Top Attractions on the Island.
St Lucia Tours, Hikes and Sightseeing.
St Lucia is an island of tucked-away treasures, and the Jalousie Plantation is the perfect location from which to explore everything this stunning Caribbean gem has to offer.
Some suggested St Lucia attractions and Soufriere tours include:
- Sulphur Springs and Volcano in Soufriere. One of the most popular attractions in St Lucia, this is the world's only drive-in volcano, replete with bubbling mud pools and plenty of sulphurous steam. You can also bathe here and slather yourself with mineral rich sulphur mud...excellent for the skin and reputed to help conditions such as rheumatism and arthritis. It’s malodorous, but it's interesting and only minutes away from the resort, which organizes regular hikes to the volcano.
- Rainforest hike to En Bas Saut Falls, Fond St Jacques. This is a gorgeous hike in the Gimie Gimie estate and the heart of the Edmond Forest Reserve. You will be able to see Mount Gimie, St Lucia's highest peak, and swim in a stunning waterfall. This area is also home to the St Lucian parrot, the Jacquot, and you may just be lucky enough to see one. About half an hour’s drive away from Jalousie, the drive takes you over roads built by French soldiers when they fought over the island with the British. Hikes are organized through the Forestry Department. Check with the activities coordinator or Concierge.
- A climb up the Gros Piton in Soufriere. If you do nothing else while you are at the Jalousie Plantation, you should tackle the Gros Piton. This is more like a rigorous session on a stair-master than a "climb". The views from the top are amazing and you must get a photo of yourself having a Piton Beer (the local lager) on top of the Piton. Nothing is more satisfying than sitting back in your sun lounge poolside and being able to say, “I climbed that.”
- Pigeon Island National Landmark, in the north of the Island near the tourist hub of Rodney Bay. It used to be a proper island but is now connected to the mainland by a causeway built in the 1970s. Pigeon Island is currently home to the St Lucia Jazz Festival but historically was a British military fort. It is full of military ruins and canons and you can climb to the top of Signal Hill and Fort Rodney to see where the British used to spy on the French island of Martinique. The island also has two lovely little beaches and a couple of cafes (Jambe du Bois serves very simple but tasty food).
- Zip line canopy adventure, Errard Estate, Dennery on the island’s east coast. This is just pure fun and fantastic for families with pre-teen and teenaged children. You are put in a harness then attached to cables that run through the tree tops. You feel as though you are literally flying through the trees. There are suspension bridges and a challenge course for the more adventurous. There is also a beautiful waterfall with a large natural pool beneath for a post-zipline splash. The zipline tour can be organized through the Concierge.
- Anse La Raye Fish Friday. This is a great evening activity in a small fishing village just a 45-minute drive from The Jalousie Plantation. The main beachfront road is closed and the fishermen bring their catch right up on to the beach and it’s slapped straight onto the BBQ grill. The fish in foil is excellent and be sure to sop up all of the wonderful juices with a fresh bake (griddled bread). There’s octopus stew, conch, tuna fillets and lobster (when in season). The fun starts around 7pm and attracts a nice mix of tourists and locals. Be sure to check out the Country and Western karaoke bar too, just around the corner from the main strip.
- Market color. Enjoy one of the Jalousie Plantation’s organized hikes to the bustling Soufriere market where local women in their brightly colored head scarves shout their greetings back and forth in Creole, children play with their home made toys, and the fishermen mend their nets at the water’s edge. Seasonal fruits, freshly caught fish, a myriad of fragrant herbs and spices, and locally made carvings and crafts are on display, many of which make excellent souvenirs and unique gifts.
