St Lucia Castries To Pitons Tour

Rafael was a wonderful, knowledgeable guide. Even though my group trip ended up being a solo excursion, he was flexible and I was able tompivk and choose which options I actually wanted to see. Enjoyed the beautiful countryside a d photo lookouts and still got back in time to do other activities in the afternoon! Book the trip!!

This is a driving tour of St Lucia. We went to the drive through volcano and really loved that. There was a guide included in that part. We also visited the town of Soufrière and stopped to buy some local fruit (which my kids ended up not wanting and got chips instead🤣). We got amazing pictures of the Pitons from several different locations on the ride. We also stopped at a chocolate factory on the way back to pet port which was amazing! We decided not to do the hot springs since we had done some the day before on a different excursion, but the facilities looked nice. The highlight of our trip was the botanical gardens. We’ve been to several in the Caribbean and these were really the best. I can’t recommend them enough. I definitely recommend this trip. We had a little over an hour of a drive in a comfortable van with good air conditioning to get to the attractions we visited. Water and soda were provided for free as well. The driver was extremely friendly and provided us a lot of information about the island and the different plants we passed. We had lots of questions and he was able to give us great answers. We really enjoyed our day with him. The tour length was perfect for what we wanted. We got to see a nice slice of the St Lucia and still had some time to shop for souvenirs near the port. It was easy to find the driver when we arrived at port and he had a sign with our names. I would definitely do this tour again.

It was just me and my 73yr old mom on this tour. So, it felt private. That was probably the only positive of this tour. Our tour guide/driver Raphael did not talk at all or explained what we were seeing or driving by. The van looked outdated from inside and there was no steps or a stool for my mom to get in and out, so basically, she just spent the entire tour in the van (money wasted). The roads were very winding, and our driver did do a good job navigating that. But van was very muggy and the AC did not have a full force, luckily, I brought my own fan. Due to the winding roads and the winding drive, our driver did get sick and had to stop a few times to release the uncomfortableness. My mom offered him Tums to help with his upset stomach, which did help him as he said it helped him tremendously. Both my mom and I asked the driver to bring us back to the ship at this point because all he did was drive, that's it. Our five-hour tour ended in three hours. I DO NOT recommend this tour if you get car sick as the winding road will make you feel sick to your stomach and if you are just looking for a driver that doesn't say anything. We were not offered water bottle or beverages that are included in this tour, I had to ask for it. The only time our driver spoke at all was when I prompted a question. My refund was denied and I basicll wasted $310. The one star is only because the driver navigated the road safely that’s it. Otherwise, this would have received a zero star, my very first time giving this low rating.

It was just me and my 73yr old mom on this tour. So it felt private. That was probably the only positive of this tour. Our tour guide/driver Raphael did not talk at all or explained what we were seeing or driving by. The van looked outdated from inside and there was no steps or a stool for my mom to get in and out, so basically she just spent the entire tour in the van (money wasted). The roads were very windy and our driver did do a good job navigating that. But it was very muggy in the van. The AC did not have a full force so I had to use my own fan. Due to the wavy roads and the winding drive our driver did get sick and had to stop a few times to release the uncomfortableness. My mom offered him Tums to help with his upset stomach, which did help him as he said it helped him tremendously. Both my mom and I asked the driver to bring us back to the ship. Our five hour tour ended in three hours. I DO NOT recommend this tour if you get car sick as the windy road will make you feel sick to your stomach. We were not offered water bottle or beverages that are included in this tour, I had to ask for it. The only time our driver spoke at all was when I prompted a question. I will be requesting a refund as I don’t know think this was worth the $310 that I paid for both me and my mom. The two star is only because the driver navigated the road safely that’s it. Otherwise this would have received a zero star, my very first time giving this low rating.

This tour is long. It’s took us about 5 1/2 hours. We did know that when we booked it. To get a view of the Pitons and visit Sulphur Springs, you do need to travel up into the mountains. The road had a lot of switchbacks, and one person in our van who had motion sickness was struggling. But it was nice that our driver was flexible. We skipped the mud baths and the botanical gardens. He did make a stop at a local chocolate shop that we passed on the way. He also stopped at a roadside stand where we sampled banana ketchup and creme de banana liqueur and spiced rum. That was a very interesting stop and totally unexpected. We really appreciated it. We also all purchased something from the proprietor. We enjoyed the excursion and are glad that we did it, but if we ever get back to St. Lucia, it’s not something that we would repeat just because of all the driving involved.

The traffic from the cruise port was much worse requiring 1.5 hours EACH way to and from the cruise port. We were told construction is planned to help ease the bottlenecks.

Very winding roads, beware if you suffer from travel sickness Thomas our driver very good with info etc.

I really wanted to see the countryside & especially the Pitons. We had a wonderful day with our driver Thompson.

It ended up being a private tour which you think would be a good thing. Our driver just took to the locations but didn't provide us any information other than answering the questions we asked. It was a lot of windy roads and nothing spectacular. Drinks were to be provided but were not. The driver stopped twice to by ice and the gave up. We were in a beat up van that was uncomfortable. The air conditioning even on high did not keep us cool. We do not feel it is worth what they charged

Rafael is lovely , a very knowledgeable gentleman . The trip was excellent , we went to a chocolate factory , had a guided tour of an active volcano, sulphur baths, the botanical gardens and of course the Pitons . Not rushed, plenty of time to explore. We really enjoyed this trip and would 100% recommend it. The car was clean and air conditioned, drinks were available and the lovely Rafael even stored our chocolate on his cool box. All in all thoroughly enjoyed the day

Very nice trip, the views were epic and Denver was very informative. He made us feel very relaxed on the hike.

Thompson was an excellent guide for this tour. He was very knowledgeable and also a careful, considerate driver.

St Lucia in a nutshell: naked greed taking over slowly but surely. The price list showed a Piton beer for 5 East Caribbean Dollars. But the owner, who employs hustlers to get customers in (never a good sign) said the price was USD & demanded 5ECD more. Problem is 2 Piton beers for 10 UDD is 27.1 ECD not 15. He just saw a white tourist & easy picking. Not so. I pointed out his price list but no change. 7.50ECD isn't expensive but the taste it left was bitter. This is my warning to all visitors to St Lucia: ask what dollars are being quoted. Taxis especially are tricky. Look at the photos below for proof. A staff member even said the board price must be changed ss customers were angry.

Fabulous trip to some of the very touristy hot spots but we seemed to get there and miss the busy bits Nelson’s dockyard I don’t think is ever not busy but good fun beach was fairly quite , as ever though the water is amazing , busy wee harbour

HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION! Absolutely first rate. Rafael was a wonderful host. He was very knowledgeable, he totally catered to our interests, and pointed-out all sorts of great photo opportunities. Not at all pushy. Terrific communication before the tour. Very convenient and punctual pickup and drop off at the port. I particularly appreciated that. This was, by far, the best tour of our Caribbean cruise. Thank you for an awesome experience.

We had an absolutely fantastic day out! Our guide was excellent—knowledgeable, friendly, and. Our group ranged from teenagers right through to a 90-year-old, and the tour was perfectly suited to all ages. Highly enjoyable and highly recommended!

Had a very good experience. The guide was very polite and helpful gave us plenty of information about the history and surroundings all in all a very enjoyable day

Private tour of the island. Hit all the main attractions. Good courteous and knowledgeable guide. Perfect time in St. Lucia

Small group tour which can be flexible depending on what the group prefer. Multiple view points of the Pitons and different bays. Take advantage of the stops at the volcano and botanical gardens to get the best from the tour. Our day was rainy but there are always gaps in the rain to see the views - and it’s warm rain anyway! Our driver was Thompson who was very friendly, knowledgeable, drove us around safely and would highly recommend. Could only have been improved with a rum sample stop!

Thompson was an excellent guide. He gave lots of detail about the places we visited and patiently answered all the questions we asked him. As fellow West Indians, we were delighted to engage with him in conversations about the news and culture of the region. We would highly recommend this tour with Thompson.

A great way to see the highlights of the island. With our excellent & knowledgeable giude/driver Thomson, a most informative and fun trip. We visited the Botanics & Diamond Falls, along with the 'drive in' sulphur springs volcano and mud baths near the pretty town of Soufriere. Time spent viewing the amazing Petite & Gros Pitons too!

We were very disappointed. It is at least a two hour ride each way up to the Pitons. Our tour guide never introduced himself, and although he was friendly and answered questions if asked, he didn’t know narration of the tour. Told us nothing about the island, etc. It was a very quiet ride for eight of us. And although we stopped at some scenic viewing points, they were all coupled with souvenir stands that sold the same things over and over at each place. I would not recommend this tour.

This was an incredible experience. Before we even met, our guide Thompson contacted me to confirm our arrival. The port at Castries was rather confusing, but he stayed on top of our communications and made things so much easier that they otherwise would have been. As the cruising season had just begun my husband and I were his only passengers. He customized the experience based on our discussions about what we would like to see and do. We went to a local rum distillery, the botanical gardens, viewed the Pitons from a distance and then drove into the volcano to see the sulfur pits. He even took us to run a few personal errands. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see St Lucia up close and personal. You'll be extremely fortunate if Thompson is your guide.

Viator is reliable and their tour guides are excellent. Our driver/guide was knowledgeable and very pleasant.

Our driver/guide, Dovin, is very personable, knowledgeable, and accommodating. Dovin is an excellent driver. I don’t believe it is possible to have an enjoyable day sightseeing if one had to drive oneself from Castries to Soufriere. The roads are very winding and steep; driving on the west side of Saint Lucia is not for the faint of heart. My spouse and I were the only passengers on the Toyota minivan so we were very comfortable. Our main objective was to see the Pitons (can’t go to Saint Lucia and not see the Pitons!), and they are truly majestic. The rest of the days we spent taking in various sights to and from the Pitons although we did enjoy a longer stop at the botanical gardens.

A very informative and interesting experience. It’s an amazing island. Our driver was not courteous and knowledgeable!

Very good tour and friendly guide who was great company and happy to take photos for me as I was the only one on the tour.

Exactly as described. Our driver Raphael was on time, very polite and extremely informative engaging on various subjects about St Lucia and elsewhere. His driving was excellent - none of the wild knuckle drives we’ve sometimes had.

Truly great trip. Views of the Pitons and surrounding area are indescribable. One of the most beautiful sites on earth. The botanical gardens on the tour are world class. Diamond falls in the gardens is also extremely beautiful. Tour guide, Raphael, was excellent; knowledgeable, friendly; flexible to those on tour in adjusting to things the group wanted to spend most time on.

The meeting place on the app was incorrect on our phone. Received an email where to meet hours after our meeting time. Another guide helped us to find ours. Our “guide” was only our driver. He didn’t speak to us about anything, although he was a safe driver (thankfully). After a while, the whole group decided to ask him to just take us back to the ship. Very disappointing

I was really disappointed with this trip in St. Lucia. The driver didn’t say a word the whole time, so it wasn’t a tour at all. We had no idea what we were seeing along the route because he didn’t explain anything, and for all we know, the listed itinerary on Viator could’ve been completely made up. We didn’t get offered the included drinks until the journey back, and the vehicle was old and totally unsuitable for the rough roads. To make things worse, the air conditioning vent fell off the roof and hit my hand. Overall, a really poor experience. Definitely wouldn’t recommend. Let me know if there’s anything else to tweak!

We were the only people on this tour so our guide was able to tailor the time at each location to suit us. We saw some amazing views but you do spend a lot of time in the car on some very bumpy roads. Rapheal was very friendly and gave us lots of interesting information on the way.

Getting to know our guide, Rafael. He was a pleasure to work with. We also enjoyed the botanical center and the waterfall. The Pitons were amazing as well.

Not a good guide. Very disappointing. We know all the trees but not much else. Guide not very informative or interesting. Very dull.

Wonderful tour of St. Lucia. Our guide Raphael was so knowledgable about everything from the culture to the topography to the best viewing spots. Was also an excellent driver.

Our driver Raphael was friendly, knowledgeable and willing to work with us. We had a gentleman with us that had a scooter and he helped load in van at each stop. Botanical garden was beautiful and mineral baths refreshing. FYI the road is very winding up and down hills. Lovely day. Prompt !!!

We were greeted with warmth and professionalism of our tour guide, Raphael who possess an intimate knowledge of the island's hidden treasures and lesser-known gems. He is a knowledgeable guide who just doesn't conduits of information; he's a storyteller who breathe life into St. Lucia's rich tapestry of history, culture, and natural wonders. He covered all the tour points i.e Morne viewpoint and Marigot Bay, BotanicGardens, Soufriere Volcano. Immensly enjoyable tour worth recommending. Only negative point was state of road condition. Most of the St Lucian roads are in a state of disrepair.

This tour is great value for money, the tour guide Raphael was punctual and very professional, he adjusted the tour to our requirements (admittedly easier as there were only two of us) being a St Lucian he was very knowledgeable and understood our interests and likes. I would thoroughly recommend this tour as a taster of St Lucia.

We very much enjoyed the trip. The car was comfortable and we had plenty of room as two poeple also booked on failed to turn up. Dovon was delightful and happy to adapt the tour to suite our needs. We were able to enjoy dicovering the countryside and sights of the Island The views of The Pitons were unforgetable and the botanic gardens were another high spot for us.

We were taken around St. Lucia but the tour guide hardly communicated with the group. We have been on many tours in the past, and the tour guide always gives you the history and other pertinent information of the place we were visiting. He answered questions but that was about it. Worst tour guide we've encountered. That is the reason for the two-star rating.

Great trip! Tour guide was very accommodating and on time picking up at cruise port. Loved the Sulphur Springs tour and Pitons viewing. Good value. No problem getting back to ship on time!

We had a very enjoyable tour round Dt. Lucia but as the tour was supposed to be more about the Pitons, I was somewhat puzzled by the other things we did such as stopping to sample sauces and drinks and encouraged to buy!!! Then off to a sulpher springs which wasn’t very big( I have been to Roatarua in New Zealand which was massive!! If I hadn’t asked the guide to stop so I could get out and take a picture of the Pitons I don’t think it would have happened and this was the one thing I was keen to see. I enjoyed seeing something of St. Lucia as this was my 3rd attempt at cruising there but a little disappointed . I would have liked to have spent a little time in Soufriere! Maybe the tour title should be changed ?

I had a very knowledgeable, courteous and careful driver Raphael who told me a great deal about the flora and fauna of Saint Lucia. I think he knew every pothole on the route!The 2 fishing villages we visited were very picturesque and the volcanic springs are well worth a visit

When I read the description and reviews I have an impression that I was on another tour. Yes, I went to see Pitons, yes we stopped on the way for view points but I was never told about the possibility of visiting the sulphur springs or botanical gardens! At sulphur springs we just made the "u turn" to drive back and I was told that some tourists had this option included. Ok, no problem but botanical gardens are something that I truly regret. I do not even know if we passed them on the way as we never spoke about this option. Having paid double price for one person, my tour ended after 3 hours - it was in fact drive to Pitons and back to the hotel. Yes, I liked Pitons but I wished I was given the possibility of stopover at Botanical Gardens. It is written that water is offered - it was not the case until I asked the driver for extra stop to buy some water. I am really sorry but reading the comments, I would expect more proactivity from the driver/guide and making the tour as described.

Took a Caribbean cruise on Arvia, decided to go on the Pitons excursion, visited Marigot Bay, moored at a nearby beach to swim in the sea, continued the journey to the Pitons. Guide was very informative and would highly rate this.

Van was ancient and seat belts didn’t work. Concerning because the roads are full of potholes and constant hairpin turns going up and down mountains. Husband fell getting into van and there is no first aid kit. The driver Rafael was very nice and brought us back 2 hours early. Taller people can’t sit properly in seat.

We expected a well guided tour but what we got was a driver of a van that did not know much about the history or sites of St Lucia. The road was very windy and hilly and 2 passengers got motion sickness. DO NOT book if you are prone to car sickness or amusement ride type motion.

Very nice tour in a van - 3 couples and driver who was amazing on the curving, steep roads. Driver even made an extra stop so I could replace some items from lost luggage (cruise ship).

Throughly enjoyed touring north loop of st kitts. Visited or drove by many interesting sites. My favorite was the fort. To think years ago the time and skill it took to build. Several layers of fort