Calabash Crafting: St. Lucia's Cultural Heritage

Craft your own wooden bowl from the fruit of the calabash tree, a symbol of St. Lucia’s culture. Immerse yourself in the island’s traditions and support local artisans.

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Trouya Beach - The cutting and carving of a calabash bowl from the fruit is sure to be an incredibly fun and creative activity that yields a unique souvenir. Armed with a hacksaw (to cut), a spoon (to scoop out), and a dremel or a screw (to design or carve) anything your imagination, you embark on a journey of transforming a simple fruit into a functional masterpiece.

After this unique experience with local Rastafari couple “Mel and Ekie”, you leave with a truly exceptional souvenir – a whimsical and functional bowl (or two) with a story to tell. Whether as a reminder of a memorable trip or a cherished home decor piece, your calabash bowl is sure to be a conversation starter, sparking curiosity and admiration for your craftsmanship.

Some people finish in less than 2 hours and some take longer. we are usually happy to extend as needed… no rush

What's Included
  • Includes one calabash fruit for crafting.
  • Hacksaw provided for cutting.
  • Spoon available for scraping and carving.
What's Not Included
  • Bottled water
  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • You may bring a towel or beach blanket to sit on the sand.
  • Toilet facilities (Please use the toilet facilities at the nearby Petrol Station before arrival)
Additional Information

The calabash tree is of great cultural and historical importance to the people of St. Lucia. Its gourd-like fruit, called calabash, has been utilized for centuries to create a variety of items, such as bowls, plates, musical instruments, and decorative masks. By taking part in this activity, participants will not only obtain a unique keepsake but also gain insight into the rich traditions and customs that have shaped the island’s identity.

Participating in this genuine experience supports local artisans and their sustainable methods while promoting responsible tourism. By joining in, individuals help preserve cultural traditions, ensuring they continue to flourish for future generations to enjoy.

Seize the opportunity to delve into St. Lucia’s vibrant cultural tapestry and discover how ancestors crafted bowls in ancient times and culturally today (rest assured, power tools are available for those who prefer a quicker method).

Location
Trouya Beach
Trouya Beach is found in the Windjammer gap, this is our main meeting point but other meeting points can be arranged on request.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(17 Ratings)
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Triston_i
Jul 28, 2024
Carving Delight - What a great afternoon spent with Mel and Ekie. If you want to take a bit of Saint Lucia home with you, then I highly recommend this. From the beautiful beach setting to the vibrant music that accompanies your carving and design. This was a brilliant experience.
Review provided by Viator
Ben
Jun 21, 2024
Fun and friendly activity - This was great fun. Mel was very welcoming and created a friendly atmosphere in a beautiful location to create our own unique souvenir each of our holiday here in St Lucia. Would definitely recommend this!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Benleto
Jun 21, 2024
Fun and friendly experience - This was great fun. Mel was very welcoming and created a friendly atmosphere in a beautiful location to create our own unique souvenir each of our holiday here in St Lucia. Would definitely recommend this!
Review provided by Viator
Navigator14655488093
Jun 21, 2024
A must do - It was breathtaking. To watch a fruit turn into a piece of art was merely the icing on the cake. Interacting with Melanie and Ekie and being with them as we took the journey from plant to center piece was the entire experience. Everyone should try it!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Steven_p
Jun 8, 2024
Fun class! - Super fun afternoon with amazing one of a kind souvenirs to take home. Mel was kind and accommodating as our driver was stuck in traffic and we were late! Whole family loved the experience and would definitely recommend! She assisted if we needed but did not rush anyone’s creative process! She took lots of pictures and sent them to us right away!
Review provided by Viator
Foodfodder
Apr 24, 2024
Made our own Calabash bowls - Had a fantastic afternoon with Mel & Ekie they cooked a variety of traditional, delicious Caribbean meals for us. We got to choose which Carabash fruits we wanted carved into bowls & Mel helped us create the designs. These will make fantastic souvenirs and we would highly recommend this.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathys768
Mar 19, 2024
Unique and wonderful experience - This was such a cool thing to do and you get to take a nice souvenir home too. It was on a private beach which was beautiful and they even brought music to play Caribbean music. They were so helpful and very kind. Ours turned out so cool. I would highly recommend anybody to do this because it’s so different. And I go home with a very unique souvenir besides is a highlight.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Peter_s
Mar 18, 2024
A unique memorable experience - This was such a unique and beautiful experience. The beach was secluded the couple was absolutely excellent. They helped us in any way they could and really made the experience special. And what a beautiful memory to bring home the bowls were beautiful when finished.
Review provided by Viator
Jody_f
Dec 15, 2023
Unique Activity in Saint Lucia—Creating Bowls from Calabash Fruit - Excellent activity. We enjoyed working with Mel on the beach to create our own bowls from the Calabash Fruit. Wonderful keepsake to take home with us to remind us of our wonderful trip to Saint Lucia. 😎
Review provided by Viator
Userlarissak
Oct 17, 2023
Amazing calabash bowl with Mel! - This was one of the best activities I have done with TripAdvisor! A great host, a great deal, and the most amazing souvenir to bring back home. Mel found me the perfect calabash and I actually got to make the bowl myself. We cut it in half, scraped it out, and sanded the inside with a sand and coconut. 100% natural. One of the coolest things I’ve done by far!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 12 guests
1 Adult
October 2024
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