Gros Piton Hike St. Lucia

The hike itself was very rewarding but challenging. I would say it’s more of a rock climb than a hike. We were somewhat prepared. Main thing is to have enough water and good walking shoes. The mandatory guide was disappointing. She was not supportive or encouraging and left us at half way point which was fine, she wasn’t feeling well. However, she didn’t want to go back down without us, because she thought it would look bad. At the end of the hike we stopped to have popsicles and a drink. We sat down for a few minutes and she got mad at us because she wasn’t friends with the ladies working there, who were super nice. We got into an argument with her because we were tired at this point after 5.5 hours of hiking in total. The guides don’t seem knowledgeable about the area or trail, more information and encouragement would have been way better. We climbed on our own which was more than fine. Don’t see the purpose of having a guide. Some of them are older and I think doing this hike 3-4x a week is a hard job. Considering this is a UNESCO heritage site, having better guides who can provide information about the area and flora and fauna and also encouragement during the hike would be valuable. The views at the very top were ok….i preferred the views along the way and at halfway point of the Petit Piton. It was quite rewarding to sit at Sugar Beach the next day and enjoy the view of the Gros Piton, knowing we had climbed it the day before. Not an easy feat and most locals have not even done it. Good luck, you can do it:)

This hike was not as hard as most reviews made it seem. When we first read the reviews, we (32 female, 33 male) were a bit scared of how hard it would be. As a couple who works out 4-5 times a week, it was challenging but would classify it as an intermediate hike. We come from the Rocky Mountains so used to a bit more challenging hikes. The cost was quite a bit for what it was. $50USD each plus a tip for the guide at the end. The roads to get there were very windy and a long trip from where we were staying in Rodney Bay (about 2 1/2 hours) when we left at 5:30 am. I would recommend going earlier in the day to avoid the heat.

I’m 69 yo, in okay shape but definitely drink & smoke more than I hike. Gros Piton is a steep climb but the 20-30 somethings look like mountain goats scooting up and down. I worried about whether it would be manageable — and fun! — for an older guy. It was! The key to a great up $ back was to get the right guide (required and comes with the entry fee) and to go slow. Strongly recommend Margo, who was kind, accommodating, carried extra water for me. We stopped when I was winded, she wisely encouraged me to rent a pole, and kept a hard climb from ever feeling like a hardship. Go early, get Margo, you’ll never look at the St. Lucia flag the same way again.

We hiked Gros Piton on day 4 of our trip. We wanted to hike both pitons so started with the harder Petit Piton on day 1 of our trip. We drove ourselves to the Pitons. There was a detour so it took us much longer to get there than anticipated. After parking, you pay and receive a guide. It is $50 US per person and the guide is mandatory. Our guide was Kevin. We have heard from others that the guide can make you feel rushed and like you have to keep up with group pace. Because it was just my husband and I, we did not experience this. Kevin let us set the pace and was available to answer questions we had about the island in general when we asked. After you pay you go to the welcome center where they show a model of Gros Piton and offer you trekking poles for $5 and electrolyte additives for your water. You also sign a waiver. They do have bathrooms at this point as well to use prior to getting started. The trail is broken into 4 sections and is approximately 2 miles each way. The first section is quite easy (for us, we are very fit) with minimal scrambling. At the first lookout, a man is selling water, Piton beer, and coconuts. this is the only lookout where these will be available for purchase. The next half mile starts to get more challenging with steeper inclines. The halfway point has a beautiful lookout to Petit Piton. Many people turn around after this point due to the challenging nature of the trail and the beauty of this lookout. The second half starts to get more into the jungle, which means it is a bit muddier and the rocks can be a little slipperier so solid footing is important. There are a few scramble areas, but nothing too crazy. The last 1/4 is more of a scramble and is quite in the jungle. i likened it to being in Jurassic park! After this steeper part you will get to the top. The lookout gives a panoramic view of one side of the island. There are plenty of flat rocks to sit down and have a snack or drink water. Your guide will be more than happy to take photos of you as well. Ours did not rush us at all. At the top we noticed 2 children approximately 8 and 10 years old showing that it is possible for kids to complete it, but I encourage you to ensure they practice safety and are physically fit. They estimate about 2-3 hours up. we got up in 2 hours and down in 1, but again, we were prepared for the intensity of the trail. While the descent is much easier, you still need to ensure caution as areas can be steep and slick. Let your guide know if you need assistance or a break. Once you get down to the bottom you can purchase refreshments, snacks, or homemade ice cream. the homemade ice cream was amazing! You get 2 scoops and I chose sour sop and passion fruit. Sour sop was good but passion fruit was AMAZING! It’s a nice way to cool off and end your trek. We tipped our guide at the end because we appreciated that he let us do our own thing without dictating how to do things. My takeaways - we did Petit Piton first, which was far more difficult in every aspect. The views on petit are nearly 360 vs half the island. We also saw maybe 3 other people on the trail of Petit. Gros Piton is definitely difficult in its own way. The average person should feel very accomplished to complete it and should ensure a decent base level of fitness before starting. Because of the tour groups that frequent Gros Piton and the fact it is government sanctioned, Gros piton was far more busy, so you will be sharing the trail going up and down as well as at the top with several other people. The views are still stunning. If we didn’t do Petit Piton, I probably would have said this was 5 stars, but, the achievement of Petit jaded me a little bit to the touristy nature of Gros. BUT - I still highly encourage thrill seekers to check it out. Also to note, the bottom of Gros Piton is actually a small community where the workers and their families reside. Seeing this alone was pretty neat!

This was only for a taxi ride that you can get anywhere in town for half the price. Once you get to the Piton’s, then you pay a required $50 per person for the entrance fee.

What stood out about Kevin was his attention to detail. He recommended the most delicious local snacks and timed everything to avoid crowds. From waterfalls to mud baths, every moment was memorable. Can’t wait to book him again!

Not gonna lie, Kevin was the highlight of our trip! He took us to the mud baths, a scenic waterfall, and even helped us shop locally. His local insights made everything better. Roads were a bit bumpy, but his driving skills made us feel totally safe.

Kevin knew so much about the island! From the Sulphur Springs to the botanical gardens, he shared fascinating stories. You won’t believe this—he even found us the perfect spot for sunset photos. To sum it up, this was a tour worth every penny!

We did this independently we hired a jeep and drove from Soufriere once there guide was assigned to you go early we went for a 6.30 start, Jason our guide was very quiet but did his job tipped him accordingly… This hike is Not for the weak hikers very challenging from start to finish but so worth it, take plenty of water the heat can be too much all in all a fab hike as we’re keen hikers

This is not a tour for the hike. This is just a taxi transfer to the base of the mountain where you need to pay for the actual hike. For my experience, the taxi driver showed up 35 minutes late to pick me up to start the hike (I was the only guest) and then showed up 30 minutes after the agreed upon time when I was done with the hike. The hike is awesome by the way, but that is not part of this tour package