Short
Description Nature lovers, divers and those who want to experience an exotic Caribbean island with still many of the modern conveniences of home will find St. Lucia to far exceed their expectations.
Local
Weather Temperatures range from 70° to 90°F. Annual rainfall averages around 80 inches a year mainly between June and November.
Other
Destinations
Description The second largest of the Caribbean's Windward Islands, St. Lucia has drawn more and more tourists each year to enjoy its lush natural resources. The island's sandy white beaches sit beside dense emerald forests, while tropical jungle flowers adorn the banks of breathtaking waterfalls. St. Lucia offers not only dramatic countryside and pristine beaches, but also world-class diving, all-inclusive resorts and international cuisine.
The island has been occupied by a number of European invaders, but the influence of the French is still most deeply felt today, in the names of its cities, towns and bays, in the architecture still evident today and in the French-inflected patois spoken by islanders here. English, however, is spoken at all the major hotels and in island restaurants.
Visitors still find a unique atmosphere once they arrive. Although tourism is booming and growing fast, and the area around the capital city is certainly busy- much of the island remains splendidly rural with its people still drawing their life from the land and the sea. Most of the hotels on the island reside on the west coast, on or near the beach.
A journey across the island will carry you past rain forests covered in tropical vegetation and colored by the hues of flowers such as hibiscus, jasmine, orchids and frangipani. Paved and rutted roads will zig zag along the jagged coast and curve through hills suddenly revealing fishing villages lined with colorful boats and clustered around a bay as the road again resumes its course through plantation fields of bananas, coconut and sugar cane. One of the island's main attractions is the Sulphur Springs Volcano, where visitors can get up close to bubbling pools of lava and steaming sulfurous spouts.
Local Information The official currency of St. Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC), but U.S. dollars are also accepted. The offical language is English. The electric current on the island is 220 volts; A few hotels have 110 volt service, but you might want to pack an adapter just in case. Driving is on the left, and you'll need to obtain a temporary license from the Immigration Office upon arrival if you are planning on renting a car (recommended). Car rentals are about $45 a day. Mini-buses offer inexpensive and colorful transportation from one city to the next. Taxis are everywhere and rates are set by the government.
Airport
Information St. Lucia has two airports: Hewanorra International Airport at Vieux Fort (UVF) on the south side of the island and Vigie Airport near Castries (SLU) to the north. British Airways, Delta, Amerijet International Inc., Air Canada, and BWIA provide international flights. There is a departure tax of $20 US payable at the airport upon departure.
Entry
Requirements Effective December 31, 2006, the U.S. Department of State and Homeland Security requires all travelers to and from the Americas, the Caribbean, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer's identity and nationality. This information should be used only as a guideline and non-U.S. citizens should contact the airline they are traveling on, or their local consulate regarding the specific entry requirements that apply to their nationality.
