Rest in Paradise
Forget 'Death in Paradise'. This was REST in Paradise.
After having our honeymoon cancelled in 2020 due to Covid, Tom and I were understandably desperate to finally enjoy our Caribbean dream in sunny St Lucia in March. Enjoy is an understatement. One can't quite describe the feelings of rapture when your Dreamliner begins to descend over the luscious island, and then, after being driven from the airport to your hotel, exiting the taxi and checking in whilst being greeted with a rum punch (otherwise known as 'Jungle Juice' by the residents of St Lucia!) by the staff at St James' Club. And that feeling of elation, of utter bliss and contentment as you sweep your room key card and enter your hotel room for the first time, drinking in the surroundings, opening the balcony doors and gazing across the beach over the Caribbean Sea into the horizon beyond. The soporific and soothing sound of the waves lapping at the shore as we gaze at each other, silently speaking the words with our eyes and contented sigh: 'We made it. After two years, we're finally here.'
St Lucia is the perfect honeymoon destination for sure - sitting side-by-side holding hands in the evenings on the beach as we observed the sun bidding us 'goodnight' as he sank beneath the sea, a relaxing couple's massage at the spa on the resort, plenty of chilling-out by the pools and on the beach sipping on cocktails, enjoying a variety of water sports at the resort as well as some truly unforgettable trips around the island.
I will share some of our highlights from our time in St Lucia, as there are some must-sees if you are planning a visit to this stunning island.
Joy's Cruise
This was well-worth every penny. This pleasure cruise, run by a lovely guy and resident of the island called Joy, is a half-day trip of adventure, fun, scenic views and experiences, and of course Jungle Juice! The Catamaran departed from the cove around from the resort at St James' Club where we stayed, where we toured various exquisite and famous sights, such as the large rock where Captain Jack Sparrow saluted the hanging skeleton in 'Pirates of the Caribbean', and Marigot Bay, where the yachts are moored during hurricane season, and where some scenes from the original 'Doctor Doolittle', starring Rex Harrison, were filmed. We moored at Soufriere, where, as a group, we then proceeded to load up into two people carriers, and were driven to the mud baths, famously heated by the volcano. What an experience! After stopping here and lathering ourselves up in mud and drawing some mud-art on each other (which, I might add, was a lot of fun!) and then washing it all off in the rather hot springs, we trundled back into the people carriers and stopped by a glorious, cascading waterfall (an absolutely fantastic photo opportunity), where Tom and I had the chance to stand beneath the powerful waters and share a kiss as the thunderous waters drenched us from above.
After this, we were served a delicious lunch at Joy's house by his family, before heading back to the boat and steered to another beach by the famous Pitons, St Lucia's two volcanic spires and a World Heritage Sight, where we got the opportunity to snorkel in the clear waters and observe the extraordinary marine life. This was the first time I had experienced snorkelling, and beholding the tropical colours and exotic fish in their natural habitat rather than behind glass in an aquarium, was a real highlight for me. This was the last stop of the tour, where we spent about an hour of our time, before loading back onto the boat and heading back to the resort, and yes, there might have been some Jungle Juice and a good sing-song as a bunch on the journey back! The crew who guided us throughout the trip from start to finish were faultless, ensuring we were well looked after, and most definitely entertaining us with their witty sense of humour. By far, this was my most favourite expedition of the whole trip.
2. Rainforest Jeep Safari
What an experience this was! There are a couple of ways to enjoy St Lucia's rainforests. One option is to soar above the dense and luscious jungle on a gondola (or, for the really adventurous, on a zip-wire) and enjoy a bird's-eye view, or, as we opted, you can enjoy a jeep ride to the rainforest, and then explore on foot. It was a magical experience trekking through the stunning rainforest, bamboo stick in hand as we navigated the rugged terrain. The guided tour led us to another waterfall, not quite as majestic as the one we visited on the other trip, but still awe-inspiring all the same. We paused to drink in our surroundings at the waterfall. It was so tranquil, peaceful, and yet full of grandeur and splendour. Seeing a rainforest in person and being surrounded by the beauty and wonder of the native plant life and stunning trees was truly breathtaking and well worth a visit.
On the jeep ride back there is the opportunity to stop off and enjoy a local stall full of all the island delights that St Lucia has to offer, and there is plenty to sample to whet your palette!
3. Dolphin and Whale Watching
Whilst we didn't see any resident whales on this boat trip, there were dolphins galore once we were further out to sea and had turned around for the trip back. This was a real highlight for me, as it has been my dream to see dolphins in their natural habitat for years, and I had never seen one of these beautiful mammals in-person before. Watching these graceful creatures dive through the waves and delight us with their playful antics as they occasionally twisted and jumped in the air was a real treat, and a moment I will never forget. We also had the privilege of seeing a rather marvellous sight which we hadn't bargained for, and that was flying fish! I could have watched them for hours!
The boat trip, however, is not for the fainthearted or for those who suffer with sea-sickness or even motion-sickness. The waters of the Atlantic Ocean are very choppy and quite rough at times (and one poor passenger spent most of the trip with her head over the side of the boat!), and both Tom and I felt we were still swaying later that day, even when our feet were on firm, dry ground.
St Lucia has plenty to offer, and if you're contemplating whether to go to this stunning island yourself, don't hesitate. Just book it. You won't regret it. Jane MacDonald said in her travel guide programme that St Lucia is a healing place, and I know exactly what she means. Tom and I would both go back again in a heartbeat.
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