One of the best activities in Saint Lucia is taking a land and sea boat tour. Boat tours are a terrific way to explore the island with a local who knows it like the back of their hand. If you’re staying in the northern part of the island, in Castries, for instance, this excursion is something you don’t want to miss!
That’s why I am sharing everything you need to know to help you prepare for a day filled with lots of fun in the sun!
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This is the sixth post in the Saint Lucia travel series. Here’s the complete 7-part series:
Saint Lucia Travel Series
Bucket List: 10 Awesome Things To See & Do In Saint Lucia
Travel Itinerary: How To Spend 5 Days in Saint Lucia
Inspiration: 30 Pictures That Will Make You Want To Visit Saint Lucia
Packing Essentials: Packing Guide for 5 Days in Saint Lucia
Travel Guide: St Lucia Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors
Land and Sea Boat Guide: Knotty Girl Speed Boat Tours
For the Culture: The Best Cultural Activities & Tours in Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia Land and Sea Boat Tour Guide: Everything You Need to Know
What to expect
We first heard about Knotty Girl Speed Boat Tour from friends who were also visiting the island.
The tour offered everything we had on our bucket list, and we figured this would be the best way to explore the island and not worry about driving.
We met Garth, our host, and Kervenus, our skipper, bright and early at the Rodney Bay Marina. They warmly welcomed up onto the boat.
Since we were the first people to arrive, we sat right up front. After picking up several other guests from nearby hotels and introducing ourselves to one another, Garth went over a few safety rules.
What does the tour include?
Most land and sea tours generally hit the same top tourist attractions on the island, but the vibes and experience of your tour are really what make your excursion memorable! The half-day excursion was $100 pp, including admissions to the Sulphur Springs, Toraille Waterfall, and lunch.
Garth offered us our choice of soda, water, rum punch, or a piton (the local beer), Kervenus cranked up the Soca music, and we were off!
The warm breeze and the smell of the ocean were all I needed to stay in a state of euphoria.
We cruised down the coastline from Pigeon island, passing Marigot Bay and Anse-Laye. Anse-Laye is a cute fisherman’s village famous for its Friday fish festival. We passed Jade Mountain, a ritzy resort on the island, and admired it from afar.
Garth mentioned hotel rooms started at $1,200 a night! I told myself one of these days, I would stay there and see what the commotion was all about!
Our first stop was Jalousie beach, also known as Sugar beach. This beach was truly stunning, and no amount of pictures could do it justice. You could see pristine white sand for miles, and don’t get me started with the views!
Sugar beach is perfectly nestled between the majestic peaks of Gros Piton and Petit Piton. Did I mention that the crystal blue and green water were spectacular? Because they were!
We had 25 minutes to relax, go for a swim, or go snorkeling. There is an underwater marine reserve at the shoreline of the Petit Piton and a popular place to see the magical corals and species of fish. Snorkeling gear is available for rent. A few people on the boat opted for this activity.
While hanging out on the beach, we saw a small yellow boat covered in leaves heading for shore. Blaze, a Lucian we met at the street party in Gros Islet the night before, sails around the island in his handmade boat, blending the freshest and tastiest fruits with your choice of alcohol!
We couldn’t believe our eyes and the coincidence of meeting him the night before! Blaze’s boat is eye-catching and eventually drew the attention of other people, and the next thing I knew, there was a line of people impatiently waiting for their cocktail.
I ordered a coconut mango delight with rum; boy, it was good! It was so good; that I ordered another one before getting back on the boat! Blaze also offered non-alcoholic beverages, which was perfect for accommodating everyone!
It took some time to get everyone back on the boat, given the excitement of ordering a to-go beverage from Blaze. Fifteen minutes later, we arrived in Soufrière. We docked the boat, hopped into vans, and headed up the mountain.
After driving through a few winding roads, we arrived at our second stop, Sulphur Springs.
This place was unlike anything I’d ever seen before! There were four giant pools of volcanic mud, ranging from boiling to really hot. The mud is meant to be incredibly soothing, therapeutic, and detoxifying.
The springs also help heal your skin, especially if you suffer from sunburns or eczema. Our guide, Garth, shared the springs are also great for reducing pain if you have arthritis or sore joints.
Insider Tip: Avoid wearing white clothing to the sulphur springs. The volcanic mud has a chemical reaction with white materials and will destroy your clothing. I played it safe and wore a green bathing suit top and black shorts.
I entered one pool and was slightly horrified at the hot temperature, but once I got in, I completely forgot what I was complaining about and basked in the liquid. It was like swimming around in a hot tub.
After getting used to swimming in one bath, I got out, applied mud to my body, and let that harden. Then I got back into another pool that was a bit cooler and rinsed the mud off my body.
We didn’t have much time to hang around the springs because we had to get to our next stop.
I was totally fine with that, seeing how we arrived at the springs around 11 am, and it was filled with other tour groups.
Insider Tip: Be sure to arrive early if you’re looking to enjoy the springs without having to compete with the crowds.
On our third stop, we drove about 5 minutes up the street to rinse off the mud and cool down at the Toraille waterfall. The waterfall is 50 ft tall, with a small pool surrounded by lush plants.
The waterfall had just as many people as the sulphur springs. However, I managed to get in the pool and enjoy myself for a few minutes.
Garth was kind enough to capture some awesome photos and videos of me in the pool. I attempted to stand underneath the waterfall, but that was a bad idea. I didn’t anticipate how strong the water would be, but I loved it all the same!
The waterfall was at the perfect temperature and not too cold. It was just right, given the humidity. I wish I had brought water shoes with me as the rocks in the pool were a little slippery. I hate the feeling of slimy rocks! I ended up wearing my flip-flops and was glad I did.
Insider Tip: The facilities have bathrooms and clean changing areas!
After soaking in the mud baths and hanging in waterfalls, we were off to our last stop before heading back to the boat. The drive from the waterfall to downtown Soufrière was quick. We enjoyed an authentic St. Lucian lunch at Mama’s Kitchen.
Lunch was served buffet style with a range of foods to accommodate everyone’s palate. I had a healthy plate of lentils, tasty fish stew, rice, plantains, salad, and provisions (an assortment of breadfruit, yams, sweet potatoes, and cassava).
The ambiance and decoration of the restaurant were inviting and captured the essence of the Caribbean.
Even though the inside was welcoming, I decided to sit outside and admire the beautiful water view. I practically inhaled my food. Every bite was better than the last. In hindsight, I wished I had gone back for seconds!
After lunch, we piled into the boat and headed back to Castries. On our way, Garth and Kervenus offered us another round of rum punch and pitons, which we all happily accepted.
We slowed down at one point to admire the beautiful cliffs and noticed a few young boys hanging out at the top. The next thing I knew, 3 of them dove off the cliff and into the water and proceeded to swim towards the boat!
They made their way over to us and asked for a tip. This is a regular occurrence because they knew exactly when to jump off the cliff! It was cute and gave the boys an A for effort, but I did not shell out a tip…call me cheap if you want to!
After we dropped off a few other guests, Kervenus let me drive the boat for a few minutes! I couldn’t think of a better way to end an incredible and perfect day!
Boating safety tips
Traveling by speed boat isn’t something I usually do, but when I get the chance, the excitement of cruising through the water is so exciting! However, it’s essential always to practice safety. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Always follow your guide’s instructions
- Make sure if you’re wearing a hat or scarf that it’s secured, especially on windy days
- Wear non-slip shoes or sandals to avoid falling
- Don’t sit on the edge of the boat while it’s moving
What to bring on the tour
The land and sea tour includes both wet and dry activities. To ensure you’re fully prepared, here are a few things I recommend taking with you:
- Sunscreen
- Small bag for your belongings
- Sunglasses
- Money for souvenirs
- Beach towel
- Change of clothes – I brought a light cover-up for lunch
- Pair of shorts – for the mud bath
- Extra bathing suit (NOT WHITE) – for the sulphur springs (optional if you decide to change into something that won’t get ruined by the mud)
- Hat or scarf – I brought a scarf to keep my hair from flying all over the place
- An open mind!
Conclusion – Lady Chin’s two cents
My adventure with Garth and Kerveus from the Knotty Girl Speed Boat tour was by far the highlight of my trip! It wasn’t just the tour that exceeded my expectations; it was the hospitality, willingness to take a ton of pictures for the entire group, and positive energy we felt throughout the day.
We had ah time! If you’re staying in Castries or nearby, I highly recommend booking a tour with Garth and Kervenus.
While there are loads of tour companies to choose from, I can guarantee none will compare to the dope vibes and genuineness you will experience with the guys from the Knotty Girl Speed Boat Tour.
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