CASTRIES, ST.  LUCIA

This tour must be one of the best in the Caribbean for offering spectacular scenery: lush green mountains, banana valleys, rainforests and fishing villages. And we will do a circuit around the island without spending a whole day on a bus!

This tour must be one of the best in the Caribbean for offering spectacular scenery: lush green mountains, banana valleys, rainforests and fishing villages. And we will do a circuit around the island without spending a whole day on a bus!The first half of the day sees us travel by bus through the bustling city of Castries. We pass the colourful marketplace and the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, with its magnificent paintings completed by famous local artist, Dunstan St Omer. A panoramic view of the island can then be seen from Morne Fortune.Travelling past lush banana plantations, we drive through the quaint fishing villages of Anse La Raye and Canaries, where we may observe local fishermen repairing their nets. Both villages nestle in valleys, and will provide wonderful photo opportunities.Continuing our journey along a winding road on the edge of a rainforest, where there is an abundance of tropical flowers and trees, we then reach the town of Soufriere. Here, the dramatic Pitons, rising more than 760 metres (2,500 feet), tower over the entire area. We will enjoy a short guided visit of the Sulphur Springs, the world’s only ‘drive-in volcano’, so called as you can drive right into the crater to see pools of bubbling lava! After the Sulphur Springs, we next visit the Diamond Botanical Garden and Waterfall, where an array of exotic and brightly-coloured specimens of flowers and fruit trees mingle to form a perfect setting for garden-lovers and picture-takers!A buffet lunch follows, served in a unique atmosphere at the Beacon Hill Restaurant.Refreshed, the second half of our day begins. We transfer to a catamaran for a relaxing ride back to Castries – cameras at the ready as we cruise out of the bay and bid farewell to colourful Soufriere and its majestic Pitons! Cruising along the scenic coastline to the tranquil cove of Anse Cochon, we stop for swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean. Complimentary drinks will be available back onboard (with the exception of beer, which can be purchased at US$2 a bottle). A detour is made to famous Marigot Bay – a sensational natural cove where a fleet of international yachts are moored – before we arrive back in Castries.This tour involves a walk of approximately 5 minutes at the Sulphur Springs (where there are around 26 steps up to a viewpoint), and 20 minutes of walking at the Botanical Gardens. Passengers may remain in the bus at the Sulphur Springs and still enjoy the view, and the paths at the Botanical Gardens are concreted (with the exception of the path to view the waterfall, although this is flat and easy to walk). The catamaran is initially boarded from a pier, however, to go swimming there are steps to negotiate; there are also 2 or 3 steps to descend to reach the limited shaded seating area, however this area is very small. It is not advisable to drink alcohol before swimming. Come already wearing your swimming costume under casual clothes, and don’t forget your towel and sun protection. Winding, hillside roads will be traversed on this tour. This tour may run in reverse order. Swimming locations may change due to unstable weather and sea conditions. Snorkel equipment is available onboard for a small charge (payable locally).

DESCRIPTIONS CORRECT FOR 2007 CARIBBEAN SEASON