St Lucia Carnival 2027
- Tour code
LCACAR01
- Start
Gros Islet
- End
Gros Islet
- Min. age
18 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Classic
- Trip pace
Active
- Language
English
Saint Lucia Carnival takes over the island each July, building through a week of fetes and street parties to two days of parades through Castries, the capital. Bands take to the road in costumes of feathers, beads and sequins, soca fills the streets, and locals and visitors celebrate side by side.
The season reflects the island's African, French and Caribbean roots in its music, dance and storytelling, and it mixes big all-inclusive fetes with neighborhood traditions such as the Gros Islet Street Party and a J'ouvert morning of paint and powder.
This trip covers Carnival week from the first fete to the last lap. You'll go to Escape, Breakfast at Dawn and Sa Ka, jump at the Mess Fete J'ouvert, take to the water at Soca Raff Up and spend a day touring the west coast to Soufrière, with a waterfall, the Sulphur Springs and a volcanic mud bath, before two days on the road in Castries.
Fete tickets, costume coordination and pickup, individual costume photography, group transport and airport transfers are arranged for you, and your Soca Islands Host is with the group throughout.
Why This Journey
Saint Lucia Carnival pairs a full week of soca with one of the Caribbean's most dramatic landscapes, and this trip makes room for both. Between the dawn fetes and the parade, you'll see the fishing villages and volcanic south of the island that most carnival visitors miss.
Traveling with a small Soca Islands group takes the stress out of tickets, costume pickup and getting around at 4 am, and gives you people to celebrate with from the first night. It suits first-time masqueraders, carnival regulars looking for a new road, and anyone who wants a week of music with a little nature to balance it.
Where You'll Stay
Saint Lucia: Harbor Club St Lucia, Curio Collection by Hilton, on the water at Rodney Bay Marina in Gros Islet, close to the Rodney Bay restaurants and the Gros Islet Street Party. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Hotel or guesthouse options can vary by departure and package; the accommodation for your booking is shown in your trip details. Prices are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. You can fly into and out of either George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU) or Hewanorra International Airport (UVF); see the FAQs for how arrival transfers work. Apart from the welcome Escape fete in the evening, events on your arrival day are not included, allowing for flight delays. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Experience the energy of Saint Lucia Carnival with J’ouvert and vibrant street parades
Enjoy nonstop fetes, beach parties, and boat cruises
Explore Saint Lucia through waterfalls, mud baths, and scenic island tours
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Fete (party) tickets
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Costume coordination and costume pickup
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Individual costume photography
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travelers arrange their own)
- Carnival costume and associated costs are not included. All costume payments, including the initial deposit, are made directly through xuvo-carnival.com, allowing you to secure your preferred costume and receive confirmation directly from Xuvo. As an official Xuvo affiliate, Soca Islands will assist with registration coordination, and costume selection guidance. Roundtrip transportation for costume collection is available.
- Events on your arrival day are not included, apart from the welcome Escape fete listed in the itinerary, allowing flexibility for any unexpected flight delays or travel disruptions.
- Meals not mentioned above.
- Travel insurance (proof of purchase required)
- Single room supplement (single rooms are subject to availability)
Group itinerary
Arrive in Saint Lucia and transfer to your accommodation. Once you've settled in, meet your Soca Islands Host and the group you'll be celebrating with this week.
Carnival week starts tonight with the welcome event, Escape, an all-inclusive food and drink fete that is part of your package.
Start early at Breakfast at Dawn (BAD), an inclusive morning party with food and drinks. Later comes Sa Ka, a food-inclusive fete built around Saint Lucian cooking.
After dark the group heads to the Gros Islet Street Party, where the streets of the fishing town fill with music and dancing.
At 4 am it's J'ouvert at the Mess Fete: paint, powder and music as the sun comes up. Return to the hotel to rest, then set sail in the afternoon for Soca Raff Up, a boat fete with music and drinks on the water.
Once you're back on land, the evening is free to relax, find dinner at your own cost or keep celebrating.
A day to see the island. Drive through Castries and down the west coast through the fishing villages of Anse La Raye and Canaries to Soufrière, beneath the Pitons. Swim at the Toraille Waterfall, then visit the Sulphur Springs for the thermal pools and a volcanic mud bath.
In the evening, the final fete on the itinerary is Brazen, a cooler fete where you bring your own drinks.
Parade day one. Put on your full costume and take to the streets of Castries with your band as the Carnival street parade gets underway.
Back on the road in Castries for day two of the parade, this time in Tuesday wear. Some bands provide Tuesday wear, so check what your band includes.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day. Depending on your departure time, there may be a few hours for souvenirs or a last swim before you say goodbye to the group and head to the airport.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Harbor Club St Lucia, Curio Collection by Hilton
A waterfront hotel at Rodney Bay Marina in Gros Islet, in the north of Saint Lucia, looking over the yachts in the marina. The Rodney Bay village restaurants and Reduit Beach area are close by.
The hotel has 115 rooms over seven floors, several restaurants, a large multi-level pool with a hot tub, a spa and a gym, so there is plenty of space to relax between fetes.
Hotel websiteRooms
You'll stay at Harbor Club on the Jul 16, 2027 departure. The hotel varies by departure; each one is listed under Dates and prices.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$1,800 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Jul 16, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
You can fly into and out of either of the island's airports: George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU), near Castries, or Hewanorra International Airport (UVF), near Vieux Fort in the south of the island.
Yes. If you arrive on Day 1 of your adventure or book pre-tour accommodation with us, your airport arrival transfer is included. If you choose alternative pre-tour accommodation or arrive by another mode of transport, you’ll need to arrange your own arrival transfer.
Our arrival transfers are private to Soca Islands and are organised in groups based on flight times. Sometimes this means a short wait at the airport until other flights arrive.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smartraveller health advice.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smartraveller website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
The welcome event, Escape, takes place in the evening of Day 1. We recommend arriving before 3 pm so there's time for your transfer, check-in and a rest before the group heads out; this matters most if you fly into Hewanorra (UVF), which is about 90 minutes' drive from Rodney Bay. Whenever you land, we'll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Proposed accommodation is Harbor Club St Lucia, Curio Collection by Hilton at Rodney Bay Marina, Gros Islet (or similar), subject to confirmation. Hotel or guesthouse options can vary by departure and package; the accommodation for your booking is shown in your trip details.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Food is included at select events, such as the all-inclusive Escape fete and the food-inclusive Breakfast at Dawn and Sa Ka fetes. Other meals are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Would you like to learn more or customise our St Lucia Carnival trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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