The geography of this part of the Caribbean can add to the romance of a St. Lucia honeymoon.
The historic location adds to the romance. Saint Lucia is part of the Lesser Antilles island chain in the Caribbean, also known as the Windward Islands. This group of islands dates back to the age of yachting and a complete reliance on the natural environment to travel across the Atlantic. The name of this group of islands comes from its relative position further east in the Caribbean, closer to the trade winds, and there is also a group of Leeward Islands further north in the Antilles chain. Trade winds and transatlantic currents mark the dividing line between these two groups of islands. Saint Lucia shares its Windward Island status with Dominica, Martinique and Grenada. Barbados is sometimes considered a Windward Island.
Unlike many Caribbean islands that are built on limestone and coral foundations, the Lesser Antilles chain is volcanic, and many people will remember the events at Montserrat over the past decade when the entire island was evacuated due to an eruption. Saint Lucia itself formed as an island relatively recently due to volcanic activity. The island’s three highest peaks, Mount Gimie and the two Pitons, were originally volcanoes. Sulfur Springs, near Soufriere (French for sulfur) bills itself as the world’s only drive-in volcano.
These sulfur springs are the result of a weak point in a volcanic caldera, high temperatures, and an underground connection to the nearby ocean. The result is superheated steam, strong mineral smells and a fantastic way to spend an afternoon learning about the geology of the island, and even taking a dip in a mineral spring after returning to the city.
Of course, many people choose weddings in St. Lucia because of the island’s beautiful sandy beaches. But for some, geography can also play a role.