Seemingly untouched by time, St Lucia offers a lush terrain of magnificent rain forests, primeval mountain peaks, colourful fishing villages and secluded beaches.
Castries, the bustling capital, with it's 400 year old saman tree shading the cathedral, provides excellent shopping, and with nearby Pointe Seraphine Duty Free Complex offering luxury goods. There are also two shopping malls at Rodney Bay and Vieux Fort. The island's many restaurants offer West Indian and international cuisine including Thai, Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Nepalese, French, Japanese, and Creole. The fishing village of Gros Islet hosts a street barbecue every Friday with soca and reggae music creating a carnival atmosphere.
Many places of interest can be visited in St Lucia, including Pigeon Island National Park, Morne Fortune, Marigot Bay, the world's only drive-in volcano at, La Soufriere and its Sulpher Springs, the Diamond Falls, and the National Rain Forest, the home of the St Lucian parrot. Near Soufriere, can be viewed the dramatic Pitons, the twin peaks which symbolize St Lucia.
St Lucia provides all water sports, including scuba diving, snorkelling, water-skiing, sailing, and deep sea fishing, and also horseback riding, golf, tennis, biking, and hiking. Full-day and sunset cruises are available. St Lucian waters are home to pilot, sperm, and humpback whales and also to many species of dolphins, and tours to view these fascinating mammals are available with Hackshaw's Charter Boats.