Why Honeymoon in Gros Islet & Rodney Bay
The north gives you the classic Caribbean beach honeymoon with a strong local flavor. Reduit Beach, the long sweep of sand along Rodney Bay, is one of the island's best for swimming. The water around Pigeon Island is calm and clear. Resorts here tend to be larger and more social than in Soufrière, with all-inclusive packages that make budgeting simple.
Yet Gros Islet is no generic resort strip. The village keeps its fishing traditions and its famous Friday street party, while Pigeon Island holds centuries of military history. The Cap Estate area at the island's northern tip offers golf, quiet coves and wide views of both the Caribbean and the Atlantic. It is easy here to mix lazy beach days with a little exploring.
When to Go
The best weather runs from about December through May, when the island is drier and sunnier. This is peak season, with higher rates and more visitors, particularly around the winter holidays. The Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival, typically held in May, brings concerts to venues around the north, including Pigeon Island.
June through November is the wetter season and coincides with the Atlantic hurricane season, with the greatest risk typically from August to October. Rain often comes in short bursts. The summer months bring Saint Lucia's Carnival, usually in July, a colorful celebration of costumes and soca music. Travel insurance is wise in the later months. The shoulder seasons can bring attractive resort deals.
Where to Stay
Our featured resort in the north is Sandals St. Lucia Grand Bay, still widely known by its former name, Sandals Grande St. Lucian. It occupies a slender peninsula between Rodney Bay and Pigeon Island and is kid-free and all-inclusive, with overwater bungalows featuring glass floors, plunge-pool rondoval suites, around a dozen restaurants and included scuba diving.
Beyond it, the north offers a broad range of hotels: other all-inclusive resorts along Rodney Bay and the coast toward Castries, boutique hotels and private villas in the hills of Cap Estate and smaller guesthouses in Gros Islet village. As a rough guide, all-inclusive rates in the north commonly run several hundred dollars a night per couple, more for an overwater bungalow in peak season.
Couples wanting the Pitons experience often pair a stay here with a few nights at a Soufrière resort such as Jade Mountain or Ladera.
Romantic Things to Do
Climb to Fort Rodney on Pigeon Island National Landmark for a panoramic view across Rodney Bay to Martinique on clear days, then cool off on one of the island's small beaches. On Friday nights, head into Gros Islet for the street party, where grills smoke with fish and chicken and music fills the lanes.
By day, charter a catamaran for a sunset sail from Rodney Bay, or take a full-day boat trip down the west coast to Soufrière, stopping to snorkel beneath the Pitons. Inland, soar over the rainforest canopy on a zip-line tour, or visit the rum distillery at Roseau to taste Saint Lucia's award-winning rums. Golfers can play at Cap Estate. Horseback rides along the beach at sunset are a memorable way to end a day.
Getting There & Around
George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU) near Castries is about 20 minutes from Rodney Bay, but it serves mainly regional and inter-island flights. Most nonstop flights from the US arrive at Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) in the south, roughly 1.5 hours away by road. Many all-inclusive resorts, including Sandals, include transfers; a helicopter shuttle from Hewanorra to Castries is a faster option.
Getting around the north is easy. Taxis are plentiful, though fares should be agreed before you set off. Local minibuses run along the main road. Driving is on the left and traffic around Castries can be heavy at rush hour. Water taxis and boat tours connect Rodney Bay with the west coast and Soufrière.
Food & Drink
Rodney Bay has the island's densest concentration of restaurants, from casual beach bars to waterfront fine dining around the marina. In Gros Islet village, small local spots and the Friday street party are the best places to taste Saint Lucian Creole cooking: grilled fish, barbecue chicken, bakes, accra (salt fish fritters) and green fig and saltfish, the national dish.
Rum is the drink of choice. Saint Lucia Distillers, the island's distillery, produces well-regarded rums, including the Chairman's Reserve line. Pair a rum punch with a sunset, or try a Piton beer, the crisp local lager. Fresh tropical fruit, from mangoes to passion fruit, is wonderful in season. Roadside vendors sell coconut water straight from the shell.
Honeymoon Tips
- If you fly into Hewanorra, factor in the long transfer; a helicopter can turn it into a highlight.
- Visit the Friday street party early in the evening for food, then stay for the dancing as it heats up.
- Bring cash in small denominations for street food and taxis; US dollars are widely accepted, but change is usually given in East Caribbean dollars.
- Book a day trip to Soufrière by boat rather than by road for an easier, more scenic journey.
- Reef-safe sunscreen helps protect the island's coral.
- Pack insect repellent for evenings; if you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices for Saint Lucia.
