St. Lucia is the sort of island that green travellers to the Caribbean dream about. Being only 27 miles long and 14 miles wide with its shape said to resemble either an avocado or a mango (depending on one’s taste), it is a small, lush tropical gem that is still relatively unknown. One of the so-called Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, it is located midway down the Eastern Caribbean chain, between Martinique and St. Vincent, and north of Barbados.
The ecotourist come twitcher will be more than at home in St. Lucia and can take advantage of the island’s Forestry and Lands Department which offers guides for bird watching. One favourite spot is the Millet Bird Sanctuary Trail where more than 30 species can be sighted, including five endemic species: The St. Lucia black finch, St. Lucia parrot, St. Lucia warbler, St. Lucia oriole and St. Lucia pewee. 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, information on all of which can be found at the St. Lucia Forestry Department Environmental Education Unit.
If you’re looking for something a little more energetic, then check out St. Lucia.org for eco biking, hiking and horseback riding tours. Saint Lucia was the proud recipient of the Caribbean islands’ 2000 Ecotourism Award for its Heritage Tourism Programme. So, whatever your mood, Saint Lucia can offer you a tour which will enchant you.
If looking for an environmentally friendly place to stay, then look no further than the Fond Doux Estate Holiday Cottages, which are situated right in the heart of the island’s very own tropical gardens.