The island’s scenic superstar, Soufrière is a colorful former French colonial town of around 8,000 people, sitting beneath the iconic Gros Piton (top) and Petit Piton. (the name, by the way, is French for "sulfur outlet," referring to nearby volcanic activity and the sulphur sulfur emissions – and yes, you will get a whiff of that in the air here). The town itself has a laid-back, slightly weathered charm, with a waterfront, various eateries (one of which, Orlando's, is owned and operated by the godfather of Caribbean farm-to-table fine dining, Orlando Satchell); and easy access to waterfalls, sulfur springs, snorkeling, and some of the island’s most dramatic viewpoints.
Right nearby, Sulphur Springs bills itself as "the world´s only drive-in volcano" (although Costa Rica´s Irazú also makes that claim), and here the thing to do is wallow in mud baths that purport to "detoxify the body and help heal sunburns, eczema, arthritis, sore joints, and more," followed by an invigorating rinse under a waterfall (and if that rotten eggs aroma was just a whiff in town, here it´s downright pungent). And at Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens & Mineral Baths check out its lush local foliage, another photogenic waterfall, and have a luxurious soak. Plus you can drive to the base of both Pitons and hike up (the trails are steep, of course – the one on Gros Piton takes about 3½ to five hours round trip and is doable for reasonably fit travelers, whereas up on Petit Piton it’ s even steeper and tougher).
Read more in my post The Allures of St. Lucia, and 6 Key Places and Experiences.
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