Vieux Fort and the South

The gateway

Vieux Fort is where most visitors first touch down. Hewanorra International Airport is on the southern tip of the island, and the town grew around it and around the old port. It is a working town and the main commercial centre of the south.

Beaches and watersports

The south faces the Atlantic, so the wind blows more steadily than on the Caribbean coast. That makes Anse des Sables, near the airport, a favourite for kitesurfing and windsurfing, with schools offering lessons. The beach is wide and open, and the scene is lively on windy days.

Offshore lie the Maria Islands, a nature reserve known for rare reptiles and seabirds. Visits are usually by guided boat trip and need to be arranged in advance.

• If you are landing late, a night nearby can save a long drive.
• Check conditions before booking lessons, as winds vary through the year.
• Respect the nature reserve rules at the Maria Islands.

Onward travel

From Vieux Fort the road runs north to Soufrière and the Pitons, a drive of about an hour, and on towards Castries and Rodney Bay. Our getting here guide covers transfers and flight options, and the trip planning page can help you shape your itinerary.

Beaches, wind and wildlife

The long beach at Anse des Sables faces the Atlantic, where steady trade winds blow across a wide shallow bay. That makes it excellent for kitesurfing and windsurfing, and several schools offer lessons. Even if you do not take part, the beach is spectacular to watch, with kites crossing the sky against the sea.

The nearby Maria Islands are a nature reserve, home to rare lizards and snakes found nowhere else, and seabirds that nest on the rocks. Access is controlled and visits are by arrangement, so ask a local guide about permits and boat transfers.

Using the south as a base

Most visitors treat Vieux Fort as a stepping stone, but a night here can make sense if you land late or leave early. There are small hotels and guesthouses, and a handful of restaurants serving local food. The town has banks, shops and a market, and a lively atmosphere on market days.

From here the road north climbs through banana plantations and rainforest to Soufrière, and the coast road runs on to Castries. Our getting here guide sets out transfer times, and the best time to visit guide explains when the winds are strongest.

• Ask schools about wind conditions before booking lessons.
• Respect nature reserve rules and permits.
• Keep valuables out of sight when you leave your car.

Is it worth staying near Hewanorra airport in Vieux Fort?

Staying near Hewanorra airport in Vieux Fort is worth it if you land late, leave early or want a quiet, local base, because the town is only minutes from the terminal and avoids a long first-night drive. Hewanorra International Airport sits on the southern tip of Saint Lucia, and the transfer to the north can take close to two hours. A night in the south breaks the journey, lets you sleep well and gives you the pleasure of seeing the island by day on the drive north. It is also a sensible choice if your flight is early, since the alternative is a pre-dawn drive on winding roads. Book your room in advance, and ask the hotel about airport transfers and breakfast arrangements for an early flight.

Vieux Fort is the main commercial town of the south, with banks, shops, a market and small hotels and guesthouses. It is a working place, not a resort, and the charm lies in watching local life. Small restaurants serve grilled fish, stewed chicken and rice and peas, and the market is lively on trading days. The town has a long history as a gateway, since the airport was built here and was used by the United States during the Second World War. Our getting here guide explains the airport transfers and how to match flights with onward journeys. Take a short walk through the market if you have time. Ask your hotel for local recommendations.

On departure day, the same logic applies. A night near the airport removes the stress of a long drive on winding roads and lets you spend a last morning on the beach. Allow plenty of time for check-in, and fuel your hire car in the town before returning it. If you are heading to the Pitons, the route north is described in our Soufrière guide, and it is worth setting off early to avoid the slowest traffic. A flexible approach to timing is the key to a smooth start and finish to the holiday. A late checkout or a day room can also be arranged at some small hotels. Keep your documents handy.

What is Anse des Sables like for kitesurfing and beach walks?

Anse des Sables, also known as Sandy Beach, is a long, wide Atlantic beach near Vieux Fort with steady trade winds, shallow water for learners and schools offering kitesurfing and windsurfing lessons, and it is also a fine place for a windy walk. The wind is the attraction. On a good day the sky above the bay is crowded with kites, and the beach has a lively, sporty atmosphere even for those who do not take part. Watching from the sand with a cold drink is a pleasure in itself, and it is easy to lose an afternoon to the spectacle. Spectators can sit at one of the nearby bars.

Beginners should book a lesson with a school, which supplies equipment and instruction, and check wind conditions beforehand. Conditions are often strongest in the drier months, and the water can be choppy, so swimming is better left to calmer spots. The beach is open, with little shade, so bring sun protection, a hat and water. Our water adventures guide describes other options, including paddleboarding and kayaking in more sheltered places. A short lesson is usually enough to learn the basics, and instructors are generally patient and clear. Ask about group sizes and whether lessons are available in the early morning, when the wind is steadier and the beach is quieter.

For quieter beaches, drive west to Laborie and beyond, where dark sand shores and fishing boats offer a calmer scene. The black sand beaches guide describes the wilder shores along the south coast, and explains which are safe for swimming and which are for looking only. Keep valuables out of sight when you leave your car, and take care on the roads after dark. The south is quiet and friendly, and a little common sense is all you need to enjoy it fully, whether you come for the wind or for the peace. Bring cash and a bottle of water for the drive. Dress for the wind, and pack a light jacket for the evening.

How do I visit the Maria Islands from Vieux Fort?

To visit the Maria Islands from Vieux Fort, book a guided tour in advance through the Saint Lucia National Trust, travel to the departure point near the town, and follow your guide's instructions in the reserve. The islands are protected, and access is restricted to protect rare reptiles and nesting seabirds. Tours are small, led by guides who know the species, and an early start is best. Check for seasonal restrictions, since landings may be limited during nesting, and confirm the meeting point and time when you book, as arrangements can change from year to year. Dress for the sun and for walking over uneven ground, and carry a bottle of water.

The islands lie a short distance off the southeast coast, and the trip is brief by boat. On the islands you may see a lizard and a snake that live nowhere else, along with seabirds on the rocks. Binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens are valuable, and so are shoes with grip, sun protection and water. Our offshore islands guide explains the reserves and how to prepare, and what the guides ask of visitors. Respect the rules, and you will leave with memories of animals found almost nowhere else on earth. Ask your guide to show you the best viewpoints, and listen for the calls of the nesting birds.

The location is convenient for arrival or departure days, since it is close to Hewanorra International Airport. Combine the tour with a visit to a south coast beach and a lunch of grilled fish in a village restaurant, and you have a rewarding day. For more on wildlife, read our wildlife and ecology guide, which explains how the island's isolation produced species found nowhere else. Allow a little extra time on the day, since boats follow the weather and the tide, and a flexible attitude makes the experience more enjoyable. Check that any lunch spot is open on the day you plan, because some small restaurants close between services. Pack a hat and a dry bag.

Vieux Fort's role in the island

Vieux Fort has always been where Saint Lucia meets the wider world. The guide to transport and infrastructure explains the airport and port, and the economy page describes how trade and visitors support the town.

Its setting is shaped by the climate and the geography of the island, and the history of Saint Lucia places the town in a longer timeline.

Where to eat and drink around Vieux Fort

Vieux Fort is a town for practical meals rather than grand dinners, and the best-loved stop is The Reef Beach Cafe on Anse des Sables, the wide windy beach beside the airport. It is a casual cafe on the beach where the kitesurfers gather, serving Caribbean dishes and cold drinks with the sea in front of you. That makes it an easy way to spend the last hours of a holiday or the first hours after landing, and the beach sits close enough to Hewanorra that a driver can collect you from the cafe on your way to the terminal.

If you are staying near the airport at Coconut Bay Beach Resort or Serenity at Coconut Bay, most meals will be taken at the resort, and an outing for a beach lunch at Anse des Sables makes a change from the buffet. Other local snack places are in the town centre, where shops and a market serve everyday customers, and a driver can point out which ones are busiest.

The coast to the west rewards a longer day. In nearby Laborie, La Bouche Beach Bar sits right on the sand and serves Caribbean dishes and cold drinks, and Mama Rose Restaurant and Bar is a well-known stop for Creole cooking in the village. You can read more about the area in our Laborie guide, and the south Saint Lucia guide explains how the region fits together.

A final practical point. Choose food you can finish quickly if you have a flight to catch, ask your driver to confirm the time you need to leave, and keep your passport and boarding documents in a bag you can reach. Our getting here guide explains transfer times and the food and rum guide suggests dishes to try before you fly home.

Where to stay and how to plan

Most visitors fit this into St Lucia holidays, so choose your base first. Compare hotels in St Lucia by area and style, and read our guides to luxury hotels in St Lucia and all inclusive resorts in St Lucia if you are choosing between a boutique stay and an all in package.

Then set your dates with the best time to visit St Lucia, book flights to St Lucia and pick days out from our St Lucia itineraries. Couples can also read about a honeymoon in St Lucia or weddings in St Lucia.

Questions travellers ask