St. Lucia is devastatingly beautiful. From the moment you arrive, the island reveals itself in dense layers of blues and greens: jungles dripping with emerald foliage, volcanic peaks rising dramatically from the sea, waterfalls hidden deep within rainforests, and beaches where golden sand dissolves into sapphire water like stardust.
Part of the Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean, St. Lucia is a small island with a big presence. Its most iconic landmarks are the ancient twin Pitons that stand proudly above the coastline, while inland, cocoa plantations, banana groves, and sulphur springs reveal the island’s volcanic origins and fertile soul. St. Lucia is not just beautiful; it is overwhelmingly alive.
Nowhere is this vitality more palpable than in Gros Islet on a Friday night. As the sun sinks into the horizon, the quiet fishing town transforms into a street festival where locals and travellers blend effortlessly. Smoke rises from grills heavy with jerk chicken and freshly caught fish, rum punches are poured generously, and the air vibrates with soca and dancehall rhythms.
The party stretches into the early hours, indifferent to tropical downpours. When rain begins to fall, speakers are wrapped in tarpaulin, laughter grows louder, and dancing becomes more fervent. Faces glow with joy and feet pound the pavement to the beat.
Stay at Sandals Regency La Toc
Sandals Regency La Toc, is a stunning all-inclusive and adults-only resort on the island. All of the butler-level suites at the resort come with butler service, a butler phone to contact your butler team, 24hr room service, and a complimentary minibar in the room, stocked with house wine, beer and premium spirits.
We loved the Sunset Bluff Oceanview One Bedroom Butler Suite with Balcony Tranquility Soaking Tub, your own private sanctuary suspended between sky and sea. Positioned high above the coastline, the suite boasts sweeping views of the Caribbean. Inside, soft neutral tones and polished stone create a calming elegance. The bedroom is oriented toward the horizon, so from the comfort of your bed, watch the glittering ocean merge with a cloudless sky and sailboats gliding across the horizon.
The living space flows onto a private balcony, with a deep soaking tub. In the evening, the soaking tub becomes the most coveted seat on the island. The sky shifts into soft candy floss hues, palm trees silhouetted against intense waves of colour. Gold melts into blush pink, which deepens into fiery red and the only sound you can hear is the birds final song of the day. Below, the sea glows in the fading light, its water as warm and inviting as a bubble bath.
The warm energy at Sandals Regency La Toc is infectious. Whether it is a guest or staff, everyone seems genuinely happy to be part of the experience. If you wander past a restaurant kitchen at any moment, you will hear the cooks giggling or singing in harmony. Smiles appear easily, creating an environment that feels truly rare.
On the beach, sink into a hammock that sways gently between palms, with a fresh coconut in hand as a book rests lazily on your lap. For a more private experience, book a beach cabana for half-day or full-day and enjoy the cooler that arrives as if by magic, brimming with chilled drinks and sparkling wine whilst you eat lunch with the hypnotic sound of the waves for company.
Among the many faces that define the Sandals experience, Darnel stands out. Kind, thoughtful, and warm, he embodies the spirit of the island. No request is too small or too ambitious; he cares for guests with a sincerity that feels almost familial. With Darnel, you are not just looked after, you are genuinely understood.
Attend one of Sandals’ famous beach parties, strings of golden fairy lights illuminate the shoreline, steel bands fill the air with rhythm, and dance barefoot in the sand under a sea of stars. Tables overflow with exotic fruits waiting to be carved, while food stalls showcase local delicacies rich with spice and soul. Mountains of coconuts are cracked open on demand, often served with a splash of local rum. Nearby, a canoe packed with ice and stacked with local beers becomes the informal heart of the celebration.
In the morning recover from the festivities by floating in the pool with a ginger shot in hand and let the sun be your medicine. Call your butler and he will appear in moments with a handmade pizza fresh from the oven for you to enjoy poolside, as you plunge your toes beneath the cool azure surface.
Check out the resort’s gift shop that offers an abundance of treats. Shelves are lined with local treasures, from artisanal crafts to fiery condiments. Our personal favourites are the Banana BBQ Sauce and Baron’s Blazing Hot Sauce, both capture the island’s flavour in a single bite.
It’s impossible to get bored at Sandals Regency La Toc. For those with some energy, there are complimentary sports such as volleyball and pickleball. There are always fellow guests keen to play but be warned, when cocktails are in one hand and a racket in the other, laughter may replaces any notion of exercise.
The meditative practice of starbathing is praised for improving sleep, reducing stress, and deepening our connection to nature. According to the BBC, research published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology suggests that a stronger connection to the night sky correlates with greater mental wellbeing and happiness. In the Caribbean, where light pollution is minimal and nature dominates, starbathing is effortless. St. Lucia’s southerly location also reveals constellations rarely visible elsewhere, transforming the night sky into a celestial theatre.
For an optimal starbathing experience, book a new Rondoval Butler Sky Villa with Private Pool, which has private open-air roof terraces that are perfect for starbathing. These suites also come with butler service and 24hr room service. On warm evenings, step away from screens, lie beneath the stars, and simply look up. In those moments, the island reveals its quietest luxury: stillness, wonder, and perspective.
Dining at Sandals is a journey far beyond the Caribbean. With 10 distinctive restaurants at Sandals Regency La Toc alone, guests move seamlessly between Italy, France, England, the Caribbean, and the Far East.
Kimonos, the Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant, is pure theatre. Flames leap across grills, knives flash, and the chef’s cheeky banter turns dinner into a performance that leaves guests crying with laughter. The food is excellent, but the atmosphere is unforgettable.
Yet Buccan remains the island’s most extraordinary culinary experience. Set semi-alfresco, it is built around fire and smoke. Meats are charred to perfection, vegetables kissed by flame, and island ingredients cooked low and slow. Perfectly grilled meats arrive alongside caramelised papaya and mango, cocktails flow freely, and the staff radiate infectious energy. Buccan’s food is hot, fiery and delicious but the experience is on a whole other level and may just be your favourite evening of all.
Lunch finds its spiritual home at Neptune’s. Here, jerk chicken achieves near-mythical status, served with fries, coleslaw, and an uninterrupted view of the sea. The intense flavours linger long after the plates are cleared.
The all-inclusive philosophy at Sandals redefines value. Dining across up to 29 restaurants, premium spirits, Robert Mondavi wines, water and land sports, scuba diving for certified divers, Wi-Fi, airport transfers, and gratuities are seamlessly included. Through the “Stay at One, Play at All” programme, guests can also explore Sandals Grande St Lucian and Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort, connected by a complimentary shuttle that expands the island experience exponentially.
@Sandals_UK | sandals.co.uk/regency-la-toc
La Toc Road, Castries, St Lucia
A Cocoa Journey at Howelton Estate
Beyond the resort, St. Lucia reveals one of its most enchanting rituals at Howelton Estate, where chocolate-making becomes both art and alchemy. Set high in the hills, the estate opens onto sweeping panoramas of rolling emerald valleys and distant ridgelines softened by mist, the air scented with cocoa and rainforest after rain.
As you begin to craft your own chocolate bar, the experience feels intimate and almost meditative. An expert guides unravel the story of cocoa in St. Lucia, from ancient cultivation to the island’s place in the global chocolate world.
Research by Leeds University has revealed that St. Lucia’s cocoa contains some of the highest flavonol levels in the world, making its chocolate not only luxuriously smooth and dark, but a superfood remarkably rich in antioxidants.
Between tempering, tasting and moulding, sip fragrant guava juice, local rum punch, sparkling sodas or cool mineral water, and drink in the uninterrupted views across the island.
@howeltonestate1896 | howeltonestate.com
Old Victoria Road Morne Fortune Castries, St Lucia
The Perfect Lunch at The Pink Plantation House
This 150-year-old French colonial wooden haven sits within two acres of tropical gardens, overlooking the Caribbean coastline and the neighbouring island of Martinique. Hidden behind a private gate, it feels like a secret waiting to be discovered. Inside, rainforest textures mingle with vibrant artwork, while the air carries the scent of flowers and spice.
A daiquiri made with fruit from the garden arrives crowned with pineapple, a cherry, and a whimsical pink umbrella. The menu is equally seductive: grilled chicken with Creole sauce, coconut curry jumbo shrimp, and generous platters of fried plantain, seasoned rice, sautéed peas, lentils, breadfruit balls, and Christophene au Gratin. Dining here is an immersion into St. Lucia’s soul.
@the.pink.plantation.house | pink-plantation-house.lesserantilleshotels.com
Chef Harry Drive The More Castries, Good Lands, St Lucia
St. Lucia is the taste of cocoa and rum, the sound of steel drums and birdsong and the warmth of seawater against skin. In St. Lucia luxury lives in the laughter of the people, the rhythm of a street party, and the perfect silence of a star-filled sky. Once you are under St. Lucia’s spell, you are enchanted forever.
@travelsaintlucia | stlucia.org
A seven-night stay for two adults at Sandals Regency La Toc, Saint Lucia staying in aSunset Bluff Oceanview One Bedroom Butler Suite with Balcony Tranquility Soaking Tub costs from £2, 219 per adult. Price includes all-inclusive accommodation, butler service, 24hr room service, return economy class flights with British Airways from London Gatwick Airport and resort transfers in the Caribbean. Price is date specific and valid for travel on selected dates in September 2026.
To book, call 0800 597 0002 or visit www.sandals.co.uk.
