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| KEY FACTS | |
|---|---|
| Size | 238 square miles (617 square kilometers) |
| Population | 180,000 (85% black, 11% mixed, 2% Indian, 2% other) |
| Status | Independent country, part of the British Commonwealth |
| Official language(s) | English, French Creole (kwéyòl) |
| GDP per capita (2024) | 14.14 Thousand US dollars as per the IMF |
| Currency | Eastern Caribbean dollar |
| Driving | On the left |
Saint Lucia.
According to Greek Mythology, Hellen is the daughter of Zeus, who is known as the king of God, her daughter is so beautiful that many kings wanted to get married to her and as a result, a great war started and the famous siege of Troy.
Similarly, the Caribbean has its own Hellen known as Saint Lucia not because of its only natural beauty but due to its very fertile land. In the 16th 17th and 18th centuries both the great powers of that time Britain and France wanted to set up their colonial power on this land not because of its natural beauty but its rich natural resources and its fertile land which is very good for growing sugar cane.
As a result, both powers have fought with each other in several wars to get control over it. And, for the plantation of sugar, they bring thousands of African slaves to work in the sugar firm.
Finally, in the year 1814, the Britishers took full control over the entire island, and 24 years later the British parliament passed a law and slavery was abolished. But the chaotic history of St. Lucia under colonial rule lasted until 1979 when the island finally became its own independent country.
Today, St. Lucia’s history is a big part of its people, culture, buildings, money, and even sports! But even though the island remembers its past, it’s also focused on the present, it has built itself a very lucrative hot spot for romantic and Luxury honeymoon places in the world.
In the present day, St. Lucia’s economy is largely dependent on the tourism industry and there are various reasons for it. The island is really beautiful with a big green jungle in the middle and a big volcano located near it.
There are special mountains called the Pitons, which are only found in that region and are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. St. Lucia has many things to offer, you can have mineral baths, it has plenty of black and golden beaches and various luxury hotels which offer you the most romantic vibes in the Caribbean.
It also has one of the best Jazz festivals in the world, and many botanical gardens and it also offers you to visit former colonial estates with vast and exotic gardens. This island offers very tasty food, the people who live here are very nice and friendly, and it offers a lot of adventurous activities to do for kids and adults.
Without any hesitation, I can say that the Caribbean is one of the most exciting and vibrant places to visit for your holiday. So, let us give you some tips on how you can explore it well!
How to get there in Saint Lucia?
Despite the small size of St. Lucia in the Caribbean region, it has two international airports – Hewanorra International Airport in the south near Vieux Fort and George F.L Charles Airport in the capital of Castries.
And the second airport which is in the capital has more flights In the Caribbean and from the outer world. If you are flying from the USA, Canada and from Europe you will always land at the Hewanorra International Airport, which is located one hour and 15 minutes drive away from Castries.
And here is some good information for you there are around ten cities in North America and a couple in Europe that have non-stop flights to St. Lucia all year. These places are New York, Boston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Miami, Charlotte, Toronto, Montreal, and London Gatwick.
If you don’t mind connecting flights or if you are planning to visit other Caribbean destinations along with St. Lucia, the airport in Castries has daily or several times per week flights to places like Martinique, Antigua, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Dominica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Also, you can take a fast ferry from Castries to places like Martinique, Dominica, and Guadeloupe.
Getting around in Saint Lucia.
Whenever you ask the tourist guide about driving in St. Lucia they advise you against driving, because the roads here are very hilly, often narrow and have poor light at night.
This is true because the island is very small so even a tough drive usually won’t be more than an hour. If you want to circle the whole island it won’t take more than three hours by car.
It might be better to use local taxis or buses instead of driving. Both are quite decent in comfort. Taxies prices vary between various destinations, so you will get to know upfront when you will tell the driver about your destination.
For example, a ride from one airport to the other costs USD 80. If that’s too much for you, then you can take a bus for EC $10, but it’ll take longer because buses stop a lot to pick up and drop off passengers at various stops along the road.
And finally, one of the very cool and unique ways of travelling from one place to another which you are going to love is the water taxiway. These are small fishing boats that can take you and your friends to different spots like Castries, Soufriere, and Rodney Bay.
But there are a few things you need to keep in your mind. First, these boats can be a little bit costly which depends entirely on the boat’s engine power more powerful engine will more fastly you travel and hence more costly it is.
For example, If you are going from Castries to Soufriere It might cost you around $200 for two people and $240 for four people although the boat is not very powerful.
And if you’re travelling from Soufriere to Rodney Bay, it will cost you around $300 for four people. One thing to note here is, that travelling in a water taxi might not be the best idea if you have a lot of things to carry with you because the ride can be bumpy you might get wet, and it can cause damage to your electronic goods also like mobile phones earbuds camera etc.
So, the water taxi ride may look quite exciting but it is not going to be a comfortable ride if you have a lot of things to carry.
Places to explore in Saint Lucia.
St. Lucia is full of amazing places with lots of awesome things to explore anywhere you will go, you’ll find something very interesting to watch.
St. Lucia is known as the “Helen of the Caribbean” because it’s very beautiful, and it has lots of natural wonders and interesting places made by its people.
Let’s talk about two famous natural landmarks in St. Lucia which you are going to see, one is Gross Piton and the second is Petit Piton.
These big hills were formed around 40 million years ago by huge volcanic eruptions. Even though it looks like Petit Piton is smaller, that is not the real case it’s taller than Gross Piton, standing at 2,619 feet compared to Gross Piton’s 2,461 feet.
You can find these Pitons just a short distance south of Soufriere, and they’re separated by Pitons Bay. Sugar Beach is one of the most luxurious hotels in St. Lucia.
The beach next to the hotel is perfect for taking pictures with the Pitons in the background. Even though the hotel has a beach, it’s still open to everyone because it’s a public beach.
And ultimately, if you want to climb both the Pitons, you need to register yourself and registration has some charges, which can range from $30 to $200. You may also join a group or hire a guide to help you out.
The Pitons are the two big mountains in St. Lucia out of hundreds of other mountains formed as a result of volcanic eruption, millions of years ago.
Mount Gimmie Mountain is the tallest one whose height is 3117 ft, and from the top of this mountain, you will get an amazing view of the southern part of the island, including the Pitons.
As you will climb on Gimmie Mountain you will see a beautiful waterfall in the jungle whose height is 30 to 40 feet. To get a better experience, you can also hire a local guide who knows the area well because they will not only help you in climbing but also show you other trails in the Edmund Forest Reserve nearby.
If you want an easier trip, you can visit the Soufriere drive-in volcano which is situated slightly in-land and about two miles south of the town of Soufriere, where you can drive quite close to it and then walk up to see and smell the Sulphur springs of Qualibou volcano.
This location has several observation decks, from where you can see many surrounding hills of Soufriere as well as the two Pitons.
The surrounding of Soufriere has a lot of the best spots to visit. One of them is Diamond Falls Gardens and Baths, which is located very close to the town.
A long time ago these gardens were used as fancy French estates, and the baths located inside them were famous for their healing powers. Today, these baths are open for the general public and tourists which can cost you around 7$.
After exploring the Diamond Falls Estate, you can also visit a firm known as Fond Doux Estate, where they do the plantation of fruit and cocoa, there is also another firm called Morne Coubaril, which offers you horseback rides, mill tours and zip-lining.
Of course, you cannot spend all your time exploring this place only. You can most probably visit the places like Castries, Marigot Bay, Fort Bay, or Vieux Fort.
If you are going to visit the capital city which is “Castries” you can see a busy market with lots of fresh produce and crafts to buy, the best time to visit this place is on Saturday morning.
This place is located at Jeremie and Peynier Streets. And when you will explore this place a little bit more you will see a Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. This is the most important church on this island, it was built at the end of the 19th century.
Now if you visit the places Marigot Bay and Fort Bay, these places are known for their beautiful lagoons and luxurious yacht docks. And of course, you can find several luxurious hotels and restaurants to stay at this place.
And finally, The Vieux Fort which is situated in the southernmost part of old St. Lucia a couple of miles away from here you can see Maria Islands, this island is known for having several reptile species which you can visit via a boat tour out of Vieux Fort harbour.
At the Vieux Fort, you can also find one of the longest and still under-developing beaches of St. Lucia. This beach is known as Anse des Sables Beach. However, Vigie and La Toc are the two main beaches of Castries.
Whereas, Reduit Sugar and Marigot beaches are considered some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Overall if you like big open beaches, rocky coastal areas, or small calm lagoons with palm trees, you can find all these things in St. Lucia.
Accommodation in Saint Lucia ( all inclusive resorts ).
St. Lucia is known for its unique and luxurious hotel collection in the Caribbean region. Just imagine that you are sleeping in a room that has no external walls on one side of your room and you are waking up in a morning mist and then you go and sit in swing over your privet pool in the morning and watching a very pleasant view of the sea and Pitons.
Does it sound exciting? You can have this experience in the Ladera Hotel, which is one of the most unique and luxurious hotels in the Caribbean region and is consistently ranked in the top five boutique hotels in this region. Now your question is is this only the hotel in that region?
Not, only there are many many more hotels on this island, but many of the slandered types of hotels come with a price of approx 1000$ per night, at this price level you get the best resorts in St. Lucia.
But don’t worry we will also tell you about some of the best affordable hotels on this island. Some of which are very best in the Caribbean region.
- Ladera – This is quite an interesting hotel it has a total of 32 suits having its pool facing towards Pitons. All the suits are very uniquely designed and eco-friendly, and here you can find a delicious restaurant and the overall service is excellent. If you are planning for your honeymoon trust me this place is very awesome, you can have a lifetime experience.
- Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort – This is the only hotel fronting towards the best beach in St. Lucia. This is a five-star resort with many beautiful rooms and suits having their privet pool with some of the suits. Every suit is facing towards the beach and the Pitons. You have also all-inclusive options; this hotel has a large spa all types of water sports and a beautiful garden.
- Jade Mountain – This hotel is very similar to the Ladera Hotel. Just like Ladera Hotel this hotel also has a large no of suits having their privet pool facing towards the Pitons. This hotel is also called “Sanctuary” and is much larger than the Ladera Hotel. One thing to note that is this hotel only caters to adults only, If you are coming for your honeymoon this is a marvellous place for you.
- Anse Chastanet Resort – This hotel has a very good spacious room and has a large terrace area having a very lovely view of Pitons and the surrounding places. This hotel is surrounded by the rainforest and has a bay beach on one side, this beach has calm waters and is very good for splashing around.
- St. James Club Morgan Club – This is a proper resort and very Luxurious it has a total of six restaurants, with all the inclusive options available. There are a lot of activities which are happening here on a daily basis and has a large spa, gym tennis court, and several more options and many shops. This is a very good place for a family, with all the options available.
Although, all the five hotels mentioned above are superb, what is common in this is their high price. Now, these hotels are expensive ones in St. Lucia, Let us discuss some cost-friendly hotels which are highly reviewed and offer great comfort.
Now, if you want to stay close to the beautiful Reduit Beach then you should consider staying at Bay Gardens Beach Resort which is located near a water park, it is a great spot for families to enjoy.
You can get a room here for about $200.” Another similar place is Marigot Beach Club, it has a very similar price. This hotel offers you driving classes and trips and has some amazing views of Marigot Bay.
And finally, if you want to get the perfect view of Pitons and you don’t want to pay more than 300$ per night you may visit La Haut Plantation near Soufriere, this place has a nice grassy area with amazing views. It feels private and peaceful to you.
Food & restaurants in St. Lucia:
Although the Hellen of the Caribbean “St. Lucia” was controlled by the Britishers you can see many infrastructures of the colonial period, but one area where French dominates in St. Lucia is in their local cuisine.
You may find French and Creole menus dominating in St. Lucia’s restaurants. You may also find Italian and Australian restaurants on the island. But if you are staying in the all-inclusive resorts, you will get all types of cuisine from different parts of the world.
And you can also try local specialties made by the local cooks, which will cost you not more than 25$, some of the best places where you can try this local cuisine are The Still and The Hummingbird near Soufriere as well as the Pink Plantation in Morne Fortune.
Along with this while driving or roaming around the island you may look around the sides of the road, many local people offer you barbecue food which is great in test.
And finally, on a Friday evening, you must visit the Anse La Raye because, on a Friday evening, the villagers host a seafood street festival.
They offer you a lot of snakes and this place is perfect for you to meet the locals and learn about them and their culture more.
Nightlife in St. Lucia:
Although St. Lucia is not a party destination, it doesn’t mean that the people who live there, do not have parties, you can find the nightlife parties of St. Lucia in Castries, Marigot Bay and Rodney Bay are the famous places where you can find bars and clubs.
If you want to have fun in Castries you may visit the cruise terminal nearby this place you can find several busy outdoor bars like the funny Rum Therapy Bar and Treatment Centre.
And if you are looking for a good exposure or ambiance and great cocktail then you have to visit Hassy’s in Marigot Bay. And if want to dance to the DJ music then you visit the Verve in Rodney Bay and hear them play the music till late at night.
And finally, in Rodney Bay, they host a street party every Friday night around Dauphin Street, they have their carnival and have a good collection of food stands where they do a lot of performances and dances together.
Furthermore, every year in May Pigeon Island hosts the St. Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival which is a 10-day long festival in which they do many concerts and events during the night.
Sports & adventure in St. Lucia:
As we know St. Lucia is a former colony of Britain, and hence cricket is the national game of St. Lucia.
And of course, most of the tourists don’t come for this activity to visit St. Lucia, what excites them most is the water sports, hiking, horseback riding and a few unique types of adventures that they can enjoy.
It is true that St. Lucia has some of the best diving operators and diving sites in the Caribbean, and it is also known for its rainforest and their hacking train.
And it has some of the best water parks as compared to its neighboring island. And Finally, it’s a place where the biggest ocean race, called the Atlantic Rally, ends.”
And if you are excited about doing water sports, most of the hotels which is located near the beach, and offer a lot of equipment and training.
And if you want to dive into the ocean, you can hire the highly professional PADI operators which you can find in the Anse La Raye (in Ti Kaye Resort), Anse Chastanet (Anse Chastanet Resort). In Marigot Bay and Rodney Bay, you can find Dive Saint Lucia.
It’s a big place for diving, and they have a big pool for training.” The first two locations mentioned above are the popular dive site and you can find some more dive sites near the Pitons. There’s another one at Anse Cochon.
It is a big shipwreck which is called Lesleen M. Its depth is around 60 feet, and divers from all over the world come to see it.
And those people who do not like diving or love above water can visit Anse de Sables beach where they can enjoy surfing/kite surfing because the winds and the wide coastline are perfect here. After all, it rarely gets crowded.
St. Lucia has beautiful lagoons and many lovely marinas. It is famous for its yachting destination having a lot of boat charter companies that offer their services to all, if you want to visit the island’s coast you can have these services to explore the region.
You may find or join these services at Rodney Bay (where the Atlantic Rally ends every year) and Marigot Bay. One thing you must keep in mind is that according to the local law while fishing you must release the fish after catching it.
And finally, if you are not a big fan of fishing, you can do other activities like a sightseeing trip that takes you around and past the Pitons. In Rodney Bay, there are five companies that offer fun trips. That includes food, drinks, and parties on the deck.
After getting completely satisfied on or inside the water, there are a lot of other adventures that you can experience on land. As discussed earlier about the land activities like hiking on the Pitons, Mount Gimmie as well as much of the Edmund Forest Reserve.
There are some fantastic other activities like you can explore many of the same trails it is not the Pitons, with bikes or on horseback. Also, some bike companies and stables give tours of the rainforest.
They take you to plantations, waterfalls, and you can experience nice views. And if you don’t want farther more this type of adventure, then you can go for the zip-lining which is happens at the two places all of the year Treetop Adventure Park and the Morne Coubaril Historical Adventure Park.
And after all this you can also visit the water park which is in the Splash Island located at Reduit Beach. It is one of the biggest water parks in the region. It has many unique slides and kid park with a lot of things to do.
Is St. Lucia safe to visit?
St. Lucia is considered a relatively safe island for visitors because as we see the past there are not any serious crimes against tourists.
Also, many hotels, especially the famous ones often maintain security personnel, which patrols the grounds nearby it. And they can also help the tourists when required.
However, when you are going out from the hotel for activities you must keep your valuables things at a safe place. And don’t go out alone at night, and avoid driving after dark anywhere unless you’re on the main roads.
Like in any big city, be careful in Castries, the main city which is the capital of St. Lucia. There are some local criminals who might try to steal from you, so watch out for pickpockets and muggers.