One Day in St Lucia: The Best Excursions & 1-Day Itinerary
Wondering how to spend one day in St Lucia? This guide is for you. With so many great excursions on the island, it’s hard to decide how to spend a day in port.
St Lucia is a beautiful, lush, and welcoming island in the Caribbean. It’s the perfect travel destination for a romantic getaway, a cruise port, or a family vacation.
Out of the seven island I visited on my recent Royal Caribbean Southern Caribbean cruise, St Lucia is the island I most want to revisit.
A perk to cruising is being able to see many destinations quickly to determine where to visit again for longer. While I’d be happy to revisit most Caribbean destinations, St Lucia caught my attention the most.
The island has many amazing great luxury resorts, delicious French-Creole food, perfect weather, tons of great things to do, and kind people.
Can you blame me for wanting to go back? If you are visiting St Lucia on a cruise or a standalone vacation, keep reading to learn what to do, what excursions to take, and other travel tips.
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One Day in St Lucia – The #1 Excursion
If you only have one day, the best excursion is the catamaran tour to the Pitons. This will allow you to see the island, the ocean, and the famous landmark all in one day. During my recent port day in St Lucia, this is exactly what I did.
We opted for an excursion booked directly through Royal Caribbean due to COVID-19 restrictions. This catamaran tour through an independent operator is similar, but even better.
What I like about this catamaran tour is that it hits all the top sights and highlights of the island in a super-efficient way.
This tour starts with an overland visit to a volcano with a mud bath activity, a beautiful waterfall, and a historic Estate.
Then, enjoy a delicious local lunch. Finally, hop aboard the catamaran for a coastal sail to the Pitons.
If you are visiting on a cruise, this is a great way to see a lot of the island with very little coordination on your part.
Check prices and availability of this St Lucia catamaran excursion
The Best Excursions in St Lucia
If you are taking a trip to St Lucia or are wondering what to do in St Lucia, during your vacation, keep reading!
There are many great excursions in St Lucia that range from relaxing at the beach to exploring the Caribbean Ocean.
With only one day on the island, I recommend selecting one full-day excursion to make the best use of your time.
St Lucia Snorkeling Adventure
I never tire of spending time in the warm and clear waters of the Caribbean Ocean. Likewise, I never tire of seeing colorful fish and marine life.
This snorkel tour is St Lucia is a great way to snorkel off the shore with the help of a local guide. The tour includes snorkel equipment, round trip transportation, and lunch.
Rainforest Zipline
One of my favorite things about St Lucia is the juxtaposition of the lush jungle and the sandy beaches. The best way to see the jungle is zip lining through it.
This is also a great activity for adrenaline junkies and adventurous travelers.
This tour is great for all ages and includes nine separate ziplines. Be sure to pack longer pants (at least to your knees) if you plan to zipline for your comfort in the harness.
Beach Day
You can’t go wrong with a beach day in St Lucia. Simply get a taxi from the cruise port to any of the below beaches.
Once there, rent a beach chair and umbrella, then enjoy the white sands and warm Caribbean waters.
1. Reduit Beach: Reduit Beach is a stunning white-sand beach located in Cap Estate in the northern part of St. Lucia.
Its crystal clear waters, lush vegetation, and calm atmosphere make it one of the most popular beaches in St. Lucia.
2. Anse Chastanet Beach: Located in the south of St. Lucia, Anse Chastanet Beach is a picturesque and secluded beach that offers an idyllic setting for relaxation and peaceful reflection.
With its tranquil turquoise waters and powdery white sand, it’s the perfect place for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling.
3. Pigeon Island Beach: Located on the northern tip of St. Lucia, Pigeon Island Beach is a great spot for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling.
It’s a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, and has stunning views of Rodney Bay and the Caribbean Sea.
4. Marigot Bay: Marigot Bay is a picturesque bay located on the western coast of St. Lucia. It’s a great spot for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling, and its calm waters make it one of the best beaches in St. Lucia.
5. Vigie Beach: Vigie Beach is located in the capital of Castries and is one of the most popular beaches in St. Lucia. With its crystal clear waters and white sand, it’s the perfect spot for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling.
Frequently Asked Questions about St Lucia
Before we get into the details of this St Lucia cruise port guide, here are some quick answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the island.
When is the best time to visit?
Saint Lucia is a fantastic vacation destination with amazing weather year-round with the exception of hurricane season from June through September.
How to get to St Lucia?
Major airline such as American and Delta have direct flights to St Lucia from many destinations in the Eastern United States.
There are even direct flights from some major cities in Europe. Overall, you shouldn’t have a problem finding a convenient flight to St Lucia.
What is the official currency of St Lucia?
The official currency of St Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, but the US dollar is widely accepted.
What is the official language?
The official language of St Lucia is English. Many locals also speak Patwa which is a St Lucian French Creole language.
Where to Stay in St Lucia
Compared to many ports on a Caribbean cruise, St Lucia is one of the best for a standalone vacation. This is due to the long list of things to do and the amazing resorts on the island.
Whether you seek a large all inclusive, a fun family resort, or an adults-only boutique hotel, there are great options.
To help narrow down where to stay in St Lucia, I recommend the following two Resorts:
Royalton St Lucia: An Autograph Collection All-Inclusive – The Royalton St Lucia is the definition of a luxury all-inclusive resort. All-inclusive resorts can have a reputation for being low-quality and overcrowded. Not here though!
The Royalton St Lucia is a beautiful beachfront resort with four pools, a night club, 9 onsite restaurants, and stunning rooms and grounds. This resort is a great place to stay in St Lucia for families or groups.
Sugar Beach: A Viceroy Resort – Sugar Beach is a bit smaller and perfect for a laid-back, adults-only, vacation. This charming resort has incredible views of the famous Pitons, luxurious villas, 2 beach bars, a stunning view, and outstanding 5-star service.
Summary of the Best St Lucia Excursions
By this point, you should have a good understanding of the best excursions in St Lucia.
If you visit for one day on a cruise or day trip, I cannot recommend the catamaran tour enough! Its such a fun and relaxing way to see the land and water of the island quickly and easily.
If you are staying longer, alternate your time between relaxing pool and beach days at your amazing resort with excursions such as snorkeling, ziplining, and the catamaran tour.
For more information on a Southern Caribbean cruise and other port guides, check out my ultimate guide here.
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