Marigot Bay Marina and Resort has a number of choice restaurants which all utilise locally-sourced ingredients, from the Brut Bar’s sumptuous offering of sushi and the Rum Cave’s eclectic menu through to the Grill where diners can select and view the preparation of their meals which might include everything from freshly caught fish through to duck confit or a chateaubriand.
The rum cave, as the name suggests, plays host to expert rum tasting which is an absolute must if you are visiting St. Lucia. It’s easy to get a little carried away drinking the sumptuous ultra-premium rums from the island such as Chairman’s Reserve’s exquisite Admiral Rodney and 1931. You will taste them neat and savour every drop; for these tipples will make even the most ardent Whisky purists swoon.
Be sure to go easy, however, on the local brews such as Denros. It’s enough to make even the hardiest of taste buds shrink in despair and will make it difficult for you to leave the rum cave without looking like Bambi navigating an ice rink.
Hangover or not, you must venture out of Marigot Bay’s cosy confines to discover St. Lucia’s raw and unprocessed prowess.
Take a boat trip to Soufriere, you will know when you are near for the Pitons will appear before you – vast and glorious.
Adventurous souls may want to climb the Pitons but my path took me to the Soufriere Volcano where the sulphurous air and provocatively bubbling crater alludes to the precarious nature of the St. Lucian paradise. The trip to Soufriere could, and should, be made further sobering still by a trip to an old plantation to view, appreciate and mourn the history of a nation that suffered the affliction of slavery.
As you venture through St. Lucia’s jungle-clad hills you will discover a fertile land with a garden of eden-esque richness. Cocoa, mango, papaya, vanilla, cinnamon, cashew, guava, pineapple, coconut and countless more grows naturally under the canopy and roadside in St. Lucia. Our guide, a Rastafarian named Jahrod of St. Lucia Eco Adventures, patiently pointed each out to us during the day in Soufriere.
If you take a tour with Jahrod during your stay and make sure you visit the Sapphire Falls. Harnessing the warm waters emanating from the volcano, Jahrod and his brother have created a luscious jungle spa where guests can slather themselves in nutrient-rich mud and be cleansed underneath a warm waterfall before relaxing in a pool. It’s a nourishing experience for the body, spirit and soul and the perfect antidote for weary feet after a long day of exploration.