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SOUFRIERE Located in the south part of St. Lucia, it is the oldest town on the island, established by the French in 1746. Its unusual marketplace is decorated with colorful murals and gingerbread trim.
PITONS Located near Soufriere, close to the southwest coast of St. Lucia, these primeval twin peaks top 2,000 feet and are St. Lucia’s most famous landmark.
RAIN FOREST Giant ferns, exotic flowers and fruits located on 19,000 acres of lush green mountains and valleys. It is home to birds of paradise and many other indigenous tree species, and its paths are strewn with tiny bromeliads, wild orchids and mushrooms.
SULPHUR SPRINGS The world's only drive-in volcano. A tour of its bubbly, steamy sulphur springs offers a direct and fascinating lesson in the violent geology of the Caribbean Rim.
MT. GIMIE At 3,117 feet, it is the highest point on St. Lucia. It is best viewed after emerging from the rain forest. Guided tours of the mountain are conducted.
LATILLE GARDENS This hidden treasure of St. Lucia is filled with luscious fruits, blooming flowers, thriving plants, shading trees and vibrant waterfalls. A walk through waterfall-laden trails or a relaxing night under the stars are adventures not to be missed.
DIAMOND FALLS The privately-owned Diamond Falls and Mineral Baths, less than a mile east of Soufriere, are part of the Soufriere Estate dating from 1713. The Baths, originally built in 1784, were restored in the 1980s, with some of the original 18th century baths still in use. At the entrance, a narrow path edged with tropical flowers and shaded by stately palms leads to the bathhouse and a series of pools, each a different temperature. Beyond are the falls roaring out of a mineral-streaked gorge and spilling through the gardens into the pools.
MORNE LA COMBE A mountain towering 1,446 feet offering amazing views of St. Lucia. The Barre de L’isle, a rain forest trail laced with lush green foliage leads to the mountain
RE DE LISLE RIDGE Offers panoramic views west to the Roseau and Mabouya valleys.
SOUTHERN SAFARI? A tour through St. Lucia's interior with stops at historic sites, including a working still at an old plantation house in Balembouche, interesting remains of a waterwheel, and ancient Amerindian “potholes.”
MORNE FORTUNE Overlooking Castries, this was a key battleground during the period of skirmishes over colonial possession of St. Lucia. It is also called the Hill of Good Luck.
MARIGOT BAY A vital wartime base, it is where a British Admiral once ambushed the French by camouflaging his fleet with palm fronds.
UNION NATURE TRAIL ?A beautiful, looping, graveled path parades through a dry forest where hummingbirds, warblers, and finches can be seen.
GROS ISLET Like Cinderella preparing for the Ball, this fishing village transforms itself every Friday night into a colorful carnival scene, featuring soca and reggae music and a "jump up" (dancing in the streets). With locals and tourists dancing to the sounds of reggae, hip hop, and calypso well into the night, it’s an authentic Caribbean celebration you and your dance partner will never forget.
MATQUIS ESTATE St. Lucia's largest estate is located just outside of Castries. This working plantation offers insights into the production of St. Lucia's present export crops, banana and copra, as well as the principal crops of previous years, coffee and cocoa. The tour includes a scenic drive along St. Lucia's northeast coast to the countryside, a visit to an old sugar mill, a boat ride on the Marquis river and lunch at the plantation house.
FARMER’S PROGRAM Guests visit the local farmers to plant and pick native fruits or vegetables.
ST. LUCIA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
Where the traditions of a timeless game meet a distinct tropical setting. Lush fairways roll above stunning
Caribbean waters. Orchids and bromeliads surround contoured greens. A dramatic course sits on an island bursting with beauty. And when the round is over, gracious hospitality awaits in an open-air bar and restaurant with panoramic views of paradise.
INTERNATIONAL RIDING STABLES Located in Gros Islet, it offers fully insured riding for all levels. There are a variety of trail rides, plus a relaxing riding tour featuring a beach picnic at Cas en Bas, a scenic ride through the countryside, leaving or along the beach.
PIGEON ISLAND MUSEUM & INTERPRETIVE CENTRE Displaying the island's history, the museum is housed in a former British officers' mess building restored to its
1808 elegance. Through interactive audio/visual aids and ancient artifacts, visitors learn about the first Caribbean Indian settlers and the island's role in the French and British battles during colonization.
DEREK WALCOTT SQUARE A Cathedral built in 1897 and located in the capital, Castries. Historical and natural views such as a 400-year-old Samaan tree are located near the Cathedral.
ANSE-LE-RAY & CANARIES An afternoon visit to these tiny fishing villages enlighten visitors of St. Lucia's tradition of fishing in dug-out canoes.
ERRARD PLANTATION A driving tour to Errard, near the village of Dennery, crosses the interior of the island and borders the rain forest. It includes an introduction to the various fruit crops, a "cocoa dance," which polishes the beans, and a Creole lunch featuring local fruit juices.
MORNE COUBARIL Overlooking the picturesque town of Soufriere, the tour of the estate includes a demonstration of cocoa, copra and manioc processing, a walk on a historical street formerly used by mule carriages and a visit to a workers' village.
MORNE LE BLANC Towers over the coastal community of Laborie and the southern plains of St. Lucia. The mountain's summit affords a view of distant St. Vincent and a scenic, shady rest spot for picnics.
MANKOTE MANGROVE ?Located on the southeast coast, outside of Vieux Fort, it is the principle source of nutrients for the island's natural fish nursery in the nearby Savannes Bay. A viewing tower provides an excellent vantage point for bird watching.
RODNEY BAY This scenic bay is a 15-minute drive north of Castries. Set on a man-made lagoon, it has become a chic center for nightlife, hotels and restaurants -- in fact, it's the most active place on the island at night.
MARIGOT BAR The shore, lined with palm trees, remains relatively unspoiled. A delightful spot for a picnic, a 24-hour ferry connects the bay's two sides.
MARIA ISLANDS Constantly exposed to salt-laden winds blowing up from the equator the largest island in St. Lucia lies. Set to the east of St. Lucia's southernmost tip, off the town of Vieux Fort, the diversity between the plants and animal species are strictly protected.
FREGATE ISLANDS A cluster of rocks a short distance offshore from Praslin Bay, midway up St. Lucia's eastern coastline. The islands were named after the scissor-tailed frigate birds (Fregata magnificens) that breed here.
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FOR MORE MEDIA INFORMATION:
RENEE ADDISON/AMITY GAY
ALMOND RESORTS PUBLIC RELATIONS COUNCIL
THE ZIMMERMAN AGENCY
(850) 668-2222 • RADDISON@ZIMMERMAN.COM
Staying at Almond Resorts is twice as nice. Guests staying at either of Almond Resorts’ two sister properties in Barbados, Almond Beach Club & Spa and Almond Beach Village, are welcome to use all of the facilities and restaurants as well as share in all of the activities at both properties. It’s like getting two vacations in one. Each resort offers convenient round-trip shuttle service (the resorts are only 15 minutes apart) and since both properties are all-inclusive, everything is always included. And with the addition of Almond Morgan Bay in St. Lucia, guests have the option of making it a two-island holiday.
At Almond Resorts, the spectacular turquoise Caribbean takes center stage and steals the show every time with exciting and incredible water sports. Water sports are available all day and include Hobie Cat sailing, snorkeling, water-skiing, windsurfing, reef fishing, aqua cycles, kayaks and banana boats. Guests can explore the flora and fauna and undiscovered beauty of the ocean floor and coral reefs or set sail on their own Catamaran. Whatever they choose, water sports at Almond Resorts are an invigorating experience every time.
For those who prefer to stay on dry ground, Almond Resorts offers lots of terra firma type activities like board games, warri-warri, darts, billiards, volleyball, ping pong, beach games, limbo lessons and more. Guests can enjoy an historic and healthy nature walk. A daily schedule of activities is placed in each guest room and includes fun events like island crafts, Calypso dance lessons, and shopping tours of the resorts’ gift shops, boutiques and sundries shops. Off property excursions are offered daily to exciting and exotic locations on-island, and the concierge desk can arrange special island tours, cruises, horse back riding, scuba diving, and car rentals.
All Almond Resorts offer state of the art fitness and athletic centers for guests who want to stay in shape while vacationing. The centers are open everyday and offer guests a full array of the latest in exercise equipment such as life cycles, treadmills, stair masters, free weights and Nautilus weight systems. The centers even offer STAR TRAC equipment within an audio/visual Cardio Theater. Classes are available daily in aerobics, step aerobics, aquacise and Caribbean dance.
Almond Resorts have complete outdoor tennis facilities on well-lit Astroturf tennis courts for day and night matches. With professional instruction, rackets and tennis balls included in the all-inclusive price, guests can participate in beginner, intermediate or advanced tennis clinics. And the in-house tennis pros are always available for tips, pointers and lessons.
With seventeen stunning freshwater swimming pools, several scintillating Jacuzzis and miles of picture perfect beachfront bordering pristine waters, Almond Resorts properties are a swimmer's paradise. Guests can choose from intimate pool settings surrounded by lush gardens to the spacious and grand main pool at each hotel, to swimming in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. Almond Beach Village, Barbados, and Almond Morgan Bay, St. Lucia, are the resort chain’s family friendly properties and offer two dedicated kids-only swimming pools at each resort, as well as adults- only pools so that guests of all ages can enjoy themselves.
Almond Beach Village, Barbados, is home to a spectacular par 3, nine-hole executive golf course. Green fees are included in the all-inclusive price, and there is a small fee for club rentals and balls. Open from 7am until dusk, no starting times are needed – guests are welcome to drop by anytime. Free golf clinics are held Monday through Friday by the in-house golf pro. The Promenade Golf Pro Shop is open daily for equipment rentals, balls and tees. Guests at the Almond Beach Club & Spa are welcome.
At Almond Morgan Bay, St. Lucia, guests of the hotel are invited to use the facilities of the St. Lucia Golf and Country Club. Greens fees are free for 3 rounds per person within a seven day period as is the golf course shuttle service. Golf carts are mandatory and are available at a nominal $25 US per person, per round, payable at the Pro-Shop of the club. Additional rounds are available at $65 US each, with greens fees, transfers and a shared cart included. Reservations for tee times are required 24 hours in advance.
Almond Resorts come alive at night with a variety of exciting entertainment options. Guests can dance the night away to live music, learn the local dances or sit back and enjoy stellar performances by talented artists. From limbo dancers and fire-eaters to fashion shows and special programs, nightly entertainment at Almond Resorts is always exciting. For after-hours entertainment, Rachel’s Nightclub opens at 11pm at Almond Beach Village and features a hip DJ for a night of dancing. At Almond Beach Club & Spa, the piano bar is open late for those who want to relax, have a drink, join in a song or just sit back and enjoy the music. Almond Morgan Bay in St. Lucia welcomes the velvety late-evening when the French Creole restaurant, Le Jardin, seductively morphs into a piano bar and watering hole.
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