Soufrière , Saint Lucia

St. Lucia is one of the Windward islands of the lesser Antilles, located midway between Martinique and St. Vincent, north of Barbados.  The island features dramatic twin peaks called the Pitons which soar 2,000 feet (610 meters) straight out of the sea, providing shelter for diverse flora and fauna, including wild orchids, giant ferns, and giant birds of paradise.  Banana, coconut, mango, and papaya trees host an abundance of tropical birds, including the St. Lucia parrot.

We anchor and head ashore to the dock in Soufrière on the west coast, the original capital of the island under French rule, with the capital moving to Castries when the British took charge in 1803.  We wander over to the market, then through the colorful town.

Approaching Soufrière 

Welcome

Market

Harbor

Fishing in the harbor

Refreshment next to the market

Great colors

The main street leads us to Soufrière Square and the Church of the Assumption, located in the center of town.  This Roman Catholic church features French-influenced architecture, vaulted wood ceilings and a vibrant, colorful interior.  And, views of the harbor through the main entrance, past the freedom monument in the square, commemorating Emancipation Day when former slaves defeated British soldiers in 1796.

Down the main street

Church of the Assumption

Freedom Monument

We walk through the square and return to the harbor, strolling a bit along the edge of the water and admiring the views of the Pitons.  As we near the port, we watch the activity as boats drop off and pick up passengers, each patiently waiting its turn at the dock.  Soon it is our turn and we return to the ship for another lunch of local grilled fish.

Soufrière Square

Views of the Pitons

Entrance to the port

Traffic at the port

Returning to our ship

More Pitons

Mayreau Beach BBQ

After our catamaran trip to one of the smallest islands we've ever visited, Mopion, we return through the Grenadines (past Petit Saint Vincent, Petite Martinique, Union Island, and Palm Island) to Mayreau for a barbeque on the beach of this small (but much larger than Mopion) island.

The islet of Mopion

Returning to Mayreau

Our ship (Wind Surf) anchored off Mopion

Entering the harbor

The catamaran drops us off at the dock and we walk down the beach past a steel drum band to our barbeque and find a place to sit for lunch and beach chairs under a thatched umbrella for our post-lunch swim and relaxation.

Wandering down the berach

Steel drum band

Barbeque setup

Relaxation setup

Wander on the beach after lunch

We dine (more fabulous local grilled fish), swim back and forth in the bay, and, all too soon, return to our ship and sail away to our next port of call, leaving Mayreau (and Mopion) in the rear view mirror.

Leaving Mayreau

Stopping in Mayreau

Mayreau is the smallest inhabited island of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with an area of about 1/2 square mile (119 hectares) and a population under 300 people.  Electricity was installed in 2002, provided by a central generator located on Saline Bay where we anchor.  A single-lane concrete road leads from the wharf on Saline Bay across the hill to the village of Saltwhistle Bay on the other side of the island.  At the top of the hill between the two towns is the elementary school, the telecommunications building, and the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception, christened in 1930

We're going to have a beach barbeque on Mayreau, but first we take a catamaran ride through the Grenadines archipelago to the very small island of Mopion, a tiny, uninhabited sandbar and coral islet famous for being just large enough to hold a single wooden thatched umbrella.  Often called "One Umbrella Island," it is a picturesque stop for snorkelers with its size dependent on the tides (but the umbrella is never fully submerged).  On the way we pass Petit Saint Vincent, Petite Martinique, Union Island (where the airport and secondary school are located), and Palm Island (resort and spa closed due to hurricane damage).

Approaching Mayreau

The dock and harbor at Saline Bay

(Union Island across the water)

Heading out on the catamaran

Sailing between the islands

Approaching Mopion Island/Sandbar

The ocean swells are rough today and we skip the short Zodiac ride to Mopion's [tiny] beach and enjoy the view from the much-larger and more stable catamaran.  The few who do go to the beach say that the rough water today makes snorkeling difficult and they soon tire of touring the tiny islet and return to the mother ship.

On the way back to Mayreau, we  pass close by Palm Island, one mile from Union Island, only accessible by boat. The spectacular, well-known Palm Island Resort and Spa was completely destroyed by Hurricane Beryl in 2024 and the five beautiful white sand beaches are currently empty.

Palm Island

Soon, Mayreau appears in the distance and we return to the dock on Saline Bay for a beach barbeque.

Returning to Mayreau