- St Luciaalex@faraway / Beach Photos / CC BY-NC-SA
The people of this island paradise are as friendly as you can get, known to lay back and relaxed when the sun is out turning into lively party lovers when the sun sets. When visiting the island you will notice that there are no real nightclubs but a slew of beach parties, lively bars and the infamous Gros Islet ‘Jump Up’.
The Jump Up at Gros Islet is located north of the island near Rodney Bay and is THE place to go if you want to dance the night away. Almost every Friday this sleepy little village becomes the stage for a street party like no other. The giant speaker set is rolled out into the middle of the main street and street vendors set up stalls that include clothes, jewellery, food, and drinks. As night falls and the streetlights flicker on, the bars and restaurants come alive and crowds from all over the island gather to eat, drink and of course dance.
The street food is the stuff of legend; delicious slow cooked Chicken and rice, ribs, Johnny cakes and plenty of authentic Caribbean hot sauce, all washed down with a homemade rum punch cocktail.
As the whole island lets their hair down together you can’t help feeling the sense of community that radiates from the growing troupes. Early in the night the music is uplifting but not overpowering as they play many classic reggae tracks and typical beach party music, as the night progresses the energy levels increase as more and more SOCA music echoes round the streets. The fast paced tempo of the Caribbean SOCA style will get you up and shaking your ‘booty’ with the best of them.
Overall, the atmosphere is both welcoming and safe with a friendly police presence throughout. The locals and visitors arrive at the Jump up for the same reason; to have a fantastic night with great food, great music and great friends. This ensures the Jump Up is a must for anyone visiting St Lucia.
