St Lucia

St Lucia is indeed a Caribbean dream: a small, lush tropical gem of an island that is still relatively unknown and undeveloped, although it does offer a good variety of accommodation for tourists, including a few discreet resorts. St Lucia is one of the Windward isles of the Lesser Antilles, situated midway down the Eastern Caribbean chain between Martinique and St Vincent, just north of Barbados. It is tiny - only 27 miles (43km) long and 14 miles (23km) wide, shaped like an avocado.

The volcanic island's main landmarks are the Pitons, two soaring peaks on its southern coast, that rise up from the sea and shelter magnificent dense rain forest where wild orchids grow and brilliantly-plumed tropical birds abound. The Creole people of the island are as warm as the tropical climate, and visitors are treated to plenty of smiles as they make the most of the island's natural beauty and secluded golden beaches, where coral reefs beckon snorkelers and scuba divers.

Most visitors are day-trippers who arrive on cruise liners at the island's main port, Castries, and generally do little more than shop for souvenirs. Those who have time to explore, however, are enchanted by the walks, cycling trails and natural beauty spots on the island, including the fascinating Soufriere volcano, with its bubbling sulfur springs.

The island has been left with a distinct French flavor, although its earliest colonists in the 17th century were British. The colonial history of the island, first settled by Arawak Indians around 200 AD, is a long saga of battles for control between the French and British. Britain eventually won the war in 1814, and granted independence under the Commonwealth to St Lucia in 1979.

Basics

Time: GMT -4.
Electricity: 240 volts, 50Hz. Three square-pin plugs are standard.
Money: The unit of currency in Saint Lucia is the East Caribbean Dollar (XCD), which is tied to the US Dollar. The EC$ is divided into 100 cents. US dollars are also accepted and ensure a better exchange rate. ATMs are available in Castries, Rodney Bay, Soufriere and Vieux Fort. Banks are open Monday to Friday. Major credit cards are accepted at all major hotels, shops and restaurants. Most hotels will exchange foreign currency, and there are change bureaus in Castries.

 

Note: This is not updated daily and should be used as a guide only.

Language: English is the official language, but St Lucian Creole is widely spoken.
Entry Requirements for Americans: US citizens may stay for up to six weeks without a visa. Extensions are possible. A valid passport is required.
Entry Requirements for UK nationals: UK citizens may enter St Lucia with a passport valid for at least six months, or an expired passport with a photo-bearing identity document, and stay for up to six weeks without a visa.
Entry Requirements for Canadians: Canadians may enter St Lucia with a valid proof of identity. No visa is required for a stay of up to six weeks.
Entry Requirements for Australians: Australians require a passport valid for at least six months to enter St Lucia. No visa is required for stays of up to 28 days, but travelers should have a return ticket or proof of onward travel.
Entry Requirements for South Africans: South Africans require a passport valid for at least six months for entry to St Lucia. A visa is also required.
Entry Requirements for Irish nationals: Irish nationals require a passport valid for at least six months, but a visa is not necessary for a stay of up to 28 days (extensions possible).
Passport/Visa Note: Visitors permitted to enter St Lucia without passports must have some form of identification with a photograph attached. Visitors must hold documents for the next destination, return/onward tickets and sufficient funds. Passports must be valid for at least six months. From 23 January 2007 all US citizens traveling to and from St Lucia by air will require a valid passport; by 1 January 2008 the requirement will be extended to include all land and sea border crossings as well. *Special note: In connection with the Cricket World Cup, a common visa policy will be in effect from 1 February to 15 May 2007 between Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Guyana, Grenada, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. All visitors, except for nationals of Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, USA and UK, will require a CARICOM Special Visa, which will allow movement between the participating countries.
Health: There are few health risks associated with travel to St Lucia, although the mosquito-carried dengue fever is a risk throughout the island. HIV is prevalent and precautions are advised. No vaccinations are required, however a yellow fever certificate is necessary for travelers arriving from infected areas. Health care costs are high on the island and health insurance is recommended, which should cover medical evacuation. EHIC card holders are entitled to emergency medical treatment in the case of evacuation to Martinique, on the same terms as Martinique nationals, of which 70 percent of the costs can be reclaimed.
Tipping: A service charge is not automatically added to bills and about 10% of the bill is expected. Taxi drivers, porters and chambermaids also expect to receive tips.
Safety: Most visits to St Lucia are trouble-free, but visitors should take common-sense precautions against robbery and theft. Isolated areas, such as beaches, should be avoided after dark. Hurricane season is generally from June to November. The ICC Cricket World Cup takes place in the Caribbean from 11 March to 27 April 2007, travelers are advised that flights and accommodation will be in great demand during this period.
Customs: It is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing.
Business: Business in St. Lucia, due to its popularity as an offshore banking location, may require that business suits are worn for meetings. Handshakes for both men and women are the common form of greeting at the beginning and end of meetings, and business cards are usually exchanged. Business hours are generally 8am to 4.30pm throughout the week and 8.30am to 12.30pm on Saturdays.
Communications: The international access code for St Lucia is +1 758. The outgoing code is 011 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 01144 for the United Kingdom); the outgoing code is not needed for calls to Canada and the US. City/area codes are not in use. Pay phones accept coins and pre-paid card phones, available at shops throughout the island. AT&T calling cards can be used for cheaper international calls. Mobile phone operators provide good GSM 900, 1800 and 1900 network coverage of the island. Email and Internet access is available at Internet cafes throughout the island.
Duty Free: Travelers to St Lucia may bring in 200 cigarettes or 250g tobacco, and 1 litre wine or spirits without paying customs duty.
 

Castries

The main reason for the existence of the town of Castries, capital of St Lucia, is as a port of call for hundreds of cruise ships that dock in the deep harbor every year, disgorging thousands of day-trippers who shop till they drop in the market and duty-free shopping malls. Visitors who linger find the town has a certain charm surrounded by hills, although little to offer in the way of sightseeing or architectural heritage. Most of the buildings are fairly new, Castries having been destroyed several times by fire during its history, most recently in 1948. There is a very vibrant and colorful market on the go every day except Sunday, some good waterfront restaurants and a few remains of the defenses of the island's various occupiers, to claim the attention. Castries also serves as a good base for island exploration, whether it is by road or water.

 

Airports

Hewanorra International Airport (UVF)

Location: The airport is located 42 miles (67km) from Castries, on the southeastern tip of the island. Time: GMT -4. Contacts: Tel: +1 758 454 6355. Transfer to the city: The airport is situated on the main highway running north to south on the island, and is served by all taxi companies on the island. The trip to Castries takes about an hour. Local buses are also available but services are infrequent. Car rental: Car hire companies represented at the airport include Avis, Hertz and Alto. Facilities: The airport has a few shops and bars, an ATM and a bureau de change. There are good facilities for disabled passengers. Departure tax: EC$68. Website: www.slaspa.com

 

Climate

Like all Caribbean islands, St Lucia enjoys a hot, tropical climate throughout the year. The average daily temperatures of 80°F (27°C) tend to be tempered by trade winds. The driest time on the island is between January and March but showers can occur throughout the year, however they are usually over quickly. Hurricane season is generally from June to November.