What To Expect

What‘s Included

Reviews

• Very disappointed. Felt misled and unsafe.

  Amy G,,Jan 1, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  2.00

  The service is via Cool Vibes taxi and intends to provide excellent transfer to/from the entry point to Gros Piton climbing (hiking guide and park entry fees are paid separately ($50USD per person) at the park). I had anticipated that it would include narration of the local sites, to and from the hike site, water for our hike, and prompt transport with the same driver, after reading the service description before booking. Alas, it was not a great experience for us. We were sent a replacement driver, Brent(?), who picked us up at 5am at the hotel in his private vehicle because he said our CoolVibes driver, Kevin, was running late and would meet us halfway. Brent was very nice, and the vehicle very new and comfortable- but Brent was seemingly doing the pickup as a favor for Kevin? We transferred and Kevin mentioned enroute that he did not have water for us, but would stop to get some. He also mentioned that the park didn't open for hikes until 7am- so we had an extra 30-45 min to kill. He asked if we had had breakfast, and we hadn't, so we were grateful for the stop in Soufriere to visit a roadside vendor who had breakfast sandwiches and coffee/juice available at that early hour (630am). I offered to pay for the breakfast for Kevin and he politely declined. So we had 3 breakfast sandwiches and 3 drinks. I asked Kevin about the water to be provided and he said the most guests brought their own, but could get us some along the way. It was part of the pickup/drop off service package, so I was grateful he was amenable.. Kevin found somewhere in Soufriere to get a single big bottle of water, but still needed 2 more so we would each have one- and all the markets were still closed. He said he would get 2 more at the park for us. We carried on and got to the park in good fashion, by 7am. As he dropped us off, I reminded Kevin that he had promised to get the 2 additional waters and he said "OH yes!" and went to get them. Once equipped, we set off on our hike-- 715am--- and were back at the bottom, ready for departure by 1215pm. For some reason, Kevin seemed reluctant to leave and kept asking me what the plan was. And I said, "I think the plan is to go now" and he seemed in no hurry to leave. Now, I believe he was actually coordinating with someone, Shakil, to meet up with us along the return journey, so that Shakil could take us all the way back to our hotel "in a much larger, more comfortable vehicle." Kevin's vehicle was very new and comfortable, so this transfer was not necessary for us and significantly added to the time (and worry!) for us, as you will read. Kevin mentioned on the way to the drop off point, which turned out to only be about 10 minutes down the road, that he suddenly had to go off to the airport to pick up another passenger instead of taking us back to our hotel. He didn't want to leave that person stranded, so he was helping them out. But he reassured us that the new driver, Shakil, was his best driver, and would take good care of us and had a much larger vehicle. This is where things got VERY stressful. We switched vehicles at the drop off, 5-10 min into our return journey to Rodney Bay.... although I had already tipped Kevin for taking us back to our hotel itself $25 USD, and paid him $40 USD for paying for our breakfast in ECD at the street vendor. After transferring to the other vehicle, Shakil pulled over just 2-3 minutes into that journey, because his front left tire was making a terrible sound, and the van was giving all sorts of warning bells. It turned out the tire had been replaced that morning, and whomever put it back on, had not tightened all of the nuts and the tire was half way off the axle by the time we stopped-- which was VERY alarming. The driver tightened it by hand with a lug nut tightener. and Kevin came back to supervise. And although I expressed concern, Kevin reassured us that Shakil's van was now completely fine and that we should continue on our way. He also said he would call me on WhatsApp, because he could see from the look on my face that I was quite worried. And we were off again, although a few minutes into the journey, the back right side began making a grinding sound that was alarming. As the journey went on, it got more pronounced, especially when the vehicle accelerated. Alf and I wanted to stop and see if it was a tire again-- or the bearings? It sounded like it needed to be urgently addressed and driving around Saint Lucia is not for the faint of heart ---even in a vehicle that is quite well maintained. The driver did not stop and said he knew exactly what the sound was and it was not the tire. To drive for the remainder of the journey, with that sound, was very disconcerting and felt unsafe. We did not talk at all. I felt I had no options at that point to demand that we stop and get a new ride provided. The engine seemed to have little power going up hills, and we had to go very slowly. I had thought we would be back to our hotel in 1.5 hours after we reached the parking lot at Gros Piton, when our grueling hike was over. But, sadly, it was almost 3 hours--- 310pm before we got to our hotel. I felt really bad for Shakil and knew that he likely needed some extra money to get his van fixed, so I tipped him $30USD. Kevin never called to check in with me that night on WhatsApp, or emailed. In the end, I was left feeling like I had overpaid ($300 USD plus $55 USD in tips and $40 USD for breakfast repayment) for the service provided. I did not get a smooth, stress free experience getting to and from what was a very memorable and lovely hike. I believe that for the price we paid, we should have been met with waters on hand, had the same driver all the way through, and we would have gotten back to our hotel much earlier and with less fear. Very disappointed.

• We took the kids to the Diamond

  545bristyr,,Dec 19, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We took the kids to the Diamond Botanical Garden. They loved the colorful flowers and the old mill. The waterfall at the end was really cool. A perfect family outing and a nice break from the sun.

• All right.

  boishakir,,Dec 18, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Very reliable taxi service. The driver was kind and careful on the roads. We used this service several times to go to the beach and restaurant Always on time and the car was clean.

• Gros Piton Hike and Guide Experience

  almalZ2815TP,,Dec 6, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  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:)

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Cool Vibes Shuttle stood...

  Linton J,,Jun 27, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  1.00

  Cool Vibes Shuttle stood us up at the resort stating we didn't respond to emails and didn't specify which resort to be picked up from even though it was clearly defined in the initial purchase package. The phone number provided was not operable as myself and the resort tried several times We were left stranded with no alternatives but to stay in our rooms for a day A waste...Viator is excellent, Cool Vibes St. Lucia, a huge disappointment with zero accountability.

• Never showed up!!

  hannah R,,Jun 15, 2025

  - Review from Viator

  1.00

  If you’re reading these reviews please DO NOT book this taxi. You will be stood up. We were supposed to be picked up at 8am and our driver never showed up and we couldn’t even get in contact with them. By the time we booked a taxi through our resort (at 9:45 after waiting over an hour and a half) the driver finally showed up… Tried to say he was trying to get into contact with us but he definitely did not. Hopefully we can get a refund….

• Decent hike

  shannam416,,Apr 21, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  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.

• Tip for hikers of a certain age.

  H8087KAjohnk,,Mar 26, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  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.

  

  

• Not so bad if you do Petit Piton first!

  Klicky222,,Mar 11, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  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!

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Dissapointing to be let down.

  UrbanSalesman,,Jan 9, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  1.00

  The driver did not show up, as scheduled. We we were unable to get a response from the driver or the company until 45 minutes after the scheduled meet. As this was the last day of our trip, we missed out on doing this activity. 😢

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