Saint Lucia

Understand

Tourism is vital to Saint Lucia's economy. Its economic importance is expected to continue to increase as the market for bananas becomes more competitive. Tourism tends to be more substantial during the dry season (January through April), although there are a handful of events held at other times of the year attracting visitors including the St. Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival (May), Carnival (July), and the Creole Heritage Month (October). The island is called the "Helen of the West Indies", due to its striking beauty.

Get in

500px|thumbnail|Visa policy of Saint Lucia

Get around

thumb|300px|Soufriere The main way for tourists to get around Saint Lucia is by taxi, either arranged by the hotel, taxi agency or individual operators. The tours arranged by resorts are usually the most expensive way to travel but might offer food and drink. Using a local taxi operator to plan your own adventure will be much more affordable. Your hotel staff should provide you with a number of a taxi agency or operator that they use regularly. The prices are generally fixed but you can shop around to get the best rate if given several numbers. Many taxi drivers that run from the resorts to the marketplaces will offer tours of the island for around $145 per van load. Each van will hold between 6 and 12 people.

For the budget travellers or the more adventurous tourists, local buses provide a cheap and fun way of getting around. They are small vans which hold around 10-14 people and vary in quality. They run irregularly, but frequently from rural towns to urban centers, (i.e. Soufriere to Castries, Soufriere to Vieux Fort, Vieux Fort to Castries), each day most travelling to Castries in the morning and returning to Soufriere late afternoon. They are very affordable and provide a unique experience each time; the vehicle operators often decorate the interiors and play their own music, either a mix of Caribbean flavours or country. If you want to try to take a transport discuss your route and travel time with one of the local staff familiar with the bus system. Many of them likel…

See

thumb|See the resemblance? The Pitons - Two volcanic plugs arising from the sea created by volcanic activity in the past. They are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and depicted in the national flag. Pigeon Island nature reserve - just north of Gros Islet, the park has some of the oldest buildings on Saint Lucia and affords views across to Martinique. The green flash, if you're very lucky. This is sometimes seen in the tropics in the last split-second of sunset, when just as the sun vanishes the sky above it is momentarily a brilliant green. Conditions have to be just right: you need a hot calm day, with a clear view out to the sea horizon. Even then, most evenings all you'll get is a false flash, when staring towards the sunset leaves a green after-image on your vision. You'll begin to doubt it exists, but keep watching for it every clear sunset. Once seen, never forgotten.

Do

thumbnail|Gros Piton and Petit Piton

thumbnail|Toraille Waterfall

The Sulfur Springs - just south of Soufriere, these hot springs are one of the main attractions on the island. There is a pool that the hot water runs through, so make sure to take your swimming trunks and go for a dip! Rainforest hikes - there are several official hiking routes on the island. The Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries site has links to information about the ones they support. Climbing the Gros Piton is an achievable goal for most people. The trailhead begins at an elevation of about 600 feet (approx. 180 m) above sea level and requires about two hours of moderate to strenuous hiking to reach the summit of about 2600 feet (approx. 800 m) above sea level. A further 1½ hours are needed to descend. Guides are required and entrance costs US$50. Taxis or local buses can be used to reach the trail head. Snorkeling is popular and a number of beaches are suitable. Scuba diving - done at Pigeon Island, one of the island's Historical Landmarks, as well as between The Pitons, a World Heritage Site. /. Ziplining - Several courses are offered throughout the island. The courses in the northern part of the island are more complex and offer views of the rainforests. The course at the Morne Coubaril Estate by Soufriere is simpler and provides a view of the Pitons.

Drink

Saint Lucia Distillers produces a variety of rums across a wide price range.

1931 - A super premium series of rum that's produced in limited quantity batches each year Chairman's Reserve - Premium rum that includes a spiced rum, a white rum, and two dark rums Crystal Lime - A rum-based lime liqueur Bounty - A mass market red rum that's commonly drunk on the island Marigot Bay Liqueurs - Rum-based cream liqueurs. Varieties include coconut and banana

In addition to rums, Piton Lager beer is brewed and bottled on the island and is quite good. It has 5% alcohol by volume, a slightly greater percentage than most American beers but very much in line with many European beers.

Sleep

Saint Lucia is home to a huge number of resort hotels as well as small boutique hotels and self-catering villas, condos, and vacation apartments.

Stay safe

St Lucia is not an incredibly dangerous place, but rates of homicide, rape, and mugging have increased drastically over the past several years. You should exercise the same caution as you would at home. You should also try to stay in groups and be careful in any secluded area. Muggings at gunpoint while you are in the water have become increasingly popular criminal activities, so make sure to hide your valuables. Pickpockets are in every country - just be careful in crowded areas.

Wearing clothing with a camouflage design or otherwise looking like a military uniform is illegal in Saint Lucia if you're not military personnel. This extends even to luggage, so if you show up at the airport with a camo-colored bag, it may be confiscated.

Street vendors are decidedly less aggressive than most Caribbean nations. A simple "no thank you" is sufficient.

Some of the locals will offer gifts when you stop, but don't be naive: they expect something in return, so either refuse the gift in the first place or be prepared to pay a dollar or two for the proffered "gift". These people are very poor and unemployment is high, so tourists are often the sole means they have to make some money.

Driving can be fun, but you should be a confident driver as driving is on the left, the roadways can be narrow, steep and in rough condition. A 4x4 or similar high-clearance vehicle is necessary if you decide to venture into the mountains. There's only one main roadway so it is difficult to get lost, but…

Stay healthy

This island is a series of hills and mountains. The main west coast roadway is the most hair-raising series of winding hair pin turns you have ever seen, particularly between Castries and Soufriere. The east coast roadway is more direct but it still takes approximately 90 minutes to drive from the airport in Hewannora (UVF) to Castries and Gros Islet in the north. In preparation for the shuttle, people who are staying in the north and are prone to motion sickness should bring Dramamine and take it immediately upon arrival at Hewannora Airport.

Tap water is safe to drink; however, bottled water is widely available for those who desire it.

Respect

All beaches on St. Lucia are open to the public. Nude sunbathing is illegal in St. Lucia.