Gros Piton stands 770 metres tall and Petit Piton reaches 743 metres — both rise so steeply from the water that they look like giant teeth biting into the sky. The name 'Piton' is a French word for a rocky peak, and you can see why it fits perfectly. When sailors arrived at Saint Lucia centuries ago, the Pitons were the first things they spotted from far out at sea.
The steep slopes and the shallow water around the base are packed with life. Tropical fish, sea turtles and colourful corals fill the reef below the surface, and the forest on the mountainsides is home to hummingbirds, parrots and dozens of other bird species. Walking up Gros Piton is a popular adventure — the trail passes through thick rainforest and rewards climbers with a view of the whole island.
The Pitons are the symbol of Saint Lucia and appear on the country's flag. You will also see them on bottles of the local Piton beer, on souvenirs, and on the national currency. For people who live on the island, the two peaks are not just beautiful mountains — they are a reminder of home, visible from almost anywhere in Saint Lucia.