ST.LUCIA Snorkelling adventures The crystal-blue waters surrounding St. Lucia accommodate visitors with warm temperatures year-round and are ideal for the variety of water sports available. The warmest temperatures occur in early February, ranging between 79 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The coolest temperatures are in early August, running between 68 and 73 degrees. Top snorkelling spots suit a variety of diver skills from novice to expert levels and provide unparalleled views of the island’s underwater marvels. Capture up-close views of sea life or explore the magnificent coral reefs, many of which are just a few feet from the shore. Anse Des Pitons, Anse Chastanet Reef, Virgin’s Cove, and Devil’s Hole are popular snorkelling sites. Visit cities Rich With History Castries, the island’s capital city, is a mix of both colonial and Caribbean architecture. The St. Lucia Folk Research Center introduces visitors to the national dress, also known as creole dress, originating with the passage of the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. The people wear the national dress on August 1 each year to commemorate Emancipation Day, a public holiday observed in St. Lucia and many other Caribbean states. Castries was a major English naval port from 1803 to 1844. Morne Fortune is a mountain overlooking Castries and its harbour. Soufriere is a fishing village founded in 1745 and the birthplace of Josephine, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte. Buildings with filigreed balconies and tin roofs surround the town square. Mud Baths in the Sulphur Springs Locals claim that a dip in these mud baths detoxify the body, and heal a list of ailments from sore, arthritic joints, to sunburns. Not only that, the minerals in the mud are said to tighten and smooth the skin and take 12 years off of your appearance. Hot stone, back, and foot massages are also available. Famous for being the Caribbean’s only drive-in volcano, Sulphur Springs, located in Soufriere, St. Lucia is a geological wonder and the most active geothermal area in the Lesser Antilles. If you’re not into a therapeutic mud bath, take a guided tour or join in on a half-hour photo shoot with a specialized photographer. Amazing Destinations 53
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