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Soufriere
- This small
town was
once the
capital of
St. Lucia
when it was
under French
rule. It is
typical of
the fishing
villages
along the
St. Lucian
coast.
Soufriere is
a five
minute drive
along the
hillside or
a twenty
minute walk
from the
Tree House.
Available in
town are
banks (ATM),
bakeries,
grocery
stores, a
fish market,
resturants
and many
shops for
buying
souvenirs.
The town of
Soufriere
dates back
to the 18th
century and
offers
plenty of
activities.
It is one of
the most
visited
towns on the
island as
many natural
places of
interest are
located
here. These
include the
Botanical
Gardens,
Diamond
Mineral
Falls, Morne
Coubaril
Estate,
Sulphur
Springs and
the Drive-in
volcano.
There are
also many
adventure
tours
available
including
private
taxi,
helicopter,
boat and
island
tours.
www.st.lucia.org/tour/history_soufriere.asp |
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Anse
Chastanet
Beach
is
a black sand
beach with
crystal
clear water.
It is a ten
minute walk
or three
minute drive
from The
Tree House
and is St.
Lucia's top
dive center.
Boasting
views to 100
feet, the
swimming
area is also
highly
recommended
for
snorkeling.
An
underwater
marine
reserve is
maintained
just off the
beach and
offers
amazing
views of
colorful
fish and
coral reefs,
just 20-30
feet below
the surface.
Snorkel and
dive
equipment
rentals and
dive trips
are
available to
both
beginners
and experts.
Besides
swimming and
snorkeling,
the beach
also offers
sunbathing,
kayaking,
sailing,
restrooms,
spa
facilities
and
and weekly
passes
offered by
the resort
that allows
you
to
use their
water
sports, tiki
huts and
lounge
chairs. The
beachfront
restaurant
and bar,
which offers
lunch and
dinner, is
perfect if
you are
looking for
that laid
back
Caribbean
vibe.
Kayaking,
mountain
biking and
hiking
trails are
available at
Anse Mamin
Beach which
is just a
short walk
to the north
along the
beach. |
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Jalousie
Beach,
part of
www.jalousieplantaion.com,
is located
at the base
of the Petit
Piton and
boasts this
area's only
white sand
beach. This
beach also
has an
underwater
marine
reserve
along the
base of the
Petit Piton
that is
perfect for snorkelers.
Snorkel
equipment
and chair
rentals are
available
for visitors
and an
excellent
dive shop
for scuba
diving. The
beachfront
restaurant
serves
drinks,
salads,
sandwiches,
hamburgers,
etc.
Jalousie
Beach is a
twenty
minute drive
from the
Tree House
or a fifteen
minute boat
ride from
Anse
Chastanet
Beach. |
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Sulphur
Springs and
the Drive In
Volcano
-
This area is
a collapsed
caldera of
an ancient
old volcano
that stills
releases
steam and
hot air from
deep inside
the earth's
crust.
Considered
to be the
world's only
drive in
volcano,
this is a
must see.
The Sulphur
Springs are
next door
and provide
an
opportunity
to
experience
the healing
powers of a
mineral
bath.
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Diamond
Mineral
Falls and
the
Botanical
Gardens
are
great for
those
interested
in plants,
flowers and
fauna.
Taking a
walk through
trails of
multi
colored
crotons,
lobster
heliconas,
ixoras,
gingers and
numerous
varieties of
palms lead
you to the
black warm
water
mineral
falls. Bring
your
swimsuit and
you can
relax in the
warm and
cold tubs.
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The
Petit and
Gros Pitons
are the
signature
symbols of
St. Lucia.
the Gros
Piton offers
a trail and
guide that
is operated
by the government.
A guide will
lead you on
a trail to
the top that
takes about
two - three
hours each
way. Plan on
leaving
early in the
morning and
returning
mid
afternoon.
The Petit
Piton is for
experienced
climbers
only and a
guide is
recommended.
You must be
in good
physical
condition to
attempt
these
climbs. |
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The
St.
Lucia
National
Rain Forest
is the best
place for
hiking, bird
watching and
viewing of
numerous
plants
species such
as exotic
ferns,
bromeliads
and wild
orchids. The
full rain
forest hike
is a good
two hours,
but at the
halfway
point you
are rewarded
with a
cooling
waterfall
that beckons
you for a
refreshing
dip. The
drive to the
rain forest
from the
Tree House
is about
thirty
minutes and
is an
experience
not to be
missed. It
takes you
through
small
mountain
villages
where you
see the REAL
St. Lucia. |
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All of these
sites are
located in
the
Soufriere
area. |
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Marigot Bay,
the site of
the original
1969 Dr.
Doolittle
movie, is on
the west
coast of St.
Lucia
approx.
thirty
minutes
north of
Soufriere. A
boat ride
provides the
most scenic
trip as you
pass small
coastal
fishing
villages and
several
snorkeling
spots.
Marigot Bay
has a small
beach and is
one of the
island's
most
beautiful
locations
with several
restaurants
for lunch or
dinner. |
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Castries,
the capitol
of St.
Lucia, is
also the
island's
largest
city. It is
a town with
lots of
history
including a
century old
marketplace,
a historic
English fort
and a large
bay that
serves as
port of call
for several
cruise
lines. There
are lots of
shops at
Point
Seraphine
and the
marketplace
offers a
variety of
goods
including
spices,
fruits, hand
woven items
and wood
carvings. |
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Dive and
explore the
underwater
world with
Eastern
Caribbean
Diving
in St.
Lucia.
Daily Dive
and Snorkel
Trips are
offered for
both
beginners
and
Certified
Divers. Dive
Walls,
Wrecks and a
variety of
fabulous
reefs in the
pristine
waters of
the St.
Lucian
Marine
Reserves. An
abundance of
life awaits
you and our
unbeatable
service you
will never
forget. |
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The Rain
Forest Sky
Ride
is a great
way to spend
an
afternoon.
Take an
aerial tram
ride up to
the top of
the rain
forest and
enjoy a
course of
ten ziplines. |
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Other places of
interest include
Mamiku
Gardens, Rodney Bay,
Morne Coubaril, Fond Doux Estates
and Pigeon Point.
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