Exploring Castries market in St Lucia
I love a good market. At home or abroad, there’s something about wandering aimlessly, seeing what you stumble upon and snaffling a bargain (even if that involves using my rusty haggling skills). And Castries market, St Lucia definitely didn’t disappoint.
Split into different sections for food, drink and spices, as well as areas for carvings, jewellery and souvenirs/tat (depending on your point of view), there’s almost as much to see as there is to buy.
More than 300 regulars come to sell their wares, more on special market days. Wander in from Jeremie street and you could spend 20 minutes soaking in the atmosphere, or longer strolling and browsing.
Starting outside is the fresh fish, brought straight from the main harbour over the road, some almost as brightly coloured as the trays it’s sold from.
And someone to fillet it… (Now that’s what you call a fish knife)
Fruit and veg, fatter, juicier, more colourful and definitely more exotic than at home… We saw mangoes, jackfruit, soursop and breadfruit growing all over the island, as well as more we had no name for.
Glossy and vibrant, I loved the shining greens as they lay piled up.
Then spices galore – nutmeg still in its mace fruit, packets and packets of powdered versions, cocoa sticks to make chocolate tea, rum and more rum, plus sauces including banana ketchup mostly for just a few dollars.
St Lucia’s chocolate growing history stretches back centuries – we tried a bean to bar tour, so couldn’t resist picking up one of the sticks to bring back home.
And plenty of brightly coloured stalls selling food to eat on the go, including the national dish of salt fish and green bananas – if I hadn’t been short on time, I’d have been very tempted to stop and try some.
Thankfully Minnie is too young to have grasped pester power just yet as the stallholders laughingly tried to persuade her to ask me to buy everything from a reversible doll to a crochet dress to a kids’ T-shirt.
And while it’s a working market rather than an attraction, everyone’s welcome.
It’s easy to wheel a buggy round, while older kids would love the bustle and colour just as much – and with plenty of locals shopping, chatting and eating, it’s a great glimpse into a very different world from the average supermarket shop at home.
For more of St Lucia’s sights, check out our visit to Babonneau with zipwiring and the aerial tram, the ‘drive-in volcano’ at Soufriere and making chocolate at Hotel Chocolat’s plantation.
PIN FOR LATER: CASTRIES MARKET IN ST LUCIA
Images copyright MummyTravels/Cathy Winston
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Who doesn’t love a good market? But oh man.. The guy with the fish knife looks scary!! #CityTripping
Absolutely – love wandering around the when I travel. And I definitely wouldn’t have haggled with that fishmonger!
Food markets are always a highlight of any trip for me. Favourites include Dubai, Paris and Barcelona. So colourful but it’s always the smells I remember, sometimes years later when I smell them again and get taken right back there. #CityTripping
Same here – I went to a fascinating one in Laos, but Barcelona is definitely a great one. And I love how one scent can whisk you half-way around the world.
Yes you really get to the heart of a place at the markets. I like the look of those juicy mangoes! Tropical fruit is so delicious straight from the tree #citytripping
Definitely – such huge fruit compared to what we’re used to as well. mmmm.
I love a good market too – such a good place to visit and get the feel of somewhere I think. OMG at the Fish Knife though!
It’s a bit eye-catching, isn’t it!
I love those markets and wherever I go I need to explore one of them. It is just something about discovering new foods and people, the fruits and spices are always my favorites. And in markets you can snap great pictures, too…
You really can – just lovely to wander, a proper taste of life but still fascinating when you’re not used to it.
I have yet to have a bad market experience! So much fresh and wonderful food and always friendly (trying to get a sale!) market sellers. Great post and thanks for the link-up!
I always want to buy the food, even if we’re in a hotel and there’s no realistic chance of cooking it! And my pleasure, thanks for linking.
I want all those spices! Love visiting a market whilst we’re abroad
Visiting from #citytripping
I did come home with a few packets 🙂
I always try to go to local markets on my travels as it’s such a good way to get a feel for the place and see what’s important to the local population. I love your wording “…souvenirs/tat (depending on your point of view)” so true!
Thanks 🙂 I’ve certainly bought plenty of both over the years!
We really love markets too! There is no better way to get a taste of the local culture. Thanks for sharing… #citytripping
Absolutely – especially when it’s a very different culture to your own, I think.
You’ve got to love exploring a market when abroad…gives such an insight into the local food and wares – so definitely part of the cultural experience (and chance to buy bargains) although wouldn’t be going too near the guy with the fish knife!
I think even my photo-taking was fairly surreptitious – everything seemed slightly super-sized there, colours, smells, product, but especially the knife!
I don’t often visit markets while on a trip:)
I recommend them – usually somewhere good to eat and a fun taste of local life, even if you have a quick wander.
Gotta love the local markets! And wow that knife is impressive!
Isn’t it just!
I visited St Lucia as a child with my family as my uncle was working there for Heineken beer. Great place at that time. Very peaceful! I hope it’s still like that. And all these black beaches and the volcanic mountains – a great place all in all. #CityTripping
I had such a wonderful time – it’s still a great place, and loved heading up into the mountains as well as our time on the beach.
I love markets but I’m not good at haggling or dealing with stall-holders pestering me to buy. Any tips?
#citytripping
In terms of pestering, I find it does vary – I try not to look too interested if I’m not and stick with a smiling no/polite but firm no otherwise unless it’s overwhelming (then I just go). Haggling is similar – only for something I want and keep it lighthearted. I know people who treat it like a battle and fight over the equivalent of 10p to get their price, obviously don’t want to get ripped off but if you have a vague idea of what it should cost and you’re happy with what you’re paying, then everyone wins 🙂
Oh I love the whole atmosphere of Caribbean markets, the fist time we visited one I was a little frightened but once you get into the spirit of things they are just so friendly and so much fun x
Definitely!
I love the sights, sounds and smells of a local market when travelling
Same here – they’re always fun to explore.
The love the freshness of all the produce in every other country except the UK, the colour and the smells as well as the flavours.
Yes, that knife is very Crocodile Dundee.
It’s incredible to see these huge juicy fruits straight from the tree.
#citytripping
we Love a good market and every city we travel too we search out the markets great way to find local fresh produce
#citytrippin
Definitely – I do love to wander round even if I’m not buying.
Realised just now that I actually prefer to go to the market at home than when on a trip. Just because at home I’m able to buy all the great things I find. While travelling I don’t cook, and most of the time I can’t bring anything home to Norway.
I don’t usually buy much to cook when I travel either – a shame sometimes but still fun to look.
Oh I love markets too! Now, I am intrigued by the salt fish and green bananas dish. I Googled it and it similar to a dish we eat in Puerto Rico. The salt fish is actually cod. It is very popular in the Caribbean.
Yes, I’ve seen variations on it in a few places around the Caribbean – I did wonder just how it would taste.
The reversible doll sounds interesting, I probably would’ve bought it for myself. Lol.
I was trying to remember just what that was like! I do know I was more tempted by the spices 🙂
Oh wow what a fabulous market. That fish knife is insane! lol I could not be trusted to use that thing, I cut myself with my small knives. I think it’s great to travel with the kids & get them used to other places & cultures. #citytripping
I think I’d be the same with a blade like that! And definitely, I love showing my daughter the world.
I love markets but I’m very bad at haggling 🙁 seriously. When I was in India, I just couldn’t take any more haggling, in the end, I said to the driver, take me to a fixed price shop! #citytripping
I have to be in the right mood – and I know what you mean, sometimes you just want to buy something and move on!
I love wandering markets. The spices section is always the most interesting. Thanks for the link-up! #citytripping
I do love bringing spices back home, a little taste of my holiday (even if they then end up at the back of a cupboard…)
I adore markets as you get to see so much more local produce than in a supermarket. I was at out local French one yesterday and loved it. #citytripping
France does have some particularly great markets too.
I love visiting markets as well. I always try to hit one or two when visiting a new destination! #citytripping
They’re always fun to explore, I think.