We did not arrive in Castries, St. Lucia until about 10:00 am. This was the day we had reserved for some serious sightseeing. We did have, however, a very specific itinerary in mind, so once again, we chose to make our own arrangements, rather than take an excursion through RCI. Once we hit land, we negotiated with a gentleman to utilize his escorted van services for $25 per person. At first, we were not sure we had made a wise choice. Castries, is a gated port, and the van we had arranged to escort us was on the outside of the gated and guarded area. As we walked to the van, safety and legality were thoughts running through our minds. We were to discover, however, that the van was VERY safe, our driver was outstanding, and we were doing nothing illegal. (Apparently there is a surcharge of 10% that all cabs are required to pay, if they are inside the gates). St. Lucia is not only a beautiful island, but was perhaps the highlight of my island hopping on this trip. Our journey began with a trip through the lush, mountainous island to Soufriere, the location of the drive-in volcano, and sulphur springs. On our way we stopped at a banana plantation, the Governor’s mansion, the university, and numerous lookout points to view the magnificent Pitons. A visit to the volcano is most definitely worth the time. It is a fascinating, and informative journey. Our driver was exceptionally knowledgeable, and provided a very colorful history of the island. Once we left the volcano, we headed for the beach at Anse Chastenet. Getting to Anse Chastenet is an adventure in itself. The only way in or out of this beachfront paradise is a 3 mile long, winding, one lane, dirt road. There are points along the way, that if 2 vehicles meet, one of them must back up to allow the other to pass. As you traverse this road, and look down at the sheer drop offs that one hovers next to, this can be a daunting trip. But, I must tell you; the reward is worth the effort. Without a doubt, this is the most beautiful black sand beach I have seen, and would have to rank as one of my top 10 beaches in the world. The water is crystal clear, and the view is magnificent. Although there are, restrooms, showers, and a beachfront restaurant and bar, this is a quiet, secluded beach. It can best be described as a secret bit of heaven on earth. Needless to say, our guide had to drag us from this spot, in order to return to the ship on time.