Soufriere

From CruisersWiki

Soufrière is a port of entry to St Lucia. The small town is in a large beautiful bay. The whole bay is Sea park and anchoring is prohibited to protect fragile the coral. There are, however, several laid moorings where one can tie for 40 XCD (about $25 USD) for 2 nights. Find a free mooring and secure your boat, an attendant comes with a launch and collects the fee. Do not be deceived by the free roaming young men who will rush to assist you. Any assistance, no matter how trivial, cost a minimum of10 XCD .

If you want to snorkel you must purchase a permit for for 3 XCD, the coral reefs are full of small fish; some parrot fish, large schools (over 600) of tiger fish, sponges, coral formations, etc. But the visibility is not like the Aegean's, it is less than 5 m (16 ft.).

Weather

See St Lucia.

Charts

See St. Lucia.

Radio Nets

Also see World Cruiser's Nets.

Navigation

The approaches to Soufrière are straightforward.

Check-in facilities (for Customs and Immigration)

Soufriere is a port of entry to St Lucia. You can tie temporarily to the main dock while clearing the formalities.

For entering/exiting procedures also see St. Lucia.

Berthing Options

You must go to a mooring. Right next to the customs is the office if the Sea Park where you can obtain a diagram of their moorings.

Find a free mooring and secure your boat, an attendant comes with a launch and collects the fee (about 40 XCD).

Anchorages

There are many small coves where the Sea Park has laid moorings. Consult the diagram obtained from their office.

Soufrière Bay

The Customs Dock at Soufrière

Yacht Repairs and Services

Marine Stores

None.

Repairs/Yards

None.

Fuel, Water, & Electricity

Fuel

At the town of Soufrière there is a fuel station, you have to carry cans

Water

Water is available at the town dock, if your hose is long enough (30 meters or so)

Electricity

N/A (Not Available)

Things to do Ashore

Tourism

A visit to Piton Valley, part of the UNESCO World Heritage is a must. It is a truly unique place.

The place I have enjoyed the most is the Botanical Gardens near Soufrière. It is full of exotic tropic flowers of many colors and shapes. Soufrière is a run down but picturesque town with many old colonial buildings. The walk through the town however, is not pleasant. You are hassled all the time by people who want to sell you fruits, bread, take the garbage, sign you up for a tour, use their taxi etc. These people are at the dock, the streets, and in the sea with various boats. --Istioploos

In addition to the gardens there are two near-by attractions: the waterfalls, the volcano. The waterfalls are not very impressive but the walk through the thick rainforest to reach them is rather enjoyable. In the volcano there are a lot of sulfur deposits, hydrogen sulfide fumes, and a phenomenon that I have never seen before: pools of boiling black water, a real witches' brew. Sea water seeps into the volcano. Then the water, mixed with carbon and other minerals, boils and bubbles out from fissures in the crater. It is quite impressive.

Near Soufrière

Exotic Flower in the Botanical Gardens

Sulfur Spring in the Volcano

Old House in Soufrière

Grocery & Supply Stores

There are some modest stores in the town of Soufrière.

Eateries

The Hummingbird restaurant next to Soufrière serves good meals are reasonable prices and has a breathtaking view of the Pitons. However watch out for the dingy minders at the restaurant dock. They are out for blood!

Internet/WiFi

Available?

Laundry

?

Garbage Disposal

There are bins near the dock.

Motorbike & Car Rentals

Ask at the Hummingbird restaurant.

Transportation

See St. Lucia.

Routes/Passages To/From

See St Lucia.

Cruiser's Friends

Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.

Forum Discussions

List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)

External Links

• Soufriere at the Wikipedia
• St. Lucia Official Guide

References & Publications

See St Lucia.

Comments

We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.

• The town is run-down but picturesque with many old colonial buildings. The walk through the town however, is not pleasant. You are hassled all the time by people who want to sell you fruits, bread, take the garbage, sign you up for a tour, use their taxi, etc. These people are at the dock, the streets, and in the sea with various boats. This is very tiresome and it negates the enjoyment of a really stunningly beautiful place. The steep Pitons, covered with thick rain forest, come all the way down to the green ocean and to small beaches of very fine sand. --Istioploos 13:16, 15 April 2008 (MDT)

Verified by

Date of member's last visit to Soufriere and this page's details validated:

• February 2005 --Istioploos Travels with S/Y Thetis

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Contributors to this page
Names: Istioploos