"The Maria Islands—Maria Major and Maria Minor—off the southeastern coast are among the region'smost pristine environments.You can visit the protected wildlife reserve via a 20-minute boat ride from Pointe Sable. On Maria Major, a verdant trail leadsyou pasta variety of unusual tropical flora and fauna, most notablythe habitats of six rare native reptile species. Look for St. Lucia's whiptail lizard and the racer, a nonvenomous grass snake that might appear from a rock crevice. Snorkeling off the beach is part of the experience, too, as the island's waters are rich with coral reefs. The reserve, abirder's paradise most of the year, is closed to the public in the summertime to accommodate thenesting season of migratory birds thatflock here from Africa."