Secrets of St Lucia

• Glorious beach walks, tropical valley trails, hidden rainforest
• Delightful Caribbean hotels with panoramic pools
• Vibrant flora and fauna: pink and orange hibiscus, ginger lilies, Christmas candle, fragrant frangipani
• Hummingbirds, bananaquits, purple-throated Caribs
• Ruined forts, ancient sugar mills and colourful squares

This twin centre holiday brings out the secret side of St Lucia. Walking with a local expert guide, we discover a side to St Lucia most visitors never see. We begin in the south in Soufriere where highlights include an unforgettable ascent of Grand Piton - giant mango, sugar apple and avocado trees - cooling off afterwards under refreshing waterfalls.

In Soufriere we stay in La Haut Plantation above the old French capital with unbeatable views towards the two pitons and the smoking sulphur springs. The traditional wooden building has spacious terraces perfect for relaxing and two panoramic swimming pools, and the bay below has some of the best snorkelling in St Lucia.

After a visit to the Millet Bird Sanctuary, we then continue to our second hotel in Castries, in the north of the island. Walks here take you from hillside banana plantations to sweeping Atlantic beaches. We discover ruined forts on ridge walks through sugar plantations

Our base here is Auberge Seraphine - a bright white colonial style lodge with egrets nesting in surrounding trees, a stroll from the colourful central market. Spacious air conditioned bedrooms have balconies with views over the sparkling pool, and the stylish open plan restaurant overlooks the twinkling lights of the marina.