Handpicked Saint Helena

Saint Helena has an extraordinarily rich history for an island of its size, encompassing everything from global expansionism to the exile of the world’s most famous Emperor.

Uninhabited until the 16^th century, the Portuguese began importing livestock and people, before the island became part of their global empire. Throughout the years the island changed hands from the Portuguese to the Dutch to the British, its significance as a stopping post in the Atlantic not missed by any of them.

There’s a dark history, here, though, of slavery and exploitation. Over 27,000 slaves were shipped here to work the plantations, as well as political prisoners indentured labourers. Discover their stories – and plenty more – on any number of the excellent tours, both walking and driving, on offer on the island.

And of course, discover Saint Helena’s history of exiles, principally of the European alliance’s most notable foe, Napoleon. Both of the houses where he stayed – Briars and Longwood – are open to the public and his impact on the island is visible throughout.

For advice on tours, give us a call. There’s a spectacular amount of history to get stuck into here, so it’s worth chatting over the right options – something we’d love to help with.

Saint Helena is nature at its rawest and, to see it up close, we couldn’t recommend a hike more highly. There are dozens of routes available of varying degrees of difficulty but each one showcases a different aspect of the island’s rugged and unrefined beauty.

One of our favourite aspects of hiking in Saint Helena are the Post Box walks. There are 21 of them – from 1-4 hours – and visitors will see at the conclusion of each a classic post box. All you need to do is write down your thoughts and comments and pop it in the letterbox and you’ll inform generations of Saint Helena walkers to come.

For travellers looking for a challenge, give The Barn hike a go. It’s a 10.5 kilometre trek that culminates in a huge volcanic bluff that will give you 360 degree views of the island – a quite possibly a touch of vertigo. Not for the faint of heart, as our founder, Ludo, discovered recently. For those in search of more sedate options, there are plenty, with guides and maps on offer for each and the assurance of gorgeous views, whatever the route.

As a place surrounded on all sides by the vast expanse of the Atlantic, it’s no surprise that the ocean is a massive attraction for visitors here. With some of the least spoilt waters accessible from land, Saint Helena is a hidden gem for marine enthusiasts – both above and below the waves.

The diving here is phenomenal, with a number of wrecks within striking distance and surrounding waters teeming with some of the ocean’s most dramatic creatures. Huge rays, marlin, barracuda, dorado and tuna call Saint Helena home (and can also be fished for), as do whale sharks. In fact, this is the only place on Earth where male and female whale sharks gather in equal numbers and sightings between December and March often hitting 30 a day.

If, like some of our team, you prefer your marine activities on deck with a G&T in hand, charter a yacht from James Bay’s marina and take a leisurely cruise around the coastline to soak in some of the island’s sights from a different perspective.

No trip to Saint Helena is complete without feasting on some of the island’s local delicacies. The word of the day is surely comfort, with dishes showcasing the community aspect of Saint culture that draw on its multiple heritages.

Fish makes up a big proportion of local meals, with Plo – a one-pot fish-based curry – a Love To Explore highlight. It’s rich and creamy and there’s always enough made for seconds – thirds, if you’re our founder, Ludo.

The Saint Helena fishcake is an island icon, with freshly caught fish and smoky bacon coming together to produce a ‘love-song to the senses’ – sounds a lot but this really is worth the hype. Top it all off with a nod to the Portuguese past: Coconut Fingers. These sweet treats see iced Madeira sponge coated in coconut and often round off a Saint feast.

The food here might not be the most refined, but what it lacks in style it more than makes up for in taste, warmth and community – the perfect metaphor for Saint Helena in general.