Maria Islands Nature Reserve

Off Vieux Fort, Saint Lucia

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Maria Islands Nature Reserve, comprising the uninhabited islets of Maria Major (10.1 hectares) and Maria Minor (1.6 hectares) located half a mile off Pointe Sable near Vieux Fort on Saint Lucia's southeast coast, was declared a protected wildlife area in 1982 to safeguard its unique biodiversity, including the world's rarest snake, the Saint Lucia racer, and the endangered Saint Lucia whiptail lizard, alongside over 80 plant species and migratory birds from Africa.

Accessible only by guided boat tours arranged through the Saint Lucia National Trust from Vieux Fort—typically 20-30 minutes across turquoise waters fringed by coral reefs ideal for snorkeling, the reserve features a short hike on Maria Major past scrub-covered slopes, rocky cliffs teeming with terns, boobies, noddies, frigatebirds, and tropicbirds, plus a pristine white-sand beach for relaxation.

Tours by appointment emphasize strict rules like no littering or fires to protect nesting seasons (May-August, with variable restrictions), offering castaway-like solitude, panoramic views of the Pitons and Pointe Sable, and educational insights into endemic reptiles and marine life in this human-free ecological haven.​