The Pitons, Saint Lucia: UNESCO Heritage Site! Two steep mountains in the Caribbean; Petit Piton (2421 feet=738 meters) and Gros Piton (2283 feet=696 meters). I hired a local guide and started to hike the Petit Piton at 6 A.M. (The earlier the better because of the heat and humid). Very steep and rocky. Hiking to the Petit Piton is a real stretch the arms and legs. It took one and half hours to go up and 40 minutes to come down. The ocean view from top is one of a kind. You can view the town of Soufriere, see a blue ocean, and the Jade Mountain Resort where one of the Bachelorette programs was filmed. After hiking, visiting the Piton Fall (15 EC = 6 USD, a short walk from the Petit Piton) and sit under the fall and just enjoy the hot water from the volcano. By taxi, we visited the Volcano and Mud Bath (27.50 EC = 12 USD) and learned about Gabriel’s Pool where a tour guide Gabriel (still alive) mistakenly fell into the steamy site. At the Diamond Garden (15 EC = 6 USD), pleasantly enjoy the smell of all kinds of tropical fruit trees and spices: Soursop, Cocoa, Turmeric, and nutmeg… Enough activities for a day. End of the day, take a sip of the local ‘Marigot Coconut Rum’!
The Petit Piton (Left) and The Gros Piton (Right)
Beach By Petit Piton
Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia: It looks like a big time Caribbean vacation place; Jet skis, Hobe Cats, Party Boat Cruises… There are Sandals Resort and other resorts. Loud music starts after 9 P.M. and ends at 1:30 A.M. in town. Pigeon Island (actually now accessible by foot, Entrance Fee 16 EC = 6 USD) is a great hiking place. You go back to 18th to 19th Century and learn about the battles between French and English. The awesome smell of lemongrass is all over on the way to the top of the fort! The view from the top is breath taking. You can see Martinique and also a rock which was used as a target for cannon balls! Bought some locally grown Soursop (Fruit) and Bread Fruit (Root Vegetable that tastes like Potato) and also some conch from a local fishing place. (15 EC = 6 USD per pound) The fisher man went to the shore and brought back a bag of live conch from the water. These had been caught scuba diving in 120 feet of water.
Pigeon Island, Saint Lucia