Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens

Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens lie on the Soufrière Estate, in a gorge up the road from the Sulphur Springs near the town of Soufrière on the south-west coast of Saint Lucia. The estate was part of a land grant made to the Devaux family by King Louis XIV of France in 1713.

Mineral springs rising from the volcanic area nearby were valued for their healing qualities. In 1784 Baron de Laborie, the French governor, sent samples of the water to Paris for analysis, and King Louis XVI later funded a building with twelve stone baths. The baths were destroyed during the Brigands War of about 1794 to 1798, which followed the French Revolution. André du Boulay later restored them, and his daughter Joan Devaux took over management of the estate in 1983 and developed the gardens for visitors.

The waterfall is the centrepiece. Water fed by the volcanic springs drops about 17 metres down a rock face that minerals such as kaolinite, quartz, gypsum and pyrite have stained in many colours, and the stream below runs dark from volcanic mud. Paths lead through tropical gardens to the waterfall and to the restored mineral baths, where visitors can bathe for an extra fee.

An entrance fee applies, with separate charges for the baths. The gardens are close to the Sulphur Springs and within easy reach of the Pitons, so many visitors combine them in one trip around Soufrière.

What does it cost and when is it open? Adult entry costs USD 7 (EC$17.50), and children pay half. A private mineral bath costs another USD 7 and a public bath USD 6. Tickets are sold only at the gate, as there is no online booking. The gardens open every day of the year, from 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 3pm on Sundays and public holidays.

The gardens cover six acres, planted with tropical flowers, shrubs and trees. Plan at least an hour for the walk to the falls, and more if you want to bathe. The baths are warm, so bring swimwear and a towel.

Combining it with Soufrière. Soufrière town is about a five-minute drive away, and the drive-in Sulphur Springs volcano sits just south. Most cruise and resort day trips from Castries or Rodney Bay take in the falls, the springs and the Pitons in one day, which brings crowds to the gardens between late morning and early afternoon. Arriving at opening time means a quieter path to the waterfall.