7 Best Sights in Soufrière and the Southwest Coast, Saint Lucia

In front of the resort of the same name and Jade Mountain, this palm-studded dark-sand beach just north of Soufrière Bay has a backdrop of green mountains, brightly painted fishing skiffs bobbing at anchor, calm waters for swimming, and some of the island's best reefs for snorkeling and diving right from shore. Anse Chastanet Resort's gazebos are among the palms; its dive shop, restaurant, and bar are on the beach and open to the public. The mile-long dirt road from Soufrière, though, is a challenge even for taxi drivers, given its (by design) state of disrepair. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming.

This dark-sand beach in front of Ti Kaye Resort and Spa is accessible by boat or by jeep via Ti Kaye's mile-long, tire-crunching access road—and then 166 steps down to the beach. The calm water and adjacent reefs, part of the National Marine Reserve, are superb for swimming, diving, and snorkeling. Most catamaran cruises to Soufrière stop here on the northbound leg so that day-trippers can take a quick swim. Boaters and swimmers can enjoy refreshments at Ti Kaye's beach bar. Snorkeling equipment is available at the dive shop on the beach. Amenities: food and drink; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

The white sand on this crescent beach, snuggled between the Pitons, was imported years ago and spread over the natural black sand. Accessible through the Sugar Beach resort or by boat, Anse des Pitons (aka Sugar Beach or Jalousie Beach) offers crystal-clear water for swimming, excellent snorkeling and diving, and breathtaking scenery—you're swimming right between the Pitons, after all. The underwater area here is protected as part of the National Marine Reserve. Neighboring resorts provide shuttle service to the beach for their guests; there is also free parking for those with a rental car, or you could take a land or water taxi. Amenities: food and drink; toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming.

On the site of an 18th-century estate, a 250-acre land grant in 1713 by Louis XIV of France, the original plantation house has been rebuilt and a farmworkers' village has been re-created. Both do a good job of showing what life was like for both the owners (a single family owned the land until 1960) and those who did all the hard labor over the centuries producing cotton, coffee, sugarcane, and cocoa. Coffee, cocoa, coconuts, and tropical fruits are still grown on the estate using traditional agricultural methods. On the 30-minute Historical Estate Tour, guides show how coconuts are de-husked and dried for use in a variety of products. On the cocoa side, a guide will cut open a cocoa pod, offering samples of cocoa beans, and demonstrate how cocoa is fermented, dried, polished (by dancing on the beans), and transformed into chocolate sticks. They also offer a 40-minute Rum and Chocolate Tasting Tour. The grounds are lovely for walking or hiking, with spellbinding views of mountains and Soufrière Bay. More adventurous visitors will enjoy ziplining beneath Petit Piton and the adjacent rainforest.

Dense tropical rainforest that stretches from one side of Saint Lucia to the other, sprawling over 19,000 acres of mountains and valleys, is home to a multitude of exotic flowers, trees, plants, and rare birds—including the brightly feathered Jacquot parrot. The Edmund Forest Reserve, on the island's western side, is most easily accessed from the road to Fond St. Jacques, which is just east of Soufrière. A trek through the verdant landscape, with spectacular views of mountains, valleys, and the sea beyond, can take three or more hours. The ranger station at the reserve entrance is a 30-minute drive from Soufrière and 90 minutes or more from the northern end of Saint Lucia. You'll need a four-wheel-drive vehicle to drive inland to the trailhead, which can take another hour. The trek itself is a strenuous hike, requiring stamina and sturdy hiking shoes. Your hotel can help you obtain permission from the Saint Lucia Forestry Department to access reserve trails and to arrange for a naturalist or forest officer guide—necessary because the vegetation is so dense.

This stretch of beachfront on Soufrière Bay was designated Soufrière Beach Park in spring 2019. The park offers beachgoers small restaurants, a smoothie bar, beach bar, pizzeria, souvenir shop, and a tourism information center. You can also rent nonmotorized water sports equipment. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; swimming.

A mile or so inland from Soufrière and a stone’s throw from the road through Fond St. Jacques, Toraille Waterfall cascades over a cliff and down about 50 feet to a pool. You're invited to don your bathing suit (changing rooms are available) and let the falling water massage your back and shoulders. A nature trail leads through the surrounding lush tropical gardens.