Currently based in the UK, around January time we are always itching to get away to somewhere sunny and exotic to try and help us through the winter. We had never been to the Caribbean before, so when we found flights for £370 per person this seemed like the perfect option.
When you think of the Caribbean, you often think of a cruise or perhaps an all-inclusive package. Most of the time, this doesn’t really fit our style of travel, nor our budget. The Caribbean can be a costly trip, however we did our best to explore Saint Lucia ourselves while keeping an eye on our spending. Here’s our St Lucia itinerary on a budget showing you all the top spots on this beautiful, unique island.
Jump to:
- Rodney Bay (Day One)
- Saint Lucia Boat Trip (Day Two)
- Castries Trip (Day Three)
- Transfer to Soufriere (Day Four)
- Pitons & Sugar Beach (Day Five)
- Soufriere (Day Six)
- Soufriere Beach Day (Day Seven)
- Final Thoughts
Rodney Bay (Day One)
After landing late the night before, our first day was one of our laziest. However, taking it slow and soaking up the vibes is a big part of being in Saint Lucia. There’s no stressing and rushing around allowed in the Caribbean! We used Airbnb to find an apartment near Rodney Bay which cost £55 per night. It had a small kitchen to make dinner in the evenings and was slightly away from the large resorts. We started our day walking down to Rodney Bay and finding a spot to relax on the beach for the morning. We just led on our towels, but you could rent a sunbed for around £20 per person.
Around mid-day we walked into the centre of Rodney Bay and found a restaurant for lunch. It was around £15 per person for a meal and drink which was okay for us considering it was convenient and very tasty local food. The rest of the day was spent around Rodney Bay.
Saint Lucia Boat Trip (Day Two)
The second day on our St Lucia itinerary was far more action packed. The day before we had booked a full day boat tour of Saint Lucia. This did cost £90 per person, however we got to see so much of the island, ticking off lots of attractions on our list! Lunch, drinks and entry tickets were all included so it was the best option. The boat trip included:
- Pirates of the Caribbean Caves
- Marigot Bay
- Piton View Point
- Snorkeling
- Sulphur Springs – Volcano and Mud Baths
- Toraille Waterfall
- Soufriere Beach and Town
- Lunch and Drinks
Castries Trip (Day Three)
We were debating a little about what to do on day three. We decided to jump on the local buses and head down to Castries to explore the capital. The buses can get busy, but it was easy to catch from a stop at the side of the road and only cost £2 per person. The bus took about 30 minutes from Rodney Bay to Castries and the drivers were all very honest and helpful.
Imagine busy, colourful streets, markets and cathedrals, all set on the beautiful harbour. We enjoyed walking around and mainly getting lost in the city. We don’t think you need too long in Castries, but if you have time it’s well worth half a day to explore.
Transfer to Soufriere (Day Four)
We wanted to split our time in Saint Lucia, so halfway through we moved to another Airbnb in Soufriere. This one was £90 per night. Soufriere had a much more relaxed atmosphere than Rodney Bay, less developed, and a proper little Caribbean town.
We looked at the bus to get to Soufriere which is possible with a change in the capital, however we decided on going by car and the 2 hour journey cost us around £50. Not too bad! You won’t struggle to find a tour guide or taxi around Saint Lucia, it seems every other person would offer us something.
We were hungry when we arrived. Luckily at the end of the beach in Soufriere there is a beach restaurant and bar called Seashell Beach Restaurant which we visited a few times. They served local food, which over lunch would include a buffet for £13 per person, which really helped us out.
Pitons & Sugar Beach (Day Five)
If you know anything about Saint Lucia, it’s likely the Pitons, and we are not talking about the beer, but you should try this too!
We considered climbing a Piton, however we found a very good trail with an amazing view of both and we opted for this hike. We had booked a driver for the day which cost £80 as we needed to get to a few places and this was the best option.
The Têt Paul Nature Trail trail was probably about a 1 – 2 hour loop depending how much you wanted to stop off for photos or a breather. The hike was fairly easy overall, and with the £8 cost per person we had a guide with us who was friendly and knowledgeable. The views were some of the best we’ve ever seen and this was probably our favourite activity on the whole St Lucia itinerary. Not to be missed!
We next went to Sugar Beach to relax. You need to access the beach via the Sugar Beach Resort, however we walked straight in without an issue and they were very accommodating to outsiders. You could pay for a sunbed, however there was part of the beach that the resort kept for tours and outsiders to use and this had some sunbeds which we managed to use for free for a couple of hours. Sugar Beach is worth the hype, and we easily snorkelled directly from the beach which didn’t disappoint!
Soufriere (Day Six)
We had a few places left to explore around Soufriere and luckily we could walk to them all which is something we enjoy.
Our first stop was the Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens. Probably around a 30 minute walk from the centre of Soufriere and costing £5 per person you must visit. Walking around the gardens, seeing the exotic plants, and being rewarded at the end with a waterfall was perfect.
We then headed down to the beach in Soufriere to relax and grab some lunch. Our favourite spot for food was Alor which you have to visit for some real Caribbean vegan food. Different dishes were made each day depending on what produce they could buy from the local market each morning.
For sunset, we hiked to a viewpoint. It was only about a 15 minute hike, but the views over Soufriere were truly amazing. Even better, we had it all to ourselves. As so many people opt for cruises it often meant in the evening the tourist spots were nice and quiet.
Soufriere Beach Day (Day Seven)
This was our last day, and it ended in a similar style to how it all started. Relaxing on the beach and making the most of the Caribbean sun before our flight home. The beach in Soufriere is more of a local beach where we enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and the stunning views.
Final Thoughts
As you can tell, we really did have a magical time in Saint Lucia. We loved the green landscape, the picturesque beaches and the number of natural attractions. Hopefully our St Lucia itinerary has inspired you to explore this country yourself and skip the package. We have a How to Travel on a Budget guide if you’re looking for more ways to save money whilst travelling.
