Month: January 2020

Top Things to Do in St. Lucia

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St. Lucia’s stunning natural beauty, pristine beaches, challenging hikes, and varied underwater life make it the perfect destination for any traveler. I recently visited St. Lucia and stayed in one of the beautiful water’s edge cottages at Calabash Cove Resort & Spa.

Go on a Boat Tour

Rodney Bay Marina is just a short 15 minute car ride from Calabash Cove. From the marina, you can hire a boat for a private tour around the island. You can customize your tour to include snorkeling, cliff jumping, hiking, swimming, and taking a mud bath.img_3063

Take a Mud Bath in the Sulfur Springs

Known as the world’s only drive in volcano, the sulfur springs are the perfect place to spend a few hours soaking, covering yourself with mud, and soaking again. Your skin will thank you after. The mud is said to help with mosquito bites, sunburn, and eczema. My mosquito bites probably felt a little bit less itchy (or maybe that was just mental), but my skin was definitely a lot softer after!img_3085

Relax in the Warm Waters of Piton Waterfall

This secluded, warm waterfall is just a 4-5 minute hike from the parking lot. The waterfall is located in the middle of the rainforest, surrounded by vibrant greens everywhere you look. The water is warm but not hot, and it is a great place to spend a few hours relaxing and listening to the birds.

Spend the Day at Calabash Cove Resort & Spa

I think Calabash Cove deserves a day all to itself. Just look at how pretty the resort is! You can relax on the beach, at your cottage, or by the pool while sipping on delicious cocktails or beers from the bar. I also must mention that Calabash Cove has a vegetarian menu with vegan options labeled. As a vegan, I really appreciated this!dsc_4168

Climb the Pitons

I hiked Gros Piton on my first visit to St. Lucia, which was a few years ago. At the time, I remember paying a few dollars for the entrance fee and a guide. I wanted to hike it again on this trip, but after hearing that it now costs 90 USD, I decided it wasn’t worth it. If you do decide to hike the Pitons, here’s what you need to know. There are two Pitons – Gros Piton (easier hike) and Petit Piton (more of a scramble/climb). Most people hike Gros Piton and it is highly advisable to hire a guide for Petit Piton, as I understand it is easy to get lost on the mountain. If you ask around once you arrive to St. Lucia, there’s a good chance you’ll talk to someone who knows someone who guides Petit Piton hikes.

 

Top Five Things to to in Grenada

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I knew virtually nothing about Grenada before I visited – aside from its convenient location between my first scheduled destination (Trinidad) and next scheduled destination (St. Lucia). A few hours on Google Flights and Skyscanner led me to the realization that Grenada would be a convenient place to stop for a few days between Trinidad and St. Lucia. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. Grenada is a volcanic island that boasts lush rainforests, dramatic mountains, serene beaches, and a vibrant underwater world. Here are my top five recommendations of things to do in Grenada:

Seven Sisters Waterfall Hike

These stunning blue-green waterfalls are the perfect place to cool off in the hot, sticky rainforest. The trail is on private property and there is a $2 US entrance fee per person.

A short 2.2 mile round-trip hike will lead you to the first two waterfalls. The hike to the first two waterfalls is easy, with a tiny stream crossing and some stairs down on the way in and up on the way out. We didn’t go any farther because I’m still recovering from ankle surgery, but I’ve heard the trail gets more difficult. Car-to-car this hike took us two and a half hours, including a long stop to swim and take photos.

Warning – the waterfalls are a mosquito haven. I walked away with over 50 bites. Be smarter than me, and bring some  “>natural mosquito repellent.

Snorkel or Scuba Dive at the Underwater Sculpture Park

The underwater sculpture park was created in 2006 British sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. The sculptures encourage coral growth by reducing the pH of the cement and applying a textured surface. Snorkel sites can look similar after the first 30 or so you’ve seen, but this is definitely unique and worth a visit no matter how many places you’ve snorkeled!

Relax at Grand Anse Beach

With its crystal blue water and white sands.”, Grand Anse beach is the prettiest beach I saw in Grenada. A couple of the dive shops are on the beach, so it’s a convenient place to hang out before or after going snorkeling or diving.

Buy Spices at the Spice Market

Grenada is known for its spices, specifically nutmeg, so be sure to pick some up before you leave!

Spend a Day Relaxing at a Resort

Grenada has some beautiful resorts to relax at. If it’s in your budget, stay at one for at least a night and relax by the pool, do yoga, or go to the spa.

Photo taken at Laluna.