Soufriere Holidays

Colour-splashed Soufriere’s set in a sheltered cove on St Lucia’s south-west coast. Life’s pretty easy-going here – picture brightly-hued fishing boats, colonial buildings with a white and yellow finish, and street cafés that spill out onto the pavement. Stroll to the marina, and you’ll have tip-top views of the town’s hilly, tree-cloaked collar.

The island’s star attractions are just around the corner from Soufriere, so sightseeing trips come thick and fast. We’re talking about the Twin Pitons – a pair of cloud-piercing mountains that have fast become St Lucia’s calling card. The littler of the two, Petit Piton, pokes its head above the closest hillside, and boat trips scoot out from the marina so that you can see its bigger sibling.

Soufriere puts reef-diving sites, the stunning Diamond Falls, and the world’s only drive-in volcano at your fingertips. The latter’s, quite rightly, the biggest attention grabber. You can get within touching distance of bubbling geothermal springs, and it’s even possible to take a dip in one of the naturally-heated rock pools.