St. Lucia Green Travel & Ecotourism

Since 1946, the St. Lucia Forestry and Lands Department has been responsible for maintaining the island’s 19,000 acres of protected rain forest. This is where many St. Lucia green travel activities occur.

To protect the rain forest, home to several endangered birds, nature enthusiasts and hikers must arrange for guides from the Forestry and Lands Department. The local phone number is 450-2231 or 450-2078, www.slumaffe.org.

Birding and Bird Watching

In addition to hiking guides, the St. Lucia Forestry and Lands Department also provides guides for bird watching. A favorite spot is the Millet Bird Sanctuary Trail where more than 30 species can be sighted.

Other recommended birding areas are the Piton Flore Reserve, the area around Grand Anse Beach, the Edmund Forest Reserve, the Bois d’Orange Swamp and Eau Piquant Pond.

St. Lucia Trust Lands

The St. Lucia Trust, created in 1975, protects the St. Lucia natural area and historic sites; www.slunatrust.org. The trust offers guided walking tours of the Fregate Islands and Maria Islands Nature Reserves, the Morne Fortune historic site and the Eastern Nature Trail.

Guides are mandatory for these locations and should be arranged in advance through the Trust’s Castries office, 452-5005. In addition, the Trust sponsors several full and half-day safaris to various parts of the island. The full-day Southern Safari Land and Sea Tour includes a tour of the old plantation house at Balenbouche and a visit to an Amerindian petroglyph site, followed by  a return to Castries by boat. For hikers, the Trust arranges a half-day trek along the northeast coast in the arid Pointe Hardy region.

The Trust also is responsible for the Pigeon Island National Landmark, which has a small admission fee but no mandatory guides. Pigeon Island is a striking 40- acre park that contains the remnants of an 18th century British naval garrison and Fort Rodney, a fortified hilltop. It is also home to the internationally acclaimed St. Lucia Jazz Festival.

Camping is not permitted on most Caribbean islands. Once again, St. Lucia is the exception. The St. Lucia Trust operates the 133-acre campsite at Anse La Liberte, about 45 minutes south of Castries. The campsite, which has its own secluded beach and an extensive set of hiking trails, is equipped with tents, and cooking, bathing and washing facilities.

Whale Watching

Whale watching tours leave year-round from the marina at Vigie Cove near Castries.  Female sperm whales, along with pilot and humpback whales, are found in local waters year-round.

Male sperm whales appear in large numbers during the mating season from October to January. Other species include orcas, pilots, pygmy sperm whales and beaked whales. Commonly sighted dolphin species include spotted, spinner, and bottlenose. Whale watching craft employ a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system to pinpoint the location where whales were last sighted. Sonar equipment is also used to track them. Reservations can be arranged through Sunlink Tours at 452-8929 or Barefoot Holidays 450-0507. Boats depart morning and afternoon. Email info@rodneybay.com.

Sea Turtle Watching

Depending on demand, a leatherback sea turtle nesting program operates nightly between March and the end of July. Called the Debarras Turtlewatch, the all-night stints include transportation to the beach, dinner and breakfast. Also the use of a tent and sleeping mat.

You need to bring your own flashlight, warm clothing (the nighttime ocean breezes can be chilly) and toilet paper. People take turns patrolling the beach and whenever a nesting turtle is located, everyone is invited for a look. Advance reservations are recommended. Contact Heritage Tours at www.heritagetoursstlucia.com or call 451-6620.

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