Community tourism elevates St. Lucia locals, experiences
This all-terrain vehicle ride was more than an adrenaline adventure. It was a dive into St. Lucia's heart.
I was on the Irie Valley Ride with Eastern Exotic ATV Tours, a half-day excursion that blends back-road thrills with cultural immersion. Our vehicles climbed muddy mountain trails slick with rain, the scent of guava sweetening the air.
At the summit, where bulbous blossoms drooped low and the island unfurled below us, the buzz of the ATVs gave way to something softer.
The Irie Valley Ride takes travelers through banana plantations and guava orchards. Photo Credit: Meagan Drillinger
We'd arrived at a Rastafarian community nestled in the Mabouya Valley. From a hillside perch, a Rasta elder greeted us with freshly baked coconut bread and stories about the lifestyle and community-based living. This experience was just one piece of a much larger movement sweeping across St. Lucia: an effort to root tourism in the people, not just the place.
This is the new St. Lucia. Or, rather, the St. Lucia that has always been there, based on community, culture and sustainability. Now, through new initiatives and immersive experiences, travelers are being invited in.
The rise of community tourism
In 2025, St. Lucia's Community Tourism Agency has gone full throttle. With the motto "See, Do, Stay," the agency is empowering micro, small, and medium-size enterprises (MSMEs) across the island to build and profit from tourism experiences.
These aren't generic tours. They're sea moss farming demonstrations, cassava-baking workshops, women-led agritourism initiatives and community-based kayaking expeditions. They're built by locals, for locals and shared with travelers who want a deeper connection.
Through grants, low-interest loans, training programs, infrastructure support and marketing assistance, the Community Tourism Agency gives local entrepreneurs the tools to elevate their businesses and reach international visitors.
The bay in front of Ti Kaye Resort & Spa is a top snorkel spot. Photo Credit: Meagan Drillinger
Projects worth exploring
Let's start with the ATV tour, which is one of the agency's latest success stories. This locally owned venture takes guests through the agricultural heart of the Mabouya Valley, culminating in visits with Rastafarian community members and organic farmers. It layers cultural storytelling with ecological insight, offering an inside look into a way of life that is tied to the land.
Then there is the Morne Fortune view point (Morne Layby). One of Castries' most beautiful lookouts is getting a glow-up. The popular photo stop for visitors heading along the west coast has been revitalized with improved walkways, new artisan vendor stalls and interpretation panels that share the site's history, including the colonial past and its role in the island's independence movement. The goal is to make it a meaningful pause in the journey, more than just a quick scenic stop.
Along the western coast, the fishing village of Anse La Raye is getting a gentle nudge into the nautical tourism space. With the support of the tourism agency, the village's jetty has been upgraded to safely welcome more daytrippers and boaters.
Mooring buoys have been installed to attract smaller boats. These upgrades are designed to disperse tourism away from the north and give smaller communities a chance to thrive economically.
Then there is Helen's Daughters, a powerful nonprofit that puts women at the forefront of agriculture. Through farm-to-table tours, hands-on harvesting, cooking workshops and women-led market visits, Helen's Daughters connects travelers with the grassroots of St. Lucian food production.
Visitors can spend a day with Helen herself, learning how to grow crops, listening to her stories, planting their own seedlings and then whipping up their own spice blends. Every experience directly supports the livelihoods of local women.
Ti Kaye sits on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean. Photo Credit: Meagan Drillinger
Where to stay (responsibly)
For a socially responsible boutique hotel on St. Lucia, Ti Kaye Resort & Spa matches the spirit of these grassroots experiences. Perched dramatically above Anse Cochon on the western coast, this adults-only retreat is quiet, romantic and emphasizes sustainable practices.
Ti Kaye goes beyond green practices by committing to its people. Staff benefit from healthcare subsidies and education support for themselves and their children, and many have been with the resort for over a decade.
Guests are treated to a true sense of place, from the Kai Koko Spa's island-sourced ingredients to the Creole-inflected menus that spotlight local farmers and fishers. The private plunge pools, secluded beach and wood-fired pizza oven don't hurt the resort's appeal, either.
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