St. Lucia is home to an abundance of beauty, including the mesmerizing Diamond Falls and Botanical Gardens. But what’s so special about it? Why should you even bother visiting Diamond Falls St. Lucia? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about this gem of the Caribbean!
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St. Lucia is an unbelievably beautiful island, with so many must-see spots that you don’t want to miss. One of these is the Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens. Here you’ll see one of the most beautiful attractions in St. Lucia – the colorful Diamond Falls.
You’ll also get to experience an enormous variety of colorful plant life in the Botanical Gardens. There are so many gorgeous tropical plants and flowers to see you won’t know where to look first.
Diamond Falls St. Lucia is an ideal destination whether you’re traveling as a couple, or taking a family vacation. Everyone can delight in the beauty of Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens. It’s a spot you should definitely be sure to add to your St. Lucia itinerary, whether you’re staying at a resort on the island or trying one of the many wonderful excursions in St. Lucia for cruise passengers.
What Is The Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens?
Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens sits on a 6 acre portion of the 2,000 acres of land that were granted to the Devaux family by King Louis XIV of France in 1713, in recognition of their service to ‘Crown and Country’.
The Falls are fed via a combination of rainfall and volcanic activity upstream at Sulphur Springs. Although you cannot bathe in the waterfall itself, there are public and private baths that you can bathe in. The water is rich with minerals and restorative properties, making it an ideal healing soak for anyone, especially those with chronic illness.
The Botanical Gardens are an absolutely gorgeous tropical oasis that is teeming with life. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different varieties of flowers, fruits, and plants along well-kept paths.
Where Is Diamond Falls?
Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens is located on the Soufriere Estate in St. Lucia. These beautiful grounds are on the west side of the island, and only a few minutes from Soufriere Town Square.
It is in close proximity to many other attractions in St. Lucia, including other waterfalls and spectacular Caribbean beaches.
What To Do At Diamond Falls St. Lucia
There is something for everyone at Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens in St. Lucia. It’s a multi-sensory experience that is sure to provide lasting memories.
Experience The Botanical Gardens
First, stroll through the lush gardens and enjoy the sights, colors, sounds, and fragrances of a huge variety of plant life. If you’re lucky, you may even see one of the 3 beautiful species of hummingbirds native to St. Lucia!
As you walk along the well-manicured paths, you’ll see gorgeous, vibrant flowers in every color imaginable. You even get to see the extremely toxic Angel’s Trumpet, a plant closely associated with witchcraft, magic, and Shamanism.
Appreciate The Diamond Waterfall
At the end of the gardens is the colorful and beautiful Diamond Falls. You cannot bathe in the Falls due to safety concerns, but you can enjoy its beauty and splendor.
Diamond Falls St. Lucia is a 17 meter high, vibrantly colored natural waterfall fed by rainwater and the Sulphur Springs upstream. Its hue appears to regularly change due to the ample presence of numerous minerals such as sulphur, copper sulphate, magnesium, iron, manganese and calcium.
These minerals effectively stain the rock face behind the falls, and this color varies depending on the specific concentrations of each mineral.
Bathe In Restorative Waters
If you have your heart set on bathing in the restorative waters, you have two options. You can opt for the private baths or the public ones.
The private baths are built on the original site where the historic baths once stood in the 1700’s. These waters are incredibly hot and will likely require cool water to be added in order to create a more comfortable temperature.
The public baths are situated in the open and have clear water at a comfortable temperature.
You can enjoy the baths for an added fee, and you must bring your own swimsuit and towel.
Learn Of Nature’s Wonders
Along with enjoying the immersive beauty of Diamond Falls St. Lucia, you also get the opportunity to learn about the variety of plant life. If you don’t have a tour guide, you can hire one at the gate.
You will be able to learn all about the different fruits and plants native to St. Lucia, and the variety of uses for each.
Learn about St. Lucia’s national tree, the Calabash, and its importance to the history of St. Lucia. Discover the 30 or more varieties of mango on St. Lucia, see cocoa pods, nutmeg, coconut, and so much more.
Best Time To Visit Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens
St. Lucia is a tropical Caribbean island, which means the gardens are beautiful all year round. In general, St. Lucia follows the same pattern of dry and rainy seasons as most of the Caribbean.
Therefore, the rainy season typically falls between June and November. The Caribbean dry season is usually December through April, which is the most popular time to visit.
Whichever time of year you decide to travel to St. Lucia, the afternoon seems to be the best time to visit Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens. There tend to be fewer people at this time, allowing you to enjoy the natural beauty here in an even more tranquil environment.
How To Get To Diamond Falls St. Lucia
Nowadays most people use GPS to navigate through unfamiliar territories. If you are venturing to Diamond Falls St. Lucia on your own and for some reason GPS is not available to you, the Diamond Falls website provides these directions:
From the waterfront of Soufrière: Come one block into town to the town square, turn right at the square and almost immediately take the first left after the square. Continue away from the waterfront, passing the Catholic Church on your left. Pass the Soufrière Estate’s black gates on your right and turn right at the first road (you will see signs). Follow this road to the parking area.
From Castries: Take the west coast highway south to Soufrière. You will cross a single-lane bridge as you come into town, stay on this street until you reach the town square (in the center of town). Stay on this street passing the Catholic Church on your left. Continue out of town, passing Soufrière Estate’s black gates on the right. You will begin seeing signs at this point. Turn right at the first road beyond the gates and follow this road directly to the parking area.
From Vieux Fort: Take the west coast road north to Soufrière. You will come down a steep hill as you come into Soufrière. At the bottom of the hill, you will come to the town square and Catholic church. Turn right and stay on this road, passing Soufrière Estate’s black gates. You will begin seeing signs at this point. Turn right at the first road beyond the gates and follow this road directly over a narrow bridge and around a corner to the parking lot area on the left-hand side.
Tours To Take You To The Diamond Falls
There are many tours you can take to get to the Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens in St. Lucia. Many of these tours will pick you up right from your hotel, as ours did when we stayed at Coconut Bay Resort & Spa.
As always, be sure to read all the details and fine print so you know exactly what to expect. Some tours include admission to the Falls, and others you pay admission when you get there. Some include lunch, and some do not. Make sure you know what is included.
This tour is highly rated, and takes you to a few different spots, including the beautiful Diamond Falls. You’ll also get to experience a restorative mineral mud bath (which is amazing), take a dip in the Toraille Waterfall, and even have a creole lunch at a local restaurant. They will pick you up from any hotel in St. Lucia. Book this tour now.
If you happen to be visiting St. Lucia via a Caribbean cruise, this tour will be perfect for you. It’s designed for passengers who only have a short time on the island, and includes St. Lucia’s top attractions, including of course, Diamond Falls. You can head to the meeting point, or request pickup from 2 other locations. Book this tour now.
For a more customizable tour of St. Lucia, this may be the option for you. You have a list of possible stops to choose from, including Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens. You can be picked up whether you’re staying in a hotel or you’re visiting on a cruise. Book this tour now.
Hours Of Operation And Cost
Diamond Falls Botanicel Gardens is open 365 days a year. Their hours of operation are as follows:
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 4pm
Sunday: 10am – 3pm
Public Holidays: 10am – 3pm
Purchase your tickets at the gate when you arrive.
Adults: US$7 / EC$17.50
Children: Half Price
Private Baths: US$7 – EC$17.50
Public Baths: US$6 – EC$15
It is suggested you give yourself a minimum of one hour to enjoy the gardens and waterfall. If you are experiencing the public or private therapeutic baths you should allow for extra time.
Additional Caribbean and Cruise Resources and Information
My husband and I absolutely LOVE the Caribbean. It’s our go-to vacation location, whether with or without the kids. We take Caribbean cruises, stay in all-inclusive resorts, and go back time and time again. Here are some of our other articles that you may find helpful and informative.
Sulphur Springs St. Lucia – How To Visit The World’s Only Drive In Volcano
The 10 Best St. Lucia Piton Tours
The Best St. Lucia Cruise Excursions
The Complete Review of Coconut Bay Resort In St. Lucia
Top 10 Best Cruise Excursions In Cozumel
Top 10 Best Cruise Excursions In Grand Cayman
37 Cruise Travel Essentials To Make Your Next Vacation Perfect
The Ultimate Caribbean Cruise Packing List
What NOT To Pack For A Caribbean Cruise
Expert Advice and Tips For First Time Cruisers
How To Pick A Cruise – Everything You Need To Know
The Complete Review of Finest Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resort
