With kids · Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Pi3.124, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Saint Lucia suits families who like nature: mud baths at Sulphur Springs, waterfalls, the rainforest tram and calm Reduit Beach. Steep roads and long drives mean basing in the north and taking a full-day trip south works best. Top picks: Reduit Beach, Pigeon Island National Landmark and Sulphur Springs. Families usually base themselves in Rodney Bay and Gros Islet.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 6
- Best area for families
- Rodney Bay and Gros Islet
- Rainy-day options
- 0
- Busiest months
- January–February
Best things to do with kids
Beach · Rodney Bay and Gros Islet
1.Reduit Beach
A long stretch of pale sand with calm water in Rodney Bay, lined by hotels and beach bars, with watersports rentals and space for families. It is the island's most popular beach and the easiest to reach in the north.
Walk towards the quieter northern end, near the marina channel, when the central section fills up.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
Historic site · Rodney Bay and Gros Islet
2.Pigeon Island National Landmark
Joined to the mainland by a causeway, this former island holds the ruins of British forts and barracks from the 18th-century wars with France. Trails climb to Fort Rodney and Signal Peak, with views to Martinique on clear days, and there are two small beaches.
Climb Signal Peak in the late afternoon for the views over Rodney Bay, then swim at the small beach before leaving.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Views
- Kids
- Outdoors
Nature · Soufrière
3.Sulphur Springs
Inside the collapsed caldera of the Qualibou volcano, steaming vents and bubbling grey pools give off the smell of sulphur, and visitors walk viewing platforms with guides. Downstream, warm mud and mineral pools let you coat yourself in volcanic mud and rinse off.
Wear an old dark swimsuit for the mud baths, and remove silver jewellery, which the sulphur can tarnish.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Nature
- Kids
- Couples
Garden · Soufrière
4.Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens
On the old Soufrière Estate, landscaped tropical gardens lead to a waterfall stained by minerals in streaks of colour. Restored mineral baths, originally built in the 18th century, can be used for a small extra fee.
Go early or late in the day to avoid tour groups, and bring swimwear for the mineral baths.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
Nature · Soufrière
5.Toraille Waterfall
A roughly 15-metre waterfall dropping over a cliff into a pool in a small tropical garden on the road into the hills above Soufrière. You can stand under the falls for a cool natural shower.
Bring swimwear and visit after lunch, when most tour groups have moved on.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Kids
- Outdoors
Experience · Rodney Bay and Gros Islet
6.Rainforest aerial tram and zip-lines at Chassin
At Chassin in Babonneau, inland from Castries, an aerial tram glides through the rainforest canopy with a naturalist guide, and zip-line courses cross the valley. It is an accessible way to see the rainforest from the north of the island.
Choose the tram for wildlife spotting and the zip-lines for thrills; morning visits usually have more bird activity.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
Where families should stay
$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife, families and budget
Rodney Bay and Gros Islet
Rodney Bay is the island's main tourist area, with Reduit Beach, a large marina, shopping malls and a strip of restaurants and bars. The fishing town of Gros Islet next door hosts the Friday-night street party, and Pigeon Island is at the end of the causeway. Hotels range from guesthouses to large resorts.
- Good
- Most restaurants and nightlife; Wide range of hotels; Calm swimming beach
- Watch out
- About 1.5 hours from Hewanorra airport; Far from the Pitons
- Nearby
- Reduit Beach, Pigeon Island, Gros Islet
Family travel tips
- Base in Rodney Bay for calm water, restaurants and a short drive from SLU airport.
- Bring motion-sickness remedies for children on the winding roads to Soufrière.
- Check age and height limits before booking zip-lines.
- Pack water shoes for rocky beaches and riverbeds.
- Use sun protection and shade; the sun is strong even on cloudy days.
Day trips for families
- Soufrière and the Pitons by boat (About 1–1.5 hours by boat from Rodney Bay) — Catamaran and speedboat trips from the north sail down the west coast past Marigot Bay and Anse La Raye to Soufrière, visiting Sulphur Springs and a waterfall, with snorkelling in the marine reserve under the Pitons.
- Des Cartiers Rainforest Trail (About 1 hour by car from Castries) — A loop trail through the Quilesse Forest Reserve in the island's interior, known for giant ferns, tall trees and sightings of the endemic Saint Lucia parrot.
When to go with children
The best months overall are January–April. January–February are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Saint Lucia good for kids?
Saint Lucia suits families who like nature: mud baths at Sulphur Springs, waterfalls, the rainforest tram and calm Reduit Beach. Steep roads and long drives mean basing in the north and taking a full-day trip south works best.
+What can kids do in Saint Lucia?
Reduit Beach, Pigeon Island National Landmark, Sulphur Springs, Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens and Toraille Waterfall.
+Where should families stay in Saint Lucia?
Rodney Bay and Gros Islet: Marina, Reduit Beach and most of the island's restaurants and bars in the north.