The back story
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The back story
Vieux Fort and the south: the back story
The quieter south around Hewanorra airport: long beaches and kitesurfing, fishing villages, the Maria Islands and the Moule à Chique lighthouse.
Area guide · Vieux Fort, Laborie and Choiseul
Vieux Fort & the South: Our Favourites
The south in one page: Hewanorra airport, Anse des Sables and The Reef, the Maria Islands, Moule à Chique, Laborie, Balenbouche and Choiseul’s craft gallery.
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What to see and do
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Home of the St Lucia racer
Maria Islands Nature Reserve
Two small offshore islands off Vieux Fort, a wildlife reserve since 1982, home to the Saint Lucia whiptail lizard and the Saint Lucia racer, one of the world’s rarest snakes.
Off Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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The view from the southern tip
Moule à Chique Lighthouse
A hilltop lighthouse at the southern tip of the island, with panoramic views over the south coast and the Caribbean.
Moule à Chique, Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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Wind, white sand and kites
Anse des Sables
A wide white-sand beach at Vieux Fort, the home of the island’s kitesurfing and windsurfing centre.
Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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One of the longest beaches
Sandy Beach
One of the longest beaches in Saint Lucia, open and windy, with space to walk and kite surfers to watch.
Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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A calm village beach
Laborie Beach
A calm, swimmable beach beside the traditional fishing village of Laborie.
Laborie, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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Wild volcanic sand
Balenbouche Beach
A wild stretch of dark volcanic sand surrounded by cliffs and vegetation, beside Balenbouche Estate.
Laborie, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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A remote southern beach
Anse L’Ivrogne
A remote volcanic beach near the island’s southern tip, with dramatic coastal views.
The south, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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An 18th-century sugar estate
Balenbouche Estate heritage site
The historic grounds of an 18th-century sugar plantation near Laborie, with mill ruins, stone structures and heritage buildings.
Laborie, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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A Second World War base
Vieux Fort & its military heritage
The southern town that began as a military base in the Second World War, then became the island’s aviation and transport hub.
Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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Riding on the Atlantic side
Atlantic Shores Riding Stables
Horse rides along the Atlantic coast near Vieux Fort, including beach rides.
Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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Learn to kite on the south coast
The Reef Kite & Surf
A kitesurfing, windsurfing and wing-foiling centre on Anse des Sables at Vieux Fort, beside The Reef Beach Café.
Anse des Sables, Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
Where to eat
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Family-owned in the south
Lushe Restaurant & Bar
A family-owned restaurant and bar on the Laborie Highway near Vieux Fort, serving Lucian food with a twist and cocktails.
Laborie Highway, Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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French cooking by the airport
Faye Gastronomie Artisan Restaurant
An artisan French restaurant at Beanfield, by Hewanorra International Airport, listed by the tourism authority.
Beanfield, Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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In Vieux Fort town
Twa Kabwe
A restaurant on New Dock Road in Vieux Fort, listed by the tourism authority.
New Dock Road, Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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On the south-coast beach
Island Breeze Bar & Grill
A bar and grill on Anse des Sables beach at Vieux Fort, listed by the tourism authority.
Anse des Sables, Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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Coffee on the kitesurf beach
The Reef Beach Café
A beach café and bar on Anse des Sables at Vieux Fort, home of a kitesurfing and windsurfing centre and beach huts.
Anse des Sables, Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
Where to stay
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Minutes from Hewanorra
Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa
A premium all-inclusive on the south coast at Vieux Fort, close to Hewanorra airport, with an adults-only sister resort beside it.
P.O. Box 246, Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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Plunge-pool suites with a butler
Serenity at Coconut Bay
A couples-only all-inclusive with 36 private plunge-pool suites and 24/7 butler service, beside Coconut Bay.
P.O. Box 246, Eau Piquant, Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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Cottages on an old sugar estate
Balenbouche Estate
Six eco-friendly cottages on a 70-acre nature and heritage estate near Laborie, a former 18th-century sugar plantation with two secluded beaches.
P.O. Box VF 707, Laborie, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
Bars, rum shops and nights out
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Local flavours in Laborie
La Bouchè Beach Bar
A laid-back beach bar on the sand at Laborie, listed by the tourism authority for its local flavours and ocean views.
Laborie, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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Music on the south coast
Jwen Se Moun La Beach Bar
A lively local beach bar on the south coast near Vieux Fort, with Caribbean food, cold drinks and music.
Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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In Choiseul
Cooljoint Bar and Grill
A bar and grill at Victoria, Choiseul, listed by the tourism authority.
Victoria, Choiseul, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
Shopping
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Crafts on a small farm
Choiseul Art Gallery
A gallery on a small farm in the fishing village of River Dorée, Choiseul, selling crafts made from coconut, calabash, seeds and stone.
River Dorée, Choiseul, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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Emerging Saint Lucian artists
Listwa
Founded in 2017 to promote emerging artists, Listwa sells prints, paintings and home decor; its name means “story” in Creole.
Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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Saint Lucian sea moss
Martelly’s Ocean Gardens
Sea-moss-based skincare, including face and body scrubs and masks, from Vieux Fort.
Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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Daily life in the south
Vieux Fort Town & Market
The market and shops of Vieux Fort, the south’s main town.
Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
Spas and health
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24-hour care in the south
St Jude Hospital
The public hospital in Vieux Fort, a 24-hour speciality, emergency and primary care hospital for the south of the island.
George Odlum Stadium, Box 331, Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
Getting there
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The private terminal at Hewanorra
Signature Aviation UVF
The private aviation terminal at Hewanorra International Airport.
Hewanorra International Airport, Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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Where the long-haul flights land
Hewanorra International Airport (UVF)
The international airport at Vieux Fort, 40 miles south of Castries, served by direct flights from North America and Europe.
Vieux Fort, Saint LuciaExplore View on map
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How to get there
Getting to Vieux Fort
Hewanorra airport is in Vieux Fort; distances in the south are bigger, so drive or take a tour.
Questions and answers
Can you visit the Maria Islands?
Only on guided tours arranged by the Saint Lucia National Trust, and access may be restricted from May to July for nesting seabirds.
Share your Vieux Fort & the south tips
Been there? Share your experience and tips with other visitors.
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