Castries, Cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line, St. Lucia

1 Day in Saint Lucia: Pitons, Toraille, Soufrière & Hiking Tet Paul Nature Trail – The Best Shore Excursion Ever

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Castries, Saint Lucia

We docked in Castries, Saint Lucia with Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian V!VA where we booked the “Touch The Pitons” excursion through Norwegian Cruise Line with our MORE AT SEA promotion.

A woman with blonde hair enjoying the view from a cruise ship balcony in Castries, Saint Lucia, with the ocean and another ship in the background.

We booked this shore excursion in the NCL app prior to our cruise, and it was the very first excursion we chose. Our ship, The Norwegian V!VA docked in the port of Castries at 7:00 a.m., and we were told to be at our meeting place by 7:15 a.m. The price for this excursion at the time of booking was $109.00 USD/per adult and $69.00 USD/per child. We used our MORE AT SEA excursion credit, which gave us a credit of $50.00 on this particular excursion.

Image of the 'Touch The Iconic Pitons' excursion details showcasing views of St. Lucia's mountains, ocean, and villages with a description of the hiking trail and visiting the Toraille Waterfall.

We were so excited to check Saint Lucia off our bucket list. there is so much to see in St. Lucia, and we’ve been dreaming about visiting this incredible place for so long.

A view of the port area in Castries, Saint Lucia, featuring colorful buildings with red roofs, palm trees, and a backdrop of a construction site and the harbor.
A person in a bright pink vest standing in front of a building with a sign that reads 'WELCOME TO SAINT LUCIA' against a partly cloudy sky.
A white and blue shuttle bus parked on a paved area with a large tree and cloudy sky in the background.

We met our excursion guide Quinton & hit the famously treacherous roads of St. Lucia (seriously, these roads are no joke & we’re glad to be in the hands of an experienced driver like Q!) for an exciting day of sightseeing.  we made several stops along the way.

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MARIGOT BAY & VILLAGE

The charming Bay is decorated with lush hillsides, white sand beaches, sailboats & swaying palms.  It was also used as a filming location for Doctor Doolittle & Pirates of the Caribbean, just to name a few.

A couple posing happily atop a scenic viewpoint in Saint Lucia, surrounded by lush greenery and a clear blue sky.
A hand holding a bottle of Piton beer against a scenic backdrop of a lush, hilly landscape and blue sky in Saint Lucia.

Grab Janine’s Pink One Piece: https://rstyle.me/+JZvBKnyR8kZM_-YD_dOueA

We took in the views of the “Most Beautiful Bay in the Caribbean” and grabbed ice-cold Pitons & souvenirs from local vendors (banana ketchup!)

ANSE LA RAYE

This quaint fishing village is home to friendly people, charming beachfront, vibrant homes, colorful fishing boats, local markets & their famous Fish Fryday. This is the event everyone who visits can’t stop talking about! We met so many fellow travelers who couldn’t recommend this enough, and we’ve now added it to our future must-do’s when in St. Lucia.

The event features live reggae music & delicious freshly caught fish – a scene that’s not to be missed.  We only wish we were in town on a Friday!

The town of Anse La Raye, with it’s surrounding hillside, is a hidden gem as it almost felt absent of tourism, more authentic St. Lucia and visiting this spot was a real breath of fresh air. We never felt threatened and the locals were very kind. We enjoyed the solitude, the views, and chatting with new friends. Perhaps, we visited on an “off-day,” but we find that hard to believe since there were so many ships in port that day.

ANSE LA VERDURE

Our next stop gave us an unforgettable view of the Caribbean Sea from high atop Horizon Cocktails View Point Bar & Grill.

A smiling couple posing for a selfie with a lush green landscape and blue sky filled with fluffy clouds in the background.
Scenic view of lush greenery and rolling hills overlooking the Caribbean Sea under a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds, taken from a high vantage point in Saint Lucia.

CHATEAU BELAIRE & TET PAUL NATURE TRAIL

This is the moment we had been waiting for, our guided hike through paradise along the Tet Paul Nature Trail to the world-famous Pitons.  The views just kept getting better with every step, and then we reached the famous Stairway to Heaven. Incredible! The views of both the mountainous volcanic plugs, Petite Piton and Gros Piton are simply stunning!

A colorful wooden sign indicating the 'Tet Paul Nature Trail' is open, featuring opening hours and a telephone number, surrounded by lush greenery.
A person hiking on a trail surrounded by lush greenery and a panoramic view of the landscape under a blue sky with scattered clouds.
Lush greenery and palm trees framing a scenic view in Saint Lucia, with a glimpse of a rainbow in the sky.
Scenic view showcasing lush greenery and a mountainous peak under a partly cloudy sky in St. Lucia.
A path labeled 'Stairway to Heaven' leading upward through lush green foliage, with a person ascending the stairs.
A person walking along a rocky path surrounded by lush greenery in Saint Lucia, with a backpack and floral shorts.
Person climbing stairs in a tropical setting surrounded by greenery, wearing a white shirt and colorful shorts.
Aerial view of the famous Pitons in Saint Lucia, showcasing the lush green mountains and the surrounding coastline under a bright blue sky.
A scenic view of the lush hills and coastline of Saint Lucia under a clear blue sky with scattered clouds.
A panoramic view of Gros Piton, a volcanic peak in Saint Lucia, framed by lush green foliage and a clear blue sky with scattered clouds.
A couple stands together in front of the Pitons in Saint Lucia, with lush greenery and a bright blue sky in the background.
View of Gros Piton mountain rising dramatically above lush green hills in Saint Lucia, with the Caribbean Sea visible in the background under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

This hike & seeing the Pitons in person was a dream-come-true. We highly recommend this easy guided hike to anyone who can do stairs. The hike is easy (we did it in flip flops) and the views are breathtaking. We still can’t wipe the smiles off our faces 😊 if you are even considering visiting St. Lucia, do it! We are kicking ourselves for not visiting sooner, and these photos seriously do not do justice to the true beauty of this magical place.

The Toraille Waterfall

After our hike, we cooled off with a visit to another of St. Lucia’s most picturesque attractions, The Toraille Waterfall.

A couple stands in front of a small waterfall surrounded by lush greenery, smiling for the camera on a wooden bridge.

This small but mighty waterfall is accessible & easy to swim through.

Soufrière Estate Old Mill & Waterwheel

Here we were served an authentic St. Lucian feast at a 300 year old Estate in Soufrière.

A scenic view of the iconic Pitons mountain in Saint Lucia, framed by a vibrant blue sky with scattered clouds and a residential area in the foreground.

Snag Janine’s Co-ord Set: https://rstyle.me/+VtQ90LMPQrhBq8KQ9ndycg

Antilla Brewing Company

We ended our day in St. Lucia with local crafts at Antilla Brewing Company.  We met the brewmaster, hung out with the friendless crew & Jared was pumped to learn they had IPAs!

A hand holding a Piton beer bottle in front of the Antillia Brewing Company sign, featuring colorful artwork.

Today was a dream come true! This was hands-down the best excursion we’ve ever been on & the absolute perfect day in port, but sadly, all good things must come to an end – but not before heading back to port where our beautiful Norwegian V!VA was glowing in the sunset. Thank you @norwegiancruiseline for making our vacation dreams a reality

Let us know if you’d book this excursion in the comments below & safe travels ♡

A cheerful couple poses for a selfie in front of a colorful 'SAINT LUCIA' sign at sunset, holding bottled drinks and smiling.

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