St Lucia Land and Sea Tour

"We left Rodney Bay before eight and the sea was flat enough that nobody on board went green, which I had worried about. The st lucia land and sea tour splits neatly in half — road up through Soufriere in the morning heat, then back by boat in the cooler part of the afternoon with the Pitons on our shoulder the whole way. Bring a dry bag; the spray on the return leg soaks the bench seats."

"I expected the boat portion to be the highlight and it was fine, but standing on the platform at Sulphur Springs watching the mud actually boil was the thing my kids still talk about. Smell is strong for about ten minutes and then you stop noticing it. Our guide grew up in Soufriere and knew every fisherman we passed by name."

"The waterfall stop at Toraille is short but the water was cold in the best way after a humid drive. Later we snorkelled off Anse Chastanet and saw parrotfish and a small ray over the reef drop-off. If you only do one St Lucia land and sea excursion, this combination covers the volcano, the jungle and the coast without feeling rushed."

"Twelve hours door to door and the minibus section on the west coast road has a lot of tight switchbacks — if you get carsick, sit forward and take something beforehand. The Piton views from the water were worth it, and the crew handed out cold towels which I did not expect. My only note is that the group of eighteen felt slightly large for the waterfall platform."

"Photographing the Pitons from the deck in the late afternoon light is the shot everyone wants, and the captain slowed down and turned the boat so both sides got it. My st lucia land and sea tour tickets included the volcano entry and the snorkel gear, which saved fumbling for cash at each stop. Water shoes are more useful than sandals for the waterfall rocks."

"What stayed with me was the ordinary stuff between the landmarks — banana plantations, a school letting out in Canaries, men mending nets on the beach at Anse La Raye. The mineral baths near the volcano left my swimsuit faintly orange, so wear something old. Sea was choppier on the way back in March than the morning had suggested."

"We had done a west coast drive on a previous trip and doing it as a Soufriere land and sea tour is a completely different experience because you see the coastline from both sides. The catamaran deck was hot by two in the afternoon so the shaded section filled up fast. Guide pointed out Gros Piton trailheads and explained why only one of the two is climbable."

"Comparing st lucia land and sea tour tours before we booked, this one had the volcano, a waterfall and reef snorkelling rather than just a boat cruise, which is why we chose it. The lunch stop was pleasant enough and the rum punch on the return leg was generous. Departure was twenty minutes late which pushed everything slightly, though we still made every stop."

"Standing at the drive-in volcano at ten in the morning with steam coming out of the ground a few metres away is a genuinely odd sensation. The st lucia land and sea tour tour then dropped us at a black sand beach where the reef starts about fifteen metres offshore, so even weak swimmers could see plenty. Take twice the sunscreen you think you need; the deck offers no escape from the sun."

"We went in November expecting rain and got one short shower on the drive, which actually cooled the rainforest section down. Seeing the Piton peaks, the sulphur vents and the coral in a single day made the west coast make sense geographically. Crew were relaxed and the boat was clean, and I would happily repeat the whole loop."