We all know that the Caribbean is known for its white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and relaxing tropical environment. However, there are a ton of different islands to choose from when deciding where you want to vacation.
We highly recommend you don’t sleep on St. Lucia if getting close to nature and experiencing a vibrant local culture is on your list of things to do! Not only that, but it’s best appreciated from a relaxing cruise along the coastline, with lots of water sports mixed in!
We have the top St. Lucia sunset cruises and boat tours out there for you – hand-picked to perfection! Let’s jump right in!
Be sure to see our reviews on St Lucia zipline rainforest adventures!
Best Sunset Cruises & Boat Tours in St. Lucia
| St Lucia Catamaran Day Sailing and Sightseeing Tour | Champagne Sunset Sail in St. Lucia | Private Boat to Soufriere/West Coast For Swimming Snorkeling & Beach Relaxation | |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Sightseeing Cruise | Best Sunset Cruise | Best Private Cruise | |
 | |||
 |  | | |
| Departure: | Hotel pickup and drop-off included | Rodney Bay Marina, St Lucia | Port pickup and drop-off included, Hotel pickup available |
| Start: | 8:10 am | 5:00 pm | Variety available |
| Duration: | 8 hours | 2 hours | 3 to 6 hours |
| Includes: | Catamaran Cruise, Lunch | Beverages, Glass of Champagne, Light refreshments, Snacks, Unlimited drinks (open bar) | Docking Fees, Beverages (bottled water, beer, local rum,soda), Local guide, Local taxes, Port pickup and drop-off |
Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated St. Lucia Sunset Cruises & Boat Tours
- St Lucia Catamaran Day Sailing and Sightseeing Tour
- Champagne Sunset Sail in St. Lucia
- Private Boat to Soufriere/West Coast For Swimming Snorkeling & Beach Relaxation
- St Lucia Full-Day Catamaran Sightseeing Cruise With Snorkeling
- Private Half Day Charter: St Lucia Boat Tour to Soufriere
St. Lucia Sunset Cruise & Boat Tour Reviews
1. St Lucia Catamaran Day Sailing and Sightseeing Tour
- Duration: 8 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 8:10 am
- Includes: Catamaran Cruise, Lunch
As one of the longest tours on our guide, this excursion is one of the most comprehensive experiences! If you’ve just arrive to St. Lucia and want to pack in as much as possible, this one is a great way to do so.
The St. Lucia Catamaran Day Sailing and Sightseeing Tour will give you a new perspective of the area, showing you some of the biggest highlights and secret gems it has to offer.
Start off by being picked up from your North Island hotel and transfer to the harbor to hop aboard your state-of-the-art catamaran! The vessel is more than big enough for everyone, with plenty of room to soak up the sun on the deck and take in the 360 views.
Once at Soufriere Bay, you’ll have a fantastic view of the Pitons, which are 2 volcanic spires that soar up and out of the water to create a picture-perfect majestic scene. After taking photos and enjoying your unique perspective of the Pitons from your catamaran, head over to Sulphur Springs.
Sulphur Springs brings in people from all over the planet, not only for its detoxification abilities on the human body, but because it’s the only drive-in volcano in the world. The sulphur mud baths can help everything from healing sun burns and eczema, to relieving pain from arthritis and other bodily inflammation!
The black water pool baths are incredibly relaxing, full of helpful minerals, plus, they just look cool! Follow that up with an exciting opportunity to go swim with marine life at the Anse Cochon beach, with your snorkel use included.
If you’ve never snorkeled before, there’s no need to worry, as the guides will help teach you and make sure you have a great time.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
2. Champagne Sunset Sail in St. Lucia
- Duration: 2 hours
- Departure: Rodney Bay Marina, St Lucia
- Departure Time: 5:00 pm
- Includes: Beverages, Glass of Champagne, Light refreshments, Snacks, Unlimited drinks (open bar)
Perhaps you’re in St. Lucia to celebrate a special occasion, such as an anniversary, birthday, or just life! Maybe you have a packed schedule and don’t have time for a full 8-hour tour.
Whatever the case may be, we know the Champagne Sunset Sail in St. Lucia will fit into your needs and exceed your expectations, perfectly!
Head over to Rodney Bay Marina and make sure you’re ready for a whole lot of fun! Board a spacious, modern catamaran and be greeted by a friendly captain and crew.
Upon arrival, you’ll have plenty of time to walk around the spacious deck while enjoying unlimited drinks from an open bar as well as plenty of complimentary snacks. The local tropical music playing over the boat’s sound system set the mood for a lighthearted and exciting adventure, too!
You’ll set sail at the perfect time to enjoy a magical sunset, with a neon citrus sky reflecting off of the water as you let all of your worries melt away. If you’re lucky, you may even get to witness the phenomenon that is the green flash!
When conditions are just right, a mirage and sunlight dispersion combine to create a bright green flash just as the sun sets. The captain and crew do a fantastic job of making everyone feel welcome, and if you are celebrating a special occasion, they only make it that much more special.
Champagne sunsets with the steel pan to set the mood is so magical, you’re sure to come back to do it again!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
3. Private Boat to Soufriere/West Coast For Swimming Snorkeling & Beach Relaxation
- Duration: 3 to 6 hours
- Departure: Port pickup and drop-off included, Hotel pickup available
- Departure Time: Variety available
- Includes: Docking Fees, Beverages (bottled water, beer, local rum,soda), Local guide, Local taxes, Port pickup and drop-off
How would you like to be able to take your own, private boat out on the water with a professional local captain to show you the best parts of St. Lucia? Well, now you can, with the Private Boat to Soufriere/West Coast for Swimming Snorkeling & Beach Relaxation Tour!
This is a customizable tour, which can range from 3 to 6 hours, depending on which activities and routes you’d like to include. Your guide will ask you for your input and special interests you may have, in order to design the ideal tour for you and the rest of your party.
Depending on the size of your party, the boat size and type will also typically change to ensure there’s enough space for everyone. You’ll be picked up either at the port or at your hotel, depending on which is more convenient for you (whether you’re staying in land accommodations or on a cruise ship, for example).
The guides are super educated on the area, as they’re typically locals, happily sharing interesting facts and anecdotes about the locations as you stop or pass by. Before arriving to Jalousie Beach, you’ll pass by the small fishing villages of Anse La Raye and Canaries, which are great for photo ops.
Arrive at Jalousie Beach’s white sand flank where you can soak up the sun on shore or don an included snorkel and splash around with the vibrant local marine life!
Anse Chastanet Beach and reef is another special spot, and if you’re really looking forward to snorkeling, you can’t forget Anse Cochon. The picturesque location of Marigot Bay has served as the background of many Hollywood blockbuster films, and you’ll soon see why.
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
4. St Lucia Full-Day Catamaran Sightseeing Cruise With Snorkeling
- Duration: 8 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: 8:30 am
- Includes: All taxes, fees and handling charges, Unlimited drinks (Rum Punch, Fruit Punch, Soft Drinks, Water, Rum Mixes), Authentic creole buffet lunch, Use of snorkeling equipment, Live commentary on board, Local guide, Lunch
There’s a whole lot to see in St. Lucia, and if you want to pack a good portion of them in to one day, we have a fantastic tour for you! This magnificent country sports a rich culture, dramatic scenery, vibrant wildlife, delicious food, and so much more.
With the St. Lucia Full-Day Catamaran Sightseeing Cruise with Snorkeling Tour, you’ll get to immerse yourself in it all! Starting off at 8:30 am with a convenient pickup right from your hotel, you’ll have plenty of time to have time in and on the water while avoiding crowds!
Take off from Rodney Bay Marina, and watch as the legendary Pitons from Soufriere Bay come into view! These volcanic plugs are actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and if you’re into hiking, you’ll have to make a trek up them later on in your visit!
Your first stop of the day is the ever-popular attraction of the Toraille Falls. They’re easy to access and worth seeing not only for the beautiful falls, but for the refreshing plunge pool ideal for taking a cool dip under them.
After that, head out to the Morne Coubaril Historical Adventure Park where you’ll learn about the 18th-century cocoa plantation and enjoy a delicious buffet lunch of traditional plates.
After refueling, get prepared for utter relaxation at the Sulphur Springs, where you can let your tension melt away in a hot bath or take a guided tour of this unique volcano!
After, make your way over to the secluded, curved Anse Cochon beach with clear, warm waters perfect for snorkeling. Even more so, due to the location of the Anse Cochon reef perfect for exploring!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
5. Private Half Day Charter: St Lucia Boat Tour to Soufriere
- Duration: 1 to 4 hours
- Departure: Hotel pickup and drop-off included
- Departure Time: Variety available
- Includes:Local guide, Pickup and drop-off at Castries cruise ship port, Private tour, Unlimited beer, water and soft drinks, Alcoholic Beverages, Bottled water, Use of Snorkeling equipment
How would you like to spend a few hours out on the water on a private boat with a few of your favorite people? With the Private Half Day Charter: St. Lucia Tour to Soufriere, you’ll get a private tour from a professional guide who knows all of the area’s best spots!
You get to customize it to suit your interests and schedule, so there’s no worry about it not working into your itinerary! Pick the start time that works best for you, and your local guide will come and pick and the rest of your party up from your hotel.
Arrive to the Rodney Bay Marina, where you’ll board your boat that will take you out to Soufriere. Pass by the hidden gem of Anse La Raye fishing village (highly recommend attending a tasty fish fry here at night!), Canaries fishing village, and come to the natural masterpiece that is the Pitons.
If you’re going to make an effort to see any tourist attraction in St. Lucia, make sure it’s the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Pitons. They’re also a moderately easy climb if you and the rest of your crew would like to take a breathtaking hike up them later on!
Next, head over to Jalousie Beach, more commonly known as the “Sugar Beach” due to the Sugar Beach resort being located here. Jalousie Beach features white sand, crystal-clear turquoise waters, located right at the foot of the country’s hallmark Pitons!
This is a magical place to go snorkeling or simply hang out on the beach, but we highly recommend snorkeling a bit as you’ll see all kinds of coral, parrot fish, needle fish, trumpet fish, and maybe even an octopus or turtle if you’re lucky!
Afterward, check out the Anse Chastanet Beach and reef, along with Marigot Bay!
More Information & Tour Booking
100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience
St. Lucia Sunset Cruises: What to Actually Expect on the Water
The Pitons don’t look real from land. From the deck of a catamaran, with the sun dropping behind them and rum punch in your hand, they look even less real.
That’s the whole pitch for a St. Lucia sunset cruise. Two hours, one boat, and the best view the island has of itself.
I’ve done the big shared catamaran out of Rodney Bay and a small private charter out of Marigot Bay. Both deliver the sunset. Which one you want depends on what kind of evening you’re actually after.
Why This Is Worth Building Into Your Trip
St. Lucia’s west coast is where the island shows off. The Pitons, two volcanic spires rising straight out of the sea near Soufriere, are the single most photographed thing on the island, and they’re genuinely best seen from the water at golden hour.
A sunset cruise isn’t really about covering distance. Most run a relatively short stretch of coastline, usually somewhere between Rodney Bay and Marigot Bay or further south toward Soufriere, timed entirely around getting you positioned for the sunset itself rather than sightseeing at a fast clip.
It’s also one of the few St. Lucia activities that works well for people who wouldn’t otherwise get on a boat. Most sunset cruises are calm, short, and don’t involve snorkeling or swimming stops, so seasickness-prone travelers and older guests tend to do fine.
The catch is that a sunset cruise is a mood, not a full-day excursion. If you want the Pitons up close, hiking, or a proper snorkeling stop, that’s a different, longer tour.
When to Go
December through April is St. Lucia’s dry season, and it’s the best window for a sunset cruise specifically because clear skies mean an actual visible sunset instead of a wall of clouds on the horizon.
June through November is hurricane season. Storms don’t hit every week, but rain squalls and rougher seas are more common, and operators do cancel cruises when conditions turn. Book with a flexible cancellation policy if you’re traveling in this window.
Within any given trip, book your sunset cruise for one of your earlier days on the island, not your last night. Weather cancellations happen, and having a backup evening free to rebook is worth more than you’d think.
The sunset itself sits around 6 p.m. year-round this close to the equator, with minimal seasonal swing. Most operators depart around 5 p.m. to get you positioned in time.
Shared Cruise vs. Private Charter
The standard shared sunset cruise out of Rodney Bay runs about two hours, holds a decent-sized group, and typically includes champagne, rum punch, a soft drink option, and light appetizers. Hotel pickup from most northern St. Lucia resorts is usually included.
This is the option that makes sense for couples or solo travelers who don’t need the boat to themselves. It’s social, it’s affordable relative to the alternative, and the format is basically identical across most operators running out of Rodney Bay.
A private charter changes the equation entirely. You’re booking the whole boat, which means the price is per boat, not per person, and it swings enormously based on boat size and departure point. A small speedboat for two runs a few hundred dollars. A private catamaran that fits ten to fifteen people runs well over a thousand.
Private charters make the most sense for a special occasion, proposal, honeymoon, or a group traveling together who wants the boat and the route to themselves. Departure point matters here too, since chartering out of Soufriere puts you closer to the Pitons from the start rather than motoring down from Rodney Bay.
One thing worth knowing about either option. Some operators describe a “green flash” as something to watch for right as the sun dips below the horizon. It’s a real, if brief and easy-to-miss, optical phenomenon, not a marketing invention, but don’t build your whole evening around catching it.
What You’ll Actually See
A typical route out of Rodney Bay heads south along the west coast, past Marigot Bay’s narrow, yacht-filled harbor, toward the Pitons before turning back as the light fades.
- Marigot Bay. Often the first real photo stop, a narrow inlet ringed by hills that’s been used as a filming location more than once for exactly that reason.
- The Pitons. Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the island’s defining landmark, best seen from directly offshore where you get both peaks in frame.
- Soufriere. The old French colonial town at the base of the Pitons, visible from the water even if your cruise doesn’t stop there.
- The sunset itself. Most captains time the return leg or a stationary drift specifically around the 6 p.m. drop, cutting music and slowing the boat so everyone actually gets a clear view.
If your itinerary includes a stop at Soufriere or the Pitons specifically, confirm it before booking. Plenty of “sunset cruises” are scenic coastal runs that pass the Pitons at a distance rather than anchoring near them, which is fine, but worth knowing in advance if getting close is the whole reason you booked.
What It Costs and How to Plan
A standard shared sunset catamaran cruise out of Rodney Bay runs roughly $68 to $75 per person, including drinks and appetizers, for about two hours on the water.
Small private charters, a speedboat for two to four people, start around $250 to $450 depending on the boat and typically add an $80 fuel surcharge paid on the day. Larger private catamaran charters accommodating eight to fifteen guests run from roughly $1,000 up to $1,800, priced per boat rather than per person, which makes them far more reasonable if you’re splitting the cost across a full group.
Departure point affects private charter pricing too. Chartering directly from Soufriere, closer to the Pitons, generally costs more than starting from Rodney Bay in the north, since the boat has less distance to cover to get you there.
Gratuities are typically not included in any of these prices and are worth budgeting separately, especially for a crew running a private charter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book a sunset cruise in advance?
Yes, especially during dry season from December through April. Popular shared cruises out of Rodney Bay can sell out several days ahead during peak weeks.
Will I actually see the Pitons up close?
Depends on the route. Cruises departing from Soufriere get you closest. Cruises out of Rodney Bay usually give you a clear distant view rather than an up-close pass, so check the specific itinerary if that’s your priority.
What should I bring on a sunset cruise?
A light jacket or cover-up, since it cools off once the sun’s down, plus a camera or phone with the flash off for the actual sunset shots. Most cruises don’t require swimwear since there’s usually no swim stop.
Is a sunset cruise family-friendly?
Generally yes for older kids and teens. Some operators set a minimum age around 2, but the alcohol-focused shared cruises skew toward couples and adult groups rather than young families.
What happens if the weather cancels my cruise?
Most reputable operators offer a full refund or reschedule for cancellations due to weather, typically communicated the same day. This is exactly why booking earlier in your trip rather than your last night matters.
Is a private charter worth the extra cost over a shared cruise?
If you’re traveling as a couple wanting privacy, or a group large enough to split the per-boat price, yes. For a solo traveler or a pair not chasing a special occasion, the shared cruise delivers the same sunset for a fraction of the cost.
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The St Lucia Catamaran Day Sailing and Sightseeing Tour is our Editors Choice for the best St. Lucia boat tour.
