Lush West Indian Flora and Fauna

St. Lucia’s Diamond Botanical Gardens is an eco-lover’s paradise. Located in Soufriere, on the south-western side of the island, the botanical garden has been a St. Lucia holiday favorite since its inception in the early 1980’s. At the gardens, island guests are able to surround themselves in what is unarguably the Caribbean’s best cultivated tropical flora and fauna.

Flowers include rare large variety begonias, anthuriums, pink ginger lilies and beautiful heliconias.

Dozens of species of native West Indian birds find a habitat in the gardens because they are secluded and protected from the open rainforests. The colonial style gardens are such a rare delight that we strongly recommend you add this to your list of things to do in St. Lucia when planning your visit.

 Soufriere’s Interesting History

If the lush garden trails and spectacular West Indian trees, shrubs and flowers are not enough to entice you, then maybe the history will.  

-

-

-

-

-

-

—–

 -

The Diamond Botanical Gardens was once a plantation, cultivating crops like sugar cane, limes, cocoa and coconuts – all for export to Europe. The water wheel used to generate the very first electricity into Soufriere also has its home in the gardens.

 Another unique aspect of the Diamond Botanical Gardens is that it has remained a family owned protected St. Lucia historical site since 1713, when 2000 acres of land were granted by King Louis XIV to the current owner’s ancestors for services to Crown and Country. The Diamond Botanical Gardens runs deep with historical stories and natural value for St. Lucia.

Rare Sulphur Springs and Medicinal Mineral Baths   

Sulphur Springs is the “world’s only drive in volcano”; with colorful mineral deposits that decorate the volcano, this is a site of awesome natural beauty.

The waterfalls that gush from the volcano mouth mix with water from the hot mineral springs to fill the natural baths with age old medicinal waters. It was said that King Louis XIV of France strategically planned the development of the village of Soufriere because of the volcanic mineral springs. 

These same warm, soothing waters can still be enjoyed today in the restored baths deep within the gardens. The mineral baths are a very rare and highly enjoyed natural treat for tourists who seek the green side of the Caribbean vacation industry.

-Planning Your St. Lucia Holiday

St. Lucia is a perfect holiday spot to enjoy the Caribbean’s warm year-round weather. A private, ecologically friendly holiday at a St. Lucia villa is easy to plan and probably the best way to see to see the island’s exotic attractions for yourself.

Our Eco-tourism focused guests enjoy staying at secluded hillside villas, like Belle Coco in Soufriere, enjoying the natural beauty of the rainforest and total submergence in the West Indian way of life.

Plan your St. Lucia holiday today with current, reliable info from StLuciaIslandResorts.com and get away from the ordinary!

For those who want some excitement or just feel like getting off the beach for a couple hours, the hiking trails are extremely impressive.  It is the truest way to experience the habitat of so many gorgeous St. Lucia animals and insects.   The hiking trails snake through the center of the small island.  Walking on foot gives you the most intimate view of the island and a whole lot of options, for instance…

·         Hike Mount Gimie, the tallest point on the island

·         Enbas Saut (below the falls) where hikers can take a break and cool off in the falls or lounge in the natural pools

·         Explore rare vegetation on the Edmund Forest Reserve

·         Experience an old abandoned plantation

·         Take a warm mineral bath or check out the Diamond Waterfalls at the famous St. Lucia Drive-in Volcano!

Supply and Demand

Amidst the bushes and trees are birds, a lot of birds.   St. Lucia is home to the most exciting bird watching in the world.  People from all over the world come to view these rare, exotic, and endangered winged animals.   Eco-tourism is one of the reasons St. Lucia has remained such an attractive Caribbean vacation spot.

St. Lucia is home to a beautiful, nearly extinct bird, the Jacquot, or the St. Lucia Parrot.  The Jacquot’s feathers seem dull when it is in the shade of the thick forests but when it flies out in the sunlight the colors illuminate.  The red, blue and green light up like the neon signs in liquor stores.

Only 30 years ago there were fewer than 100 Jacquots left in the world, with the forests of St. Lucia being their primary habitat.  Hunters and poachers would capture these gorgeous parrots to sell them as pets or for their vibrant feathers.   As the species became increasingly endangered, the demand and price for the parrot continued to climb.

The combination of St. Lucia eco-tourism and focused attention to the parrot’s plight is what saved it.   Not quite flourishing yet, the Jacquot is now able to sustain a population in the wild.   Stress has been put on saving this rare Caribbean species and conserving their habitat, and in order to do that, they created a demand to see the birds free in St. Lucia that outweighed the demand for the birds as prized pets and decorations.

Find out more about the exotic wildlife of this island nation; find a magnificent St. Lucia luxury villa or all-inclusive Caribbean family resort ; and plan great things to do for your St. Lucia vacation by exploring our main site at www.Stluciaislandresorts.com.

Out of all the resorts in St. Lucia the Sandals Resorts are some of the top all inclusive resorts in the Caribbean. There are three Sandals St. Lucia resorts including Sandals Regency La Toc, Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort and Sandals Grande St. Lucian. All of the Sandals resorts are for adults only and offer some of the most exclusive amenities a resort can offer while on your St. Lucia vacation.

The Sandals Regency has the largest freshwater pool in the Eastern Caribbean, its own golf course along with seven restaurants and twelve bars throughout the resort. The Sandals Halcyon has three gourmet restaurants with the legendary Pier Restaurant located directly on the sea. The Sandals Grande St. Lucian sits on its very own peninsula which allows for every room to have a beautiful view of the water. You can choose a swim-up lagoon room which allows guests to swim right up to their rooms. These are the perfect St. Lucia resorts for a romantic getaway or honeymoon.

The Coconut Bay Resort and Spa is another one of St. Lucia’s all inclusive resorts. This resort is known as having “two worlds in one” with its adult only oasis on one side and the family-friendly resort on the opposite end. Coconut Bay has the largest resort beach in St. Lucia with cabanas, volleyball courts and lounge chairs for all to enjoy. The Cocoland Water Park is a fun activity for both kids and adults. You can choose from the thrilling water slides or a relaxing trip down the lazy river. There are plenty of restaurants, bars and entertainment for all ages from poolside games to nightly shows. The Coconut Bay Resort and Spa is the perfect resort for couples, singles and families to enjoy a St. Lucia vacation.

 There are several other all inclusive resorts in St. Lucia such as the Anse Chastanet Resort which was voted the “Caribbean’s Top 25 hotels” by Travel & Leisure magazine. The Windjammer Landing Resort is a destination perfect for families, honeymooners or singles. One, two, three or four-bedroom villas are available with or without a plunge pool. There are a number of St. Lucia attractions such as tennis, basketball and water sports available as well.  

For all of the up to date information on the best places to stay at, the greatest attractions to see and the most exciting activities in St. Lucia, visit the main site at www.stluciaislandresorts.com.

Construction continues at a rapid pace on the golf course, condo developments, estate homes, marina village and the upscale Westin Hotel at le Paradis. This exclusive luxury resort is located on the beautiful island of St. Lucia in the Caribbean Ocean. Le Paradis St. Lucia overlooks lovely Praslin Bay, nestled between the historic towns of Soulfrieres and Castries. The much awaited Grand Opening is scheduled for Fall 2008.

This four star St. Lucia resort features a day spa, private marina slips, tennis facilities, shopping, and the Greg Norman pro-designed golf course. The entire St. Lucia resort complex is designed with eco-friendliness in mind and is resource and energy efficient everywhere from the residence climate control to the golf course irrigation. Le Paradis embraces a modern island elegance, open spaces, and lush tropical landscaping to bring this Caribbean dream to life.

Occupancy starts in the Fall of 2008 and those looking for the island dream of owning a world-class St. Lucia residence can contact Le Paradis now for more information.

Stluciaislandresort.com brings fresh insights and information about everything St. Lucia and the Caribbean has to offer island travelers. Check our Blog and website on a regular basis for up to date info on the St. Lucia Jazz Festival, island nightlife, great scuba diving spots, and the best places to stay, on any budget, on magnificent St. Lucia. Experience many more St. Lucia resorts and St. Lucia villa reviews on our website.