Saint Lucia is an island country in the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. The island was previously called Iyonola, the name given to the island by the native Arawaks and later, Hewanorra, the name given by the native Caribs, two separate Amerindian peoples. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 617 km2 (238 square miles) and reported a population of 165,595 in the 2010 census. Soufrière was colonized by the French and was the original capital of the island. Its capital is now Castries.
St Lucia, like other nations in the West Indies, continues to punch above its weight in cultural output. As of 2021, St Lucia has the highest number of Nobel laureates per capita in the world.
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.
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!
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/.
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.
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. During this time, tourists can take advantage of affordable room rates at the best hotels on the island. Resorts run some excellent deals during this season, and in some cases, rooms can be booked for less than $200 a night.
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.
In the very rare event of a hurricane or some other qualifying circumstance, Saint Lucia guarantees your holiday can be canceled or rescheduled prior to arrival at no cost to you.
