Kayla Mahon

We landed at the Hewanorra International Airport and rented a Suzuki Jimny 4x4. I had researched driving in Saint Lucia and knew that they drove on the other side of the road but didn’t even clue in that the steering wheel was on the opposite side of the vehicle from what I am used to in Canada! I was a bit nervous driving as this was my first time driving this way but after about an hour I was pretty comfortable and felt like I had been driving this way forever. As we winded up through the mountains and through the lush, vibrant rainforest we stopped a few times to take in the beautiful landscapes and breath in the fresh air. After about an hour and a half drive we arrived at our Airbnb above Castries in Mourne Fortune. This was my first time ever using Airbnb and I was so glad I did. We stayed at Samantha’s place, Morne Seaview Apartment #2. What an amazing view this place had! I walked through the apartment and stepped out onto the spacious balcony and starred out over the sea. We realized by the time arrived that we hadn't eaten and needed some food but it was Easter Sunday and most restaurants and grocery stores were closed. The man who took care of Samantha's place, Judah, kindly offered to take us downtown to devour some Domino’s pizza and beer at a local bar. We were very thankful to Judah as it was dark and in Saint Lucia there are not many streets sights so we were unsure of where we were going. We headed back up the mountain to our apartment where we had a great time with Judah and his friend talking about life on the island and life back in Canada. This is one of my favourite elements of travelling. Meeting people and sharing experiences and talking all night about how different but also similar our lives are. Eventually we went to bed so we could get an early start on exploring the island in the morning.  

Exploring the Island over the next few days was so amazing. We made the journey over to Soufriere to see the city itself, the Pitons and the volcano. The Pitons are a natural beauty and are quite a sight. Soufriere was a nice place to relax before heading over to the volcano. It was a wild feeling standing over an active volcano, watching it bubble and feeling (and smelling!) the sulphur steam pouring out.   

We also spent time in Rodney Bay which is where a lot of hotels are. Rodney bay had a lot of shopping and restaurants and we ate here a few times. You can also go down and enjoy the beach and harbor.  

One of my favorite memories from Saint Lucia is walking along the beach while the sun set with a bunch of stray puppies. They were all healthy looking and friendly and enjoyed some food with us as we relaxed on the beach.  

We also visited Pigeon Island which is a National Park where a lot of festivals are held. It is also home to the ruins of Admiral Rodney’s naval base and legendary pirate caves. You can climb to the top of the hill and see a beautiful view of the surround hotels, beaches and nature. The entrance fee is $7US per person to explore this gem. Pigeon island is right next door to the beautiful resort Sandals Grande St Lucian which is one of 3 Sandals properties on the island.  

Saint Lucia is a magical place to explore and is full of romantic luxury getaways. I would recommend this island to couples looking to get away for a romantic retreat or wedding spot as it is known as a wedding destination but it is still great for friends or family to travel to as well!  

Seek adventure and explore - Kayla