Jalousie is roughly 40-55 km (25-34 miles) from the Castries and Rodney Bay area, depending on your exact starting point, and somewhat closer from Hewanorra International Airport in the south. Either way, the road winds through rainforest, mountains, and small fishing villages, so the drive itself is scenic enough to be part of the day rather than just a way to get there.
Given the winding road and the number of nearby attractions worth stopping at, most travelers plan a full day for Jalousie rather than a quick visit. That leaves enough time for the beach, a stop at Sulphur Springs or Diamond Falls, and a look around Soufriere, without rushing between them.
Like all beaches in Saint Lucia, Jalousie / Sugar Beach is open to the public, even though the surrounding land is part of a resort property. Day-trippers can walk the same stretch of sand and take in the same view of the Pitons as overnight guests.
The bay has a fringing reef right off the sand, making it a popular spot for snorkeling and diving. Expect coral formations and reef fish in relatively calm, sheltered water, with the Pitons as a backdrop above the surface.
Jalousie sits close to several other Soufriere-area highlights, including the Sulphur Springs drive-in volcano and Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens, home to a mineral waterfall and mud baths. The town of Soufriere itself is also nearby, so a day trip can easily combine the beach with two or three additional stops.
Jalousie, better known as Sugar Beach, sits in the bay directly between Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires that rise straight out of the sea within a UNESCO World Heritage area. The white sand beach framed by both Pitons is one of the more distinctive views in the Caribbean, and the calm, clear water makes it as good for swimming as it is for photos.