From Wikitravel

Saint Lucia [1] is a British Commonwealth country that is an island in the Caribbean, off the coast of Central America. It lies between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago.

The twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton) are striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere that are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean.

[edit] Cities

• Castries - Capital
• Vieux Fort
• Soufriere - Old Capital

[edit] Other destinations

The Sulfur Springs

[edit] Understand

[edit] Climate

Tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season from May to August; Experiences hurricanes.

[edit] Terrain

Volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys; Natural hazards : volcanic activity.

Highest point 

Mount Gimie 950 m

[edit] History

The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.

Independence 

22 February 1979 (from UK)

National holiday 

Independence Day, 22 February (1979)

Constitution 

22 February 1979

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

St. Lucia has two airports,

• George FL Charles Airport(near Castries)
• Hewanorra International (near Vieux Fort)

- George FL Charles Airport is closer to many of the all-inclusive resorts, has a modest terminal and runway able to easily support inter-island commercial flights. For less-experienced pilots in high-performance aircraft, the over-water approach and hills on both sides of runway can seem a bit harrowing, but prevailing winds are usually favorable.

- Hewanorra is larger, but can be an 1 hour by Taxi from most of the major resorts in the north. However, the journey north is a good way to see the island except if you arrive at night.

[edit] By boat

Cruise ships (usually one or two at a time) are frequent visitors to the small, picturesque harbor. An open air "mall" abuts the main pier and offers duty free shops. See "Buy" below.

Catamaran rides from Soufriere to Rodney Bay are also offered through a local tour company (to be updated).

[edit] Get around

The main way for tourists to get around St. 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.

However, if you are a small group 1-4 people and just want to travel to Castries Market or Vieux-Fort try taking the local transports. 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 and take a transport discuss your route and travel time with one of the local staff familiar with the bus system. Many of them likely take a transport to and from work.

Water taxis are a main source of income for many locals and can be a much quicker, convenient and picturesque method of traveling short distances to private beaches or coastal towns. Many water taxi operators in the Town of Soufriere can be found at the jetty. The rates of these drivers are a little high and can be bargained down. There are a few taxi owners who regularly play dominoes and sell drinks near the Hummingbird Hotel and Soufriere beach. They can offer a much cheaper rate. From Soufriere, you can take a water taxi to Anse Chastenet and Jalousie Beaches.

A helicopter taxi can be taken from Hewannora airport to Vigie airport and is a quick and spectacular way to get to the resorts on the Northern end of the island.

• Windward Islands - Windward Islands, the yacht charter company, can take care of all charter requirements, from bareboat to crewed in St Lucia (starting Rodney Bay and Marigot Bay), Martinique and St Vincent. Operating from 8 offices (USA, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, Caribbean, Monaco).

[edit] Talk

Languages 

English (official), French patois

[edit][add listing] Buy

You will inevitably be offered some Banana Ketchup at least once during your stay at St. Lucia. It's worth trying, although it's not to all tastes.

Castries market is a good place to buy gifts, although most of the stalls stock more or less the same thing.

The supermarkets have quite good prices on Bounty Rum and others produced or bottled on the island.

Visits by cruise ships over the years have generated a duty free mall (at dockside, Point Seraphine, Castries) with jewelry, souvenir, art, liquor and other stores typical for cruise shoppers. Their friendly staffs offer many decent buys.

[edit] Eat Local

St Lucian food consists mainly of fresh fruit and vegetables, fish and a variety of curry, jerk, rice and stewed dishes. The coal pot is a delicous stew, traditional to native carib cultures and can be found at many local restaurants in Castries, Soufriere and Vieux-Fort. Vegetarian and meat rotis can be found at a number of small local restaurants. Ask any local for the best roti shop and he or she will tell you how to get there. Rotis are usually made fresh in the morning so, if eating a spicy early lunch is of interest, it's highly recommended. Local cuisine is prepared throughout the island so, depending on where you are staying, ask a local if he or she knows someone/somewhere that prepares local food and you will be sure to be welcomed somewhere nearby. Many rumshacks in rural towns also prepare food if given advanced notice. Fish, veggie, chicken and goat meals are very common and usually come with a number of sides including salad, plantain, breadfruit, macaroni, and rice prepared a number of different ways.

For a quick snack, bar-b-ques with chicken and pork can be found in any community on a Friday night. The food is well marinated and spiced. Soak up the sauce with a barbequed or fried bake. Fried chicken and fish can also be found, and are quite delicious.

There are weekly parties and festivals held in various communities throughout the island where you can also sample a range of local foods, including sea food, bar-b-qued meats, salads and drinks. These festivals are filled with dancing, drinks, food and music. Let your hair down, try some cuisine and lime it up. Be sure to ask what is in the pots before you sample the food. For those environmentally conscious, blackfish is porpoise.

Friday night: Anse La Raye "Seafood Friday"
Friday night: Rodney Bay Jump-up
Every Second Saturday: Castries Coal Pot
Wednesday: Dennery (East coast) Fish Fry

[edit] Eat International

Rodney Bay is full of people from all over the world and the restaurants reflect the diversity. You can find a variety of cuisines, from East Indian to Italian, in a small area.

[edit][add listing] Drink

St. Lucia has fantastic Rum Punch. It's hard to go wrong. Highly recommended:

• Chairman's Reserve (cask-aged dark rum)
• Crystal Lime (clear rum infused with lime)

Most bars will have both, even at the smaller resorts.

In addition to fantastic rum, Piton Lager beer is is brewed and bottled on the island and is very good (although it seems to have a higher alcohol content than most American beers...be warned!). If you're a beer drinker, you must have one. If you're not at a resort that offers it, check in coolers at the marketplaces - you'll likely find it in there for $1 US.

Also spotted in the coolers: Heineken, Champagne, Wine, Water, Coke (All for $1 US)

[edit][add listing] Sleep

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

• Villa Beach Cottages Castries. [2] Self-catering beachfront villas.
• The Inn On The Bay Marigot Bay. [3] A romantic 5-room Hotel overlooking beautiful Marigot Bay.

[edit] All inclusive resorts

• Ladera - 5 Star - Amazing Views, Eco-Tourist (http://www.ladera.com/)
• Sandals - Exclusive, couples only- (http://www.sandals.com/)
• Rendezvous http://www.theromanticholiday.com/60/The_Romantic_Holiday_Home.htm
• LeSPORT http://www.thebodyholiday.com/92/The_BodyHoliday_Home.htm
• Stonevield Estate Villa Restort (http://www.stonefieldvillas.com/)
• Anse Chastenet - 5 Star (http://www.ansechastanet.com/)
• Fond Doux Plantation- 3 Star (http://www.fonddouxestate.com)
• Coconutbay Resort & Spa (Vieux Forte) (http://www.coconutbayresortandspa.com/)

[edit] Learn

The island has a rather turbulent history. It's worth taking a "Jungle Safari" around the rainforests, as this also includes much information on the island itself.

There is a marine sanctuary (national park) on one side of the island by the Anse Chastenet resort. Great spot to learn about local marine life & ecology.

[edit] Work

[edit] Stay safe

Recently there have been a series of brutal midnight attacks on foreign hotel guests in their rooms. These attacks include rape and robbery. The police is ineffective. See the "Crime" section of the US State Department's web page on St. Lucia for more info: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1027.html . For personal stories of violence against tourists and inept police work check out St Lucia at http://www.stluciatravel.org/

Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit and Coast Guard)

Castries Central Market is a good place to watch your wallet.

Driving can be tough with steep winding hills dotted with potholes. Less intrepid visitors may prefer taxis.

[edit] Stay healthy

This island is a series of hills and mountains. The driving is the most hair-raising series of winding hair pin turns you will ever see. Think of driving up and down Lombard Street in San Francisco for an hour or so. Needless to say if you are at all prone to motion sickness, bring the Dramamine. If you fly into the big airport and stay in Castries, as most tourists do, take your pills the minute that you clear customs. It is probably the biggest health risk that you face in St. Lucia.

[edit] Respect

• All beaches on St. Lucia are open to the public, even at the resorts.
• Nude sunbathing is illegal on St. Lucia

[edit] Contact

This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!