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- St Lucia
St Lucia
North Saint Lucia - is one of the most popular locations for visitors to stay. It has seemingly everything just a few minutes away. While this area is harder to get to from the airport, many visitors are likely to stay in this region during their visit.
Nature lovers will appreciate Pigeon Island National Park, which you can reach by car over a causeway. This park offers hiking opportunities, as well as places for kayaking, snorkeling, and swimming. Take some time to walk around the old fort ruins and imagine what it would be like back in the 1700s.
North Saint Lucia is also home to the town of Rodney Bay, which has some of the top Saint Lucia beaches as well as popular nightlife spots. Plantation beach faces the Atlantic side, so you can take advantage of wind sports and surfing. Or you can visit Treasure Bay Casino Saint Lucia and try your luck with cards or roulette. North Saint Lucia has more diverse activities, and is ideal for groups of people traveling together or for families.
South Saint Lucia - The south side of Saint Lucia is closest to the airport, which means you can relax on beautiful beaches and check in to luxury resorts just minutes after your plane lands. The south part of Saint Lucia island is also one of the most historic. Explore ruins and hike around Vieux Fort, which still has rusty canons and old bricks scattered around.
The south side of Saint Lucia also has some quality beaches. Sandy Beach and Anse Des Sables Beach both offer clear water and white sand to relax on. These beaches are known for their length, so you can find a place far away from other visitors if you need to get away for awhile.
Visitors may enjoy taking day trips to other parts of the island if they stay on the south side, so they can explore other parts of the island instead of just the bottom tip.
West Saint Lucia - The west coast of Saint Lucia is home to Soufrière, the original French capital. While this town is quiet in the off-season, it is a popular tourist destination and a port for many cruise ships. During your visit to Soufrière, walk around the Old Town and pick up a few handcrafted souvenirs for your friends and family back home. You can also use Soufrière as a jumping off point for other excursions around the island.
Soufrière is tucked just under the Petit Piton (the smaller Piton). Its name actually comes from the smell of sulfur emissions from the now-dormant volcanic plug. You can leave the town and go hiking around the Piton and swim in some of the more impressive waterfalls.
The west side of Saint Lucia is also home to Anse Chastanet Beach, which is one of the top snorkeling beaches in the area. If you aren’t staying on the west side, consider making Soufrière, the Petit Piton, and Anse Chastanet Beach into a day trip for natural and cultural exploration.
Central Saint Lucia - The final part of Saint Lucia that visitors can explore is the central area. While this part might not have the Saint Lucia beaches that the other parts are known for, it offers a variety of unique opportunities that the other parts don’t.
The central part of the island is home to various forest reserves that protect the natural plant and animal life of Saint Lucia. Edmund Forest Reserve is one of the most popular out of all of these. Hike past streaming waterfalls and past rushing streams to reach some of the best views on the island. There are lookouts around the reserve where you can see the small towns and pristine beaches below. Along the way, you might spot some of the island’s more exotic birds and even a few small mammals.
While it is harder to find hotel lodging in the central area of Saint Lucia, you can stay in on one of the nearby beaches and visit the center throughout your visit.
Regardless of where you stay on Saint Lucia, whether you choose the bustling Rodney Bay or quieter Soufrière, you’re sure to find something you love. Great food, amazing snorkeling, and pristine beaches are right around the corner and beckoning you to say longer.
Information & Facts
Attraction Overview
Saint Lucia cuisine is an eclectic mix of American, European, Indian and Caribbean flavors. The signature meal you should have in Saint Lucia is green figs and salt fish, the island’s national dish. Locals boil unripe bananas and then add salt-cured boiled or flaked cod. It’s a hearty dish made with various herbs and spices.
Pair this meal with a plate of fried plantains, a bowl of callaloo soup (a spinach-like soup made from the callaloo plant), or a side of breadfruit. Breadfruit is a staple of Saint Lucia cuisine and resembles a potato, except with a sweeter flavor. In fact, your meal might have all of these elements, leaving you filled to the brim for the rest of your stay!
Climate
The weather in Saint Lucia stays consistently warm throughout the year. The average temperature ranges from 23 to 31 degrees Celsius (84 to 87 degrees Fahrenheit). The busiest time to visit Saint Lucia is from December to April during the driest season. Visitors take advantage of this season to adventure through the Tet Paul Nature Trail in Soufrière and the Pitons, soak in the mineral baths in Soufrière, and zipline through the dense rainforests.
Many visitors who trek to Saint Lucia prefer to go during May and June when the temperatures reach the high 70s to 80s.
The rainy season in Saint Lucia is from June to December. The rainforests typically experience more rainfall than the coastal regions of the island. While vacationing in Saint Lucia during the rainy season may seem daunting, the heavy showers will go as quickly as they came. You will still be able to enjoy the charm that Saint Lucia has to offer and the warm weather.
The hurricane season occurs at around the same time as the rainy season. Some of the most popular festivals, such as the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival at Pigeon Island National Park, happen during this season. And many of the island’s hotels and resorts run deeply discounted deals during this time as well.
Getting Around
Saint Lucia is home to approximately 165, 000 people, and the island offers many different forms of transportation. Visitors from all over the world come to climb the steep Piton Mountains, zipline through the lush tropical forests and revel in the various festivals held on the Eastern Caribbean Island, including the Food and Rum Festival. Experience all that the island has to offer, and follow these tips for getting around Saint Lucia:
Minibuses - serve as the main means of Saint Lucia transportation for local residents. These buses run at various times depending on the route. Fares range from EC$2.50 to EC$8.00. All minibuses have a green number plate with an M prefix. Traveling by bus is a good option for visitors who wish to experience the island’s culture up close.
Taxis - When you arrive at the beautiful island of Saint Lucia, you’re going to need a reliable taxi company to get you from the airport to your destination. Taxis are easily available at taxi stands or by telephone. All authorized taxis have a light blue number plate with a TX prefix. Fares vary by destination, the number of people, amount of luggage and the company. Before you hire a taxi, confirm the fare. Some of the major taxi services on the island include Saint Lucia Taxi Service, Saint Lucia Airport Transfers, Saint Lucia Executive, Saint Lucia Airport Shuttle, Real Saint Lucia Tours, and many more.
Cars - four-wheel drive vehicles and scooters can be booked in advance through your travel agent or at the airports, hotels or car rental offices. A temporary driving license is required for visitors and may be obtained with a valid driving license upon arrival at the airport, at the police station in Castries or at the car rental offices. Remember to drive on the left side of the road!
Ferry - Saint Lucia is linked to Dominica, Martinique and Guadeloupe by ferries, making it easy to include Saint Lucia in any island-hopping tour. For details, schedules and more visit www.express-des-iles.com or https://www.transports-express-caraibes.fr/.
Helicopters - Spectacular aerial tours of Saint Lucia are possible, and helicopter transfers between Hewanorra and George FL Charles airports reduce the travel time between the south and north of the island. For more information, visit www.stluciahelicopters.com.
Health
The award-winning Wellness Centre at The Body Holiday has one of the most comprehensive arrays of spa treatments of any hotel in the Caribbean. One session each day – a Lucian Lime and Ginger Scrub, a Saint Lucian Sizzler full body massage, or seawater hydrotherapy – is covered in the all-inclusive rates, along with various fitness and relaxation classes such as yoga, pilates and tai chi.
Nestled in the heart of mother nature, the Ti Kaye Resort & Spa features open-air treatment rooms set into the cliffside. Enjoy spectacular views of the silver sands of Anse Cochon while taking in the extraordinary spa experiences. Or, get inspired with one of their wellness retreats focused on yoga and meditation with exercise in Saint Lucia’s various terrains.
Stonefield Villa Resort and Spa instantly relaxes you with the natural energy of the Pitons that tower above the resort. It is the ideal escape to rejuvenate and recharge surrounded by nature and overlooking the Caribbean sea. Sensational spa treatments with plant and ocean based product lines, organic meals from the award winning Mango Tree restaurant, yoga, Pilates and a variety of wellness retreats throughout the year
The Rainforest Spa at Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort, lives up to its name. Spa sessions take place in gazebos perched on stilts above a gushing stream and forest floor. A temascal – an Amerindian steam dome – links the complex to Saint Lucia’s earliest settlers, and unique bamboo massages are available.
Visitors at The Auriga Spa at Capella Marigot Bay Resort and Marina enjoy the outdoor ambiance of a steam inhalation room, Jacuzzi, and sauna cabana. A welcoming, grounding ceremony, employing carefully selected herbs is designed to prepare the body for the spa ritual.
Language
Language spoken is English
Money
Local currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar, although US Dollars are also accepted in most places
Time
Tipping
Tipping is discretionary and should reflect the service you have received, however, a service charge of between 10 - 12% is recommended. In some restaurants, a service charge of 10% may be automatically added to your bil