Even when you’ve got an all exclusive resort at your fingertips, you can get a little itchy on vacation. So while we were in Saint Lucia, we scheduled a Land and Sea Tour! On a beautiful Monday morning, we walked down to the gate of the Sandals La Toc and hopped on a shuttle to head out and explore the island. Usually, you have to wait until you get to a location for the tour to begin, but our guide, Smalee, started right away with the history of the island and tidbits on local culture.

Our first stop was a small roadside stand and locally owned banana plantation. The proprietor offered us shots of local rum and hot sauce and visitors shopped while we got more information on the banana and plantain industry on the island.

Our resort and the plantation were both on the north side of the island, so we then took the long, curvy, scenic ride south, up and down the mountains and valleys of St. Lucia as we were regaled with more information about local culture. As we rode around what seemed like the millionth curve at the top of the hundredth mountain, we got our first glimpse of the majestic Pitons.

The Pitons Management Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It encompasses the two volcanic peaks and the jungle and sea area around them. 60% of the area is coral reef, but more on that later.

Our guide pulled into a viewing station built by a local who had also set up a shop at the top of the mountain, and we jumped out to take in the amazing landscape. St. Lucia has a really diverse ecosystem, and throughout the day we were treated to stunning views of mountains, beaches, jungles, rainforests, farms, plantations, towns and more. At certain spots on the island you can even see where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Carribbean Sea. This is probably the most I’ve seen of a country from above without being in a plane.

We made our way down the mountain and drove through the seaside town of Soufriere and boarded a tour boat. Our guides first shot us across the bay and showed us the entrance to the famous Bat Cave where thousands of Antillean fruit-eating bats roost until they emerge in the evening to feed. If you looked close enough you could see some of the more active bats flying around inside, even tough it was daytime.

We then took a nice short cruise around the sea facing side of Gros Piton and docked at Sugar Beach. Sugar Beach is home to a luxury resort by Viceroy, wedged between Gros and Petit Piton on the shores of Anes de Piton Bay. The water is beautiful, and I’m sure you could spend whole days here and never get bored with the array of activities available. There were sailboats and other watersports, areas on the coral reef to snorkel, and plenty of hiking opportunities.

We had a little downtime once we landed and were treated to some rum punch (really unique spices in that) and some Pitons (the local light beer). Some people chose to relax on the beach and soak up the little sun that peaked through the clouds that day, some people chose to explore the resort, and others got to snorkel.

While Anne explored the land, Tim opted for snorkeling. I was really impressed with the variety of coral and sea life that I was able to observe in such a relatively small area compared to other areas of the world where we've had the opportunity to snorkel.

What was even more shocking was the lack of bleaching compared to areas we’ve explored before like the Seychelles or the Great Barrier Reef. There wasn’t a lot of large sea life, but the fish, while small, were all kinds of different hues and colors. Only the Galapagos has had the diversity of sea life that I witnessed in this small area of St. Lucia, and I would be excited to check out other under water opportunities around the island in the future. It was no surprise to me when I later found out that the Piton Management Area (the official name of the UNESCO World Heritage Site) is home to over 100 different species of fin fish.

We took the boat back over to Soufriere, and walked right off the docks into Michaels at Jen Mwen, a nice local restaurant with water views from the second floor, outdoor eating area. They gave us a nice buffett of peas and rice, pasta, local greens, plantains, fish, and more. The “local” dish that tickled Anne the most was the “confetti cake”... yes, that kind of confetti cake.

After lunch we jumped back in the shuttle, and made our way to Toraille Waterfall. This was a small waterfall area where you pay a small fee and can jump in and cool down. It was a nice stop, but I’ve seen pictures of better falls across the island that you can access by hiking, so if that’s your thing I’d explore those options.

Our next stop was Sulpher Springs - St Lucia. There we were informed that the entire town of Soufriere was technically sitting on a volcano. There were geothermal features including mounds with steam rising from them, and the famous mud baths.

We made our way down into the mudbath area where the water could range anywhere from 100° F degrees to 120° F depending on the temperature of the geothermal water being fed into the baths. We rubbed mud all over us, and settled into the water (which that day was just a very relaxing 106° F) to relax. The waters and mud are said to have many health and rejuvenating qualities, and I can’t speak to all of that, but with all the walking and swimming we had done, it was very nice on the muscles.

After a couple more rum punches, Pitons, and roadside coconuts (some with rum added), we hopped back in the shuttle and started the trip back across the island to our resorts. Smalee still had one last stop up his sleeve though. He took a poll of the group, and asked if we wanted to stop somewhere and get chocolate!

With the affirmative vote we pulled into our last stop, Cacoa Sainte Lucie. I definitely wish this spot was closer to our resort because not only was it an artisanal chocolatier, but also a restaurant that infused the various chocolates throughout the menu. The restaurant is upstairs and there are stunning views of the valley down below. We didn’t get to try any of the food, but definitely tried tons of the chocolates and truffles. They were all delicious, but if you really want some unique local flavor I’d recommend the Dark Chocolate Island Spice

The Land and Sea Tour turned out to be an amazing, and efficient way to explore the diversity of experiences that St Lucia had to offer. When you’re at a resort, it is easy to dismiss the country as just another resort island in the Caribbean, but it’s so much more. This is a nature lover’s paradise, and a tour like this gives you just enough taste of that wonderland to make you ready to try much much more.

Visas and Vistas Trave takes a tour around the island nation of St Lucia checking out plantations, beaches, snorkeling, the Pitons, volcanos and more