St. Lucia

Tour Code: LCA01

A relaxing 9-day holiday to this beautiful Caribbean island to enjoy its birds, marine mammals and other natural history.

9 days from
£5,395 (Inc flights)
Land only price from
£4,695
book now

Highlights

Summary

Summary

St Lucia epitomises everyone's image of the Caribbean, a sun-drenched tropical island with idyllic coves and beaches dotted around its coastline. We will be based for this tour at the award-winning Anse Chastanet Hotel and have arranged a carefully designed programme of daily birdwatching excursions to explore the magnificent forests and natural splendours of St Lucia including a whale-watching outing offshore. The accent will be on comfort and relaxation, but the birdlife is spectacular, and we are assured many interesting species during our stay, including most of the island’s endemics.

  • Caribbean climate
  • Award-winning hotel base
  • Stunning scenery, including the dramatic forest-clad Piton hills
  • Colourful & easy-to-see birdlife
  • Six endemic bird species
  • Dolphin-watching excursion
  • Tropical vegetation & fruits
  • Safe sea bathing at hotel
  • Led by an expert naturalist guide

Grading

Grade A/B. Leisurely day walks (all of them optional), but often in fairly steep and mountainous terrain.

In the mist of the sea there is a horned island with deep green harbours … a place of light with luminous valleys under thunderous clouds … Her mountains tinkle with springs among moss-bearded forests … a volcano, stinking with sulphur, has made it a healing place.’ FSo Derek Walcott (1990) — poet, playwright and Nobel laureate — sums up the stunning topography and ecology of St. Lucia.

First inhabited by Arawak Indians, the island was later conquered by the fierce Caribs who, in turn, were deposed by the British in 1667. Rule over the island then alternated between the French and the British until its independence in 1979. Today, of course, St. Lucia is well known as ‘the Honeymoon Isle’, and is noted for the beauty of its scenery. However, it also supports a surprising variety of endemic flora and fauna, having long been isolated from the other islands of the Lesser Antilles, and the islanders’ pride in its natural resources is evident in the country’s ongoing protection and conservation efforts.

Ours is a single-centre holiday, based at the Anse Chastanet Hotel situated close to Petit Piton — one of St. Lucia’s two extinct volcanoes which tower 800 metres from the sea. Consequently this is one of the most relaxing and flexible of Naturetrek holidays ideal for the enthusiastic birder or naturalist whose partner might be more interested in the luxuries offered by our resort, the nearby beach or the cultural excursions laid on. With the opportunity to complete each day with a glorious sunset and a traditional rum punch, this is definitely one of the more civilised of birdwatching and wildlife tours!

The hotel is close to some of the most spectacular scenery and habitats on the island, and we will enjoy these on our daily excursions as we search for the island’s wildlife, in particular its five species of endemic bird, plus its 14 Lesser Antillean endemics. The first of these are likely to be seen from our breakfast table, for Lesser Antillean Bullfinch, Antillean Crested Hummingbird and Purple-throated Carib all live in the hotel grounds.

The twin peaks of Les Pitons are St. Lucia’s most famous landmark and, during our stay, the impressive eroded lava domes provide a scenic backdrop from our hotel along with stunning views of the coast and ocean, with the island of St. Vincent visible to the south. We will also head into the hills of the Quilesse Forest Reserve, which covers thousands of acres of lush mountains and valleys. The reserve is home to tree ferns, bromeliads and many orchids. The birdlife here is very special and many of the endemic species may be found, including St. Lucia Parrot, St. Lucia Oriole and St. Lucia Blackfinch. Later, we will walk along the wild and extremely scenic Des Cartiers Trail, through rainforest, cloudforest and elfin woodland habitats; we will also have another opportunity to find the St. Lucia Parrot here.

The Sulphur Springs is probably the world’s only drive-in volcano, affording close views of bubbling mud pools and steaming vents. The vents release great quantities of sulphuric gases, giving the area its unique odour, which we will experience at first-hand. Other excursions during our week’s stay on the island will include a day exploring the Millet’s Rainforest Trail and a boat trip up the coast to the capital of St Lucia, Castries. From here we willl also venture inland to experience the rainforest by means of an aerial tram, which will transport us from the forest floor, through the understorey of ferns and tree ferns, into the canopy with its bromeliads and mistletoe. It is an extraordinary sensation to find oneself among hummingbirds feeding on flowering plants high in the tops of the trees then venture back down over the emergent layer, enjoying breathtaking views over the north of St. Lucia, and of both Caribbean and Atlantic coasts beyond. Brown Booby, frigatebirds and tropicbirds are all frequently seen from shore, while snorkelling sorties from the beach will reveal many Caribbean fish and, if we are lucky, perhaps a Hawksbill Turtle may swim past us through the warm turquoise water. 

Having explored the interior of the island, we now take to the sea for an exciting conclusion to the holiday. Dolphin-watching has become an increasingly popular activity and the species regularly seen offshore include Spinner, Fraser’s and Pantropical Spotted Dolphins.

 

 

 

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly St. Lucia; transfer Anse Chastanet Hotel
Day 2
Anse Chastanet
Day 3
Quilesse Forest Reserve
Day 4
Sulphur Springs and Emeralds Estate
Day 5
Millets Rainforest Trail
Day 6
Boat trip to Castries
Day 7
Dolphin-watching
Day 8
Depart St. Lucia
Day 9
Arrive London
cloud_downloadDownload Full Itinerary
What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    An award-winning hotel with private facilities.

  • Food:

    All included in the price.

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Sat 11th Jan – Sun 19th Jan FULL £5,395
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£4,795
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£1,595
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
David Jackson
Dave Jackson

Tour Leader: David Jackson

Dave has been fascinated by the natural world from an early age when his dad used to take him fishing at a local lake in Hertfordshire, however, he didn’t have the concentration to sit still for long unless trying to encourage a Robin to feed from his hand! 

In adult life, he has been a long-serving committee member of the local RSPB Members’ Group and took part in the charity’s fund-raising bike rides from London to Oxford, ‘Pedal for Puffins’ and ‘Pedal for Parrots’.

Dave is also a serving committee member of the Northamptonshire Bird Club and, although birds are his first love, he has an interest in all natural history and gives illustrated talks to groups and societies from his travels to Iceland, New Zealand, Panama, South Africa, The Gambia and more.

After a career in financial services, David took early retirement and finally found “his true vocation” - leading for Naturetrek. He has now led multiple tours to countries including Iceland, Scotland, St. Lucia and The Gambia. He also leads tours in our portfolio of Vegetarian and Vegan Wildlife Holidays.

When not touring, he volunteers for Wildlife Trust BCN at Pitsford Nature Reserve SSSI where he is involved in many aspects of conservation, maintenance and survey work. 

He also runs Naturetrek’s 'Introduction to Macro Photography at Pitsford SSSI' Day Trip, where a number of Dave’s photos are displayed to commemorate the Trust’s 50-year anniversary and he is always pleased to assist those on his tours in improving their photography skills

A selection of Dave’s images (including his Eurasian Sparrowhawk voted Birdguides Photo of the Year 2022) can be viewed here: Birdguides Portfolio.

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Sat 17th Jan – Sun 25th Jan SPACES £5,495
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£4,695
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£1,595 
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Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists


The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.


Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours


We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.


The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.

Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:



Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection


Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.


 




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Byron Palacios - Tour Leader




  


 


All Birdwatching Tours

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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire
Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!