availability or condition of any equipment at the house.
If you are planning to SCUBA, we have found the best method is to bring your own mask, fins, regulator and gauges, then rent the tanks and vests on the island. Resorts such as at Oasis Marigot or Anse Chastanet have good rentals and dive programs. As with any location, if you are planning a SCUBA dive or equipment rental, bring a valid NAUI/PADI card.
Dining Out
Although the best spot to dine is at Les Chaudieres with Christy, Martina, and Bertillia's cooking, if you feel you need to venture out for a change of scene and to tour the island, there are many great restaurants on the island. We tend to enjoy lunch out on our day trips, and dinner at home - avoiding driving at night in the dark and after libations.
On a trip to Soufriere we would recommend lunching at Dasheene with a gorgeous view of the Pitons and a delicious menu. Also Anse Chastenet has a nice beach-side restaurant as well as a "burger" shack on their beach to the north of their main complex. The Humingbird is also excellent.
In Marigot Bay, there are several nice lunch (or dinner) spots, as well as a cafe with scooped ice cream and a small grocery store for esentials. You can oogle the large yachts and sailboats which grace the harbor. We often enjoy taking the small ferry across the bay to enjoy lunch on the water at Doolittle's.
In Castries, we recommend Harry's, which is on the water tucked away out by the airport, but delicious cuisine, fresh seafood, and where the locals go - not as many tourists.
Shopping
- The open air market in Castries - best for fresh produce and some handmade crafts.
- Point Seraphine in Castries has many duty free shops.
Book Your Stay
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