St. Lucia

Saint Lucia's land and sea sports cater to the active traveler A veritable playground for the active traveler, Saint Lucia has plenty to challenge sports enthusiasts of all skill levels. From a full range of watersports to golf and racquet sports, horseback riding, hiking and more, the recreational options are boundless.

Watersports are a way of life on this island, where a coastline of rain-forested mountains is frequently interrupted by natural harbors and bays. The island boasts some of the best underwater dive sites in the Caribbean. Many hotels offer scuba diving facilities and snorkeling equipment, as do a number of independent dive centers. For the ultimate sea-sun-sailing fun holidays, Oasis Marigot offers crewed yacht vacations. Saint Lucia has also become one of the region's main centers for yacht charters, with operations at the Rodney Bay Marina and at Marigot Harbor. Deep-sea fishing charters are also available for whole and half-day excursions.

Windsurfing
Windsurfers will be challenged by the waves at Cas en Bas and Vieux Fort, the most popular spots for advanced and intermediate windsurfers, while beginners will find the calmer waters of the west coast perfect for sharpening their skills. Top-of-the-line equipment and instruction is available at most hotels and several windsurfing centers around the island.

Scuba diving/Snorkeling
The warm crystal waters surrounding Saint Lucia envelop the stunning Anse Cochon and Anse Chastanet reefs, two of the most popular spots for divers, where they will enjoy exploring the spectacular reefs, marine life and an old sunken ship near the island. Saint Lucia is serviced by a number of hotels and private dive centers offering short boat dives, night dives and a variety of scuba and snorkeling courses for beginning and certified divers, taught by PADI certified instructors.

Sailing
At Rodney Bay Marina and Marigot Bay, Saint Lucia's two most popular marinas, yachts and sail boats can be chartered to navigate the West Indies through the beautiful Grenadine Islands. The marinas offer safe anchorage, shower facilities, restaurants, groceries and maintenance facilities.

Deep sea fishing
The legendary white marlin dwells off the coast of Saint Lucia, where deep sea fishing is a popular recreational activity. Numerous charter operations on the island offer whole and half-day fishing excursions on 30 foot boats with modern fishing equipment. Depending on the time of year, anglers will land a variety of fish, including mackerel, king mackerel, white marlin, barracuda, kingfish and sailfish.

Water-skiing and parasailing
Available at most hotels, water-skiing in Saint Lucia can be enjoyed by beginner, intermediate and advanced skiers. For an aerial thrill, visitors are encouraged to try parasailing, which allows riders to view spectacular sights as they soar above Rodney Bay.

Racquet sports
Tennis: All large resorts on Saint Lucia have their own tennis facilities, most of which are floodlit, including the Saint Lucia Racquet Club at Club Saint Lucia, perhaps the premier tennis location on the island. With its professional services, tutoring and nine floodlit courts, the club gives visitors a chance to perfect their game at nearly any hour. If a hotel doesn't have tennis courts, the Rex Saint Lucian Hotel has two courts available to the public at reasonable prices.

Squash: Situated at the Saint Lucia Yacht Club on Reduit Beach are two air-conditioned, wooden-floored, glass-backed squash courts available for rent. Squash racquets can be rented there for a small fee. The Saint Lucia Racquet Club also has an accessible court with superb instruction.

Horseback riding
The ambiance of Saint Lucia can be captured through a number of horseback riding excursions. The International Riding Stables offers an assortment of trail rides, including a ride winding through the countryside along the beach, with time for swimming and a beach picnic at Cas en Bas. Trim's Riding Stables offer a variety of treks including a carriage tour to Pigeon Point and Fort Rodney.

Golf
Saint Lucia is home to two golf courses, the Sandals La Toc (for resort guests and purchasers of special golf packages) and a public course, the Cap Estate. The Cap Estate golf club is a beautiful 9-hole course that can be played as 18. The course's scenic views, hazards and variety of holes should be seen by all golfers visiting Saint Lucia. The clubhouse has a well-stacked bar and pro shop, where golfers can get some pointers from the resident golf pro. Because Cap Estates is the only public golf course on the island, reservations are encouraged.

Hiking
Exploring the beauty of Saint Lucia's majestic rain forest is a great way to relax and appreciate the island. A variety of natural trails lead hikers through the rain forest, to the top of Saint Lucia's mountains, through old plantation grounds, along beaches, to Cactus Valley, to Pigeon Island and more. As visitors hike, they will see spectacular rain forest waterfalls, flora and local birds like the Saint Lucia Parrot, the Saint Lucia Oriole and the Saint Lucia Black Finch. Comfortable shoes are a must.

Fitness Centers
The island offers several fitness centers with modern weight training, step and regular aerobics and cardiovascular workouts. "Body Inc.," one of Saint Lucia's best fitness centers, offers a professional staff including two internationally known body builders, Rick Wayne and Mae Sabbagh. Visitors looking for exercise with a Saint Lucia flair will enjoy jazzercise at the "Caribbean Fitness Expression," located at Vide Boutielle, where guests can also enjoy step, stretch and tone sessions. Two other workout venues on the island are Laborde Gym on La Toc Road and the Fitness Palace at Marisule.

There is never a shortage of things to do outdoors in Saint Lucia. Volleyball, basketball, and soccer games between staff and guests are available at most hotels. Those wishing to take a bike ride can rent a bike and see the island on two wheels. For spectators there is always a good game of cricket, soccer, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, long distance running race or swimming tournament happening somewhere on the island.









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