Soufrière, St. Lucia
There’s so much more to Saint Lucia than bougey honeymoon resorts! Soufrière, a town on the west coast of Saint Lucia, is a wonderful homebase for exploring the island and hiking the Pitons, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While I didn’t explore Soufrière as much as I would have liked (due to lack of time and a rental car), I enjoyed my stay there and plan to return. The Gros Piton hike is one of the best hikes I’ve ever done and I feel like it’s only fair to go back and give Petit Piton some love too.
Read my Soufrière travel guide for my advice on where to eat, what to do, and where to stay.
What to Do in Soufrière
Gros Piton Hike
Hiking Gros Piton was incredibly challenging but so rewarding and one of the best things I did in Saint Lucia. The trail takes about 4 hours but is almost entirely uphill for two hours, with steep and rocky sections that require some scrambling. The elevation gain is ~2,000ft! I hiked at my own pace with the required guide ($50 USD). The first half is a manageable incline, but the second gets intense, so many people stop at the halfway point where the best views are.
If you plan to go, start early to beat the heat, bring more water than you think you’ll need, and be ready for a workout. It’s not an easy hike, but it is shaded AND there are lots of cats along the way (if you’re into that) and homemade ice cream for purchase at the end.
Other things to do in Soufrière:
Sugar Beach - stunning beach, can put your towel on the beach because it’s public OR rent chairs but the chairs are PRICEY
Sulphur Springs - cover yourself in mud at the mud baths — the pictures of everyone here are weird and fun!
Snorkeling at Anse Chastanet Beach - you can snorkel right off the beach here, the coral reefs are apparently still kickin’ (RIP coral reefs everywhere else)
Chocolate tour at Hotel Chocolat (Hotel Rabot) - their tours include tastings and chocolate bar making (Fond Doux Estate also offers a cocoa tour that’s a bit cheaper)
Tet Paul Nature Trail - chill 1 hour hike with stunning views of the Piton & much easier than hiking Gros Piton or Petit Piton
Petit Piton hike - much more challenging than the Gros Piton hike, local guide required
Diamond Botanical Gardens & Mineral Bath - this is walking distance from Green Fig and has some lovely gardens with mineral baths available for an extra fee
Where to Stay in Soufrière
Green Fig Resort & Spa
Green Fig Resort & Spa is a laid-back hotel nestled into the hillside overlooking Soufrière and Petit Piton. It has a restaurant (Saltfish), bar, spa, and 3(!) pools, plus it’s walking distance to town and just a short drive from all the tourist attractions. The views are incredible, the on-site restaurant was really really good, the staff was super nice, and you could easily book taxis and excursions with them via Whatsapp. The hotels in the area are pretty expensive and Green Fig is one of the best hotels in Soufrière for a mid-range budget, priced at around $300-350/night.
The one potential downside - IT HAS STAIRS. LOTS OF THEM. But I was in Soufrière to hike Gros Piton so I made good use out of the trek to and from my room each day. If you have mobility issues, choose a room closer to the main lobby/ pool/ restaurant area and you’ll avoid most of the stairs.
Green Fig Resort review coming soon.
Other Soufrière hotels worth checking out, sorted by price:
$$ – Fond Doux Eco Resort (~$180/night) — historic cottages on a cocoa‑plantation
$$$$ – Hotel Rabot from Hotel Chocolat (~$410/night) — has open-air rooms and daily chocolate tours; a friend I met at BodyHoliday stayed here and LOVED IT
$$$$ – Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort (~$800–1,200/night) — good for a honeymoon, has an incredible beach that’s accessible by the public
$$$$$ – Jade Mountain Resort (~$1,500–1,800/night) — super bougie, good for a baller honeymoon, definitely one of the best hotels in Soufrière
Where to Eat in Soufrière
Treetop Restaurant & Bar
This Indian-Caribbean fusion restaurant offers some of the most incredible views of the Pitons that you’ll encounter on Saint Lucia. Treetop has a 3-course set menu that changes daily, with a bartender that puts together cocktails and mocktails based off your preferences. It is pricey at $70 + tax/service per person, but worth a splurge if you’re celebrating a special occasion or wanting to treat yourself. The food was really delicious and pretty familiar, with curries, honey tandoori chicken, seafood soup, and garlic naan (my fave). There was also a live singer that performed throughout the night to really enhance the vibe.
I highly recommend going at sunset to get the full experience, but book far in advance because this spot is POPULAR. If you’re lucky, you might even get to see a rainbow like I did!
Other restaurants worth checking out, sorted by price:
$$ - Seashell Beach Restaurant — laidback beachfront spot with fresh seafood, just a few minutes walk from Green Fig
$$ - Orlando’s Restaurant — local seafood favorite
$$$ - Dasheene at Ladera — upscale farm-to-table spot with a Pitons view
$$$ - Rabot Restaurant at Hotel Chocolat — bougey chocolate-themed restaurant where every dish has some form of chocolate in it!
Should You Rent a Car?
Driving in Saint Lucia is not for the faint of heart. They drive on the left hand side of the road and there are tons of switchbacks and sharp turns along mountain roads.
I normally rent a car in the Caribbean without issue, but I heard that the roads were NEXT LEVEL and only the most confident drivers should bother with a rental car. Given that I was solo traveling in Saint Lucia, I opted to skip the rental for my own safety and instead pay taxi fares to get around. The taxis definitely add up, and the cost kept me from doing as much sightseeing as I would have liked.
If you’re not worried about driving, rent a car.
If you’re not worried about money, stick with taxis.
If you’re budget-conscious and not super confident driving on left-hand side of the road in questionable road conditions, consider staying somewhere with a good on-site restaurant that’s close to major attractions (like I did at Green Fig).
Country Info
Tipping: 10-12% often included in restaurant bills, 10% appreciated if not; round up the bill for taxis
Water: Safe to drink in resorts and main towns, but drink bottled water if you’re concerned
Outlets: Type G (UK); 230V
Credit Cards: Widely accepted in hotels and restaurants but cash is useful for smaller shops, taxis, and local markets
Language: English (Saint Lucian Creole is also spoken locally)
E-Sim: I bought one from Airalo that covered 26 countries in the Caribbean. Shameless plug: use my referral code HANNAH8604 to get $3 USD off your first eSIM purchase.
