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The Pitons

⌂ 20 miles (32 km) S of Castries @

Saint Lucia’s most iconic landmark, the twin sugarloaf peaks of the Pitons rise majestically from the sea on the southwest coast. A challenging but rewarding climb, the Caribbean’s most photographed rocks can be admired more easily from a handful of viewpoints across the island, or from a boat bobbing in the bay.

t Visitors marvelling at the majestic Pitons from one of the many viewpoints on Saint Lucia

Experience Saint Lucia

t Idyllic secluded beaches wait to be explored at the base of Gros Piton.

Located south of Soufrière, the towering Pitons are omnipresent in Saint Lucia, featuring on the country’s flag, as well as giving their name to the local beer. Dramatic remnants of volcanic lava domes that formed between 200–300 thousand years ago, they were revered as Gods by the indigenous Arawaks. Later they provided hideouts for escaped plantation slaves in the “Brigand Wars.” Petit Piton, the more northerly peak, is 2,437 ft (743 m) high, while Gros Piton reaches 2,529 ft (771 m) and has a much larger base. From various angles, they appear side by side, whereas they are actually almost 3 miles (5 km) apart, connected by a volcanic ridge fronted by dazzling (imported) white-sand beaches that shelve into the coral-rich sea.

5

The number of hours it would to take to climb and descend either peak.

exploring the peaks

If you’re planning on climbing and trekking both peaks, guides are necessary and available from the community tour guide association in Fond Gens Libre, at the base of Gros Piton, or can be organized in advance through a tour operator. From the interpretive center in Fond Gens Libre, the first half of the two-hour Gros Piton Nature Trail is a steady ascent, before becoming a steep incline with many tricky steps cut into the rock. Several resting places punctuate the climb. Wear sturdy shoes, come armed with water and snacks in a day sack, and make an early start for cooler temperatures and a likely cloudless sky at the summit.

Hidden Gem

Piton Falls

These beautiful waterfalls are on the way to Petit Piton along the Jalouise Plantation road. The cascading warm water makes for a refreshing shower and the two pools are ideal for bathing.