Why 2026 should be your year for a Saint Lucia Holiday

This is the year to plan a Saint Lucia family holiday with your kids. You don’t need an excuse to visit this gorgeous Caribbean island, but if you want a reason, here are 10 great ones for you.

Marigot Bay, Saint Lucia

One of the Lesser Antilles islands, Saint Lucia is instantly recognisable thanks to its iconic twin pitons on the southwest coast. You may know it less for its tropical climate and year-round sun, stunning beaches, vast swathes of rainforest and endless outdoor fun.  But if all that sounds like a perfect family holiday combination, it’s just a hint of what there is to look forward to here.

As an added bonus, English is the official language – Saint Lucia gained independence from the UK in 1979 – and the island’s family resorts are some of the loveliest in the region.

Plus, it has a range of family-friendly resorts with spacious accommodation, beach access and kids’ clubs. Many offer supervised activities like nature walks, games and arts and crafts, making it easy for parents to relax while children stay entertained. Ready to have some fun?

Saint Lucia Parrot, one of the Small Six to see on your Saint Lucia family holiday

Discover the ‘Small Six’ only in Saint Lucia

Spotting the Big Five, or even the Big Seven, is very exciting, but there’s only one place in the world where you can spot the Small Six and that’s Saint Lucia.

Just as adorable as they sound the Small Six are the Saint Lucia Parrot, Saint Lucia Black Finch, Saint Lucia Oriole, Saint Lucia Worm Snake, Saint Lucia Whiptail and finally, the Saint Lucia Pygmy Gecko.

Now, seeking them out alone would take more than just keen eyes, which is why it’s best to go searching with someone who really knows what’s what, like Adam Toussaint. Not only is he a leading birding expert and conservationist, one of his team is the person who identified the Small Six in the first place.

Working together with the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, Adam has developed a fascinating two-day experience which takes you on a series of guided hikes through the Ouilesse Forest Reserve and Praslin Island.

This is an amazing adventure for older kids, as well as the chance to learn about the island from people who live and breathe its natural history and geography, and know quite a few of its secrets, including where to find the rare and intriguing Small Six.

Find out more about Saint Lucia’s unique Small Six tour

Aerial Tram, Rainforest Adventures, Saint Lucia

Soar through the rainforest on the Aerial Tram

Cable cars might be the last thing you’d expect to find on a Caribbean island, but as always, Saint Lucia lives to surprise. Not a standard ‘whisk you up a snowy mountain’ type of transport, this is more of an Aerial Tram which carries you over the rainforest tree canopy and gives you an unforgettable perspective on the island’s natural wonders.

The tram is operated by Rainforest Adventures, and ascends from the foot of La Sorcière Mountain, about 35 minutes southeast of Rodney Bay. This isn’t just a real thrill for kids, it’s also a learning experience as each of the tram’s 16 open-air gondolas is assigned a nature interpreter who will explain the glorious nature you can see in every direction.

Needless to say, as well as a rare glimpse of the rainforest up close, the long views are spectacular too. All in all, this is definitely one experience everyone should have in Saint Lucia.

Take a closer look at the Saint Lucia Aerial Tram

Morning cruise from Castries, Saint Lucia

Connect with local life through community tourism

For a more meaningful side of Saint Lucia, try one of the island’s community tourism experiences. Families can e-bike through the fishing village of Anse La Raye, kayak alongside sea moss farms or take an ATV tour along the wild east coast – all while supporting local communities and discovering the island’s culture beyond the beaches.

Don’t miss the sailing part of your Saint Lucia family holiday

They say you haven’t really seen Saint Lucia until you’ve looked at her from the sea. That’s not difficult to believe considering how much of this lovely’s island’s iconic landscape is traced around the coastline, from the legendary pitons to the breathtakingly beautiful beaches.

Even if you don’t sail, setting off on an expedition is effortless here. A number of excellent local companies offer voyages from sunset cruises to trips round the island’s most historic spots.

Explore Saint Lucia’s sailing adventures

Soufrière, Saint Lucia

Explore historic Soufrière with your kids

Soufrière was once the capital of Saint Lucia so even just wandering around its main streets and exploring the town square gives you a sense of the island’s history. Although if you’re looking for something more active, head to the local beaches where you can famously snorkel right off the shore: Sugar Beach is one of the loveliest.

The world’s only drive-in volcano is also nearby, and soaking in its sulphur springs is a must-do with older kids. Alternatively, go gaze at spectacular Diamond Falls and the island’s lush botanical gardens. Or, if you’re feeling really energetic, head out on a guided hike up Gros Piton – Soufrière is also the starting point for several rainforest walks.

Spend a day in Soufrière with your kids

Pigeon Island, Saint Lucia

Put a little pirate lore into your Saint Lucia family holiday

Kids keen on swashbuckling legends will love a visit to Pigeon Island, once the stronghold of 16th-century pirate François Le Clerc, better known as Jambe de Bois (peg leg).

A strategically important point for centuries, it was originally an independent island before being joined to Saint Lucia. Clambering around Fort Rodney’s ruins is great fun, and no surprise to find that the views are incredible. Today the island is a national park and another prime area for snorkelling and hiking, so plan to spend at least a day exploring.

Find out more about Pigeon Island

Gros & Petit Pitons, Saint Lucia

Climb to the top of legendary Gros Piton

There’s no confusing Saint Lucia with any other island in the Caribbean, it’s the one with the distinctive, conical pitons on its lush, green south west coast. More than just landmarks, these two volcanic plugs are also the challenge of challenges on the island and a guided hike to the top of Gros Piton is a not-to-be-missed experience to have with older kids and teenagers.

Gros Piton stands at just over 771m high, and Petit Piton is slightly smaller at 743m. Oddly enough, the shorter of the two is the more difficult ascent and requires some technical skill, so most people stick with climbing the larger.

Seeing both from the sea is equally impressive for families that prefer views over strenuous activity. Or you can do both to compare and contrast. Although the hike wins in terms of excitement, as the pitons are home to an abundance of tropical plants and local wildlife.

Discover Saint Lucia’s legendary pitons

Ziplining, Rainforest Adventures

Soar through Saint Lucia’s rainforest on a zipline tour

Saint Lucia’s aerial tram is one way to see the rainforest, but there’s nothing quite like flying through it on one of the island’s sensational zipline tours.

Forget a quick zip and you’re finished, these tours last two hours and involve platform-to-platform cables that allow you to soar around the tree canopy effortlessly. The adrenalin rush is indescribable, but what we can tell you is how exhilarating it is to immerse yourself in the wild, natural beauty of Saint Lucia’s glossy green and untouched landscape.

Find out more about Adrena Line Canopy Tours

Anse de Pitons, Saint Lucia

Try chocolate-making with the kids

Saint Lucia has a long history of cocoa production, and several estates and resorts offer hands-on chocolate-making experiences. Families can learn how cocoa is grown and turned into chocolate, then create their own sweet treats — an easy win with kids of all ages.

Make time for kayaking on a Saint Lucia family holiday

You haven’t really kayaked until you’ve kayaked on one of Saint Lucia’s thrilling tours.

A favourite route is from Marigot Bay, on the sheltered west coast, along the Roseau River which flows through the Central Highlands to the Caribbean sea. It’s the longest river in Saint Lucia, and there’s plenty to see and hear, so keep your ears open for the calls of wildlife as you paddle through mangrove forests and tropical greenery. Expect to be awed by mighty rock formations and dazzling lagoons on-route. Plus, pick the right guided tour, and you might even fit in a bit of snorkelling as part of the adventure.

Take a closer look at kayaking in Saint Lucia

Coral reef diving, Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is one of the top places to dive in the Caribbean

Saint Lucia is one of the top five places to dive in the Caribbean a position that’s understandable when you consider it has 22 extraordinary dive sites ranging from reefs where you can spot sea turtles up close to intentionally submerged cargo ships and quite a few shipwrecks.

For less experienced divers, it’s also a great place to dip your mask in the water for the first time, with a number of fully certified dive operators offering beginners lessons, as well as certification courses. As an alternative for over-12s who don’t want to go full scuba, Snuba at Gros Islet is a great fun way to get a feel for diving without technical training or heavy equipment. Then there’s Undersea Trekking round Pigeon Island, another exciting experience for older kids which, again, requires no training.

Find out more about diving in Saint Lucia

Take your pick of beaches on every coast

Start by asking yourself what type of beach you want, and it’s almost certain that Saint Lucia can deliver. In the northwest of the island, lovers of lively beaches are spoiled for choice round about Rodney Bay. Though when you want to breathe a bit, this is also the area for stunning Marigot Bay: everyone’s dream of a Caribbean beach.

The south coast is the perfect excuse to go sailing, as several magical beaches can only be reached by boat. That said, dedicated landlubbers should head for crescent shaped Anse des Pitons at the foot of the famous mountains. Or there’s lovely Anse de Sable, about an hour’s drive south of Soufriere and one of the island’s longest beaches.

The windier east coast is the spot for adventurous families, just don’t expect to swim here. Eastern beaches almost always involve a hike, but their unspoiled beauty is well worth the legwork. Anse Louvet is stunning and has the added bonus of a waterfall and a dramatic blowhole. And it’s on this part of the island you’ll also find Donkey Beach: wild, remote and unlike any other in Saint Lucia.

One more thing when you’re beach hunting: all beaches in Saint Lucia are open to the public.

Explore Saint Lucia for beaches and beyond