Overview of St. Lucia

St. Lucia is a part of the Lesser Antilles, located on the eastern edge of the Caribbean Sea where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. Some people may be familiar with St. Lucia from the TV show "The Bachelor" and has recently been nominated by the World Travel Awards as "World's Leading Island and/or Honeymoon Destination". The movie "Superman II" featured the Gros (big) Piton and Le Petit (small) Piton, the two striking volcanic plugs peaks that are St. Lucia's trademark feature. Many parts of the movie "Dr. Doolittle" were filmed in the beautiful Marigot Bay area. St. Lucia is also the site of the only "drive-in volcano" in the world.

Most cruise ships dock at Pointe Seraphine in Castries, the capital city of St. Lucia. If the port is overcrowded on that day, there is a second port area outside of town called Port Careenage.

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What language is spoken at this port? Do they speak English?

English is the official language of St. Lucia. Many of the locals also speak Patois, a local dialect of French.

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What is the national currency in St. Lucia?

The official currency on St. Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean dollar. The current exchange rate is USD$1 to XCD$2.685.

Do they accept US Dollars around the port?

US dollars are widely accepted across the island except by street vendors and small businesses. Most major credit cards and US traveler's checks are accepted in St. Lucia as well. Note that you will generally get change back in EC dollars.

Where can I get or exchange money?

The best exchange rate will be at a bank, but you can also exchange money at one of the exchange houses in Castries.

• Banks closest to cruise port: 

  Water taxis available from the port area wll take you to the downtown area of Castries. The two main streets there are Bridge Street and Wm Peter Blvd. Several banks have offices there:

  • The Bank of St. Lucia, 1 Bridge Street
  • First Caribbean Int'l - also on Bridge St.
  • Royal Bank of Canada on Wm Peter Blvd.
• ATMs closest to cruise port: 

  All of the above-noted banks have ATMs. Note that money from ATMs will be in Eastern Caribbean dollars.

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How do I get around St. Lucia?

Walking

As with any Caribbean island, exercise common sense when walking on the island - remember that driving is on the left and be sure to look carefully BOTH ways before crossing the street; don't walk alone, particularly at night; and don't flash large sums of money or expensive jewelry.

Water Taxis

Water taxis are readily available in many areas on St. Lucia to provide transportation - there are water taxis at the port area to take you to the downtown area of Castries where the shopping is located. You can usually arrange with the driver to come back and pick you up at a specified time.

Taxis

There will be taxis and minivans waiting at Point Seraphine when the ship docks. Taxis on St. Lucia are not metered, so be sure to agree on the rate before getting into the cab, and confirm which currency is being quoted (EC dollars or US dollars). Most taxi drivers can also act as tour guides for an additional fee.

Buses

There is very inexpensive public minivan service in the Castries, Rodney Bay, and Gros Islet areas but only until about 10 pm (the buses do run later on Friday nights). There are marked bus stops in those areas or you can just flag down a bus as it passes. This can be a fun, if somewhat crowded experience - many bus drivers decorate the insides of their vans and play their favorite music while you travel.

Car Rentals

The major car rental companies (Avis, Hertz, etc.), and many local agencies, have offices on St. Lucia - note that driving is on the left as in England. You need a temporary permit to drive on the island which costs about $12 USD. You can get a permit directly from the car rental company. The roads on St. Lucia are narrow, with many sheer drops beside the road. The drivers are aggressive and directions can be very confusing, especially at night.

Scooter Rental

As with car rental on St. Lucia, you must obtain a temporary permit (about $12 USD) for scooter rentals. Minimum age for drivers is 25. Remember to drive on the left and be extremely cautious of other drivers.

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How can I stay in touch with home? (Ex. Email, phone, etc.)

There is no international roaming with most of the major US cellular carriers (excluding Verizon.)

How can I call home? Are there call centers?

Public pay phones are available all over the island and all accept prepaid phone cards or coins. These cards can be found at Cable & Wireless offices, St. Lucia Tourist Board Information Centers and many other outlets

Where are the Internet cafes?

Internet access is available at most shopping malls and also at a number of Internet cafes across the island. Here are a few locations with Internet access closest to the port:

• Internet kiosk at Point Seraphine at the Cruise Ship Terminal.
• Jacques Waterfront Dining in Vigie Cove, Castries.
• Cafe Ole located about 6 miles north of the port in Rodney Bay Marina
• Jalousie Plantation Beach, located 28 miles north of the cruise port(see map), has free WiFi.

What are the cell phone rates?

Verizon is $1.99/minute and AT&T is between $1.69 and $1.99/minute. Contact your cell phone provider for international roaming rates.

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What are the top attractions and must-sees in St. Lucia? How long will it take me to get there and to explore?

Attractions

• The Desmond Skeete Animation Center in Castries, with its scale model of the island in combination with voice, animation, and video is a wonderful introduction and overview of the island. Located in the La Place Carenage Mall, it celebrates St. Lucia's unique and colorful history.
• Roseau Sugar Factory, located in the middle of the island's largest banana plantation, you can enjoy their 90-minute Rhythm and Rum Tour as well as visit the Bounty Rum (the most popular rum on St. Lucia) distillery and sample their various types of rum and other liqueurs.
• The Morne Coubaril Estate in Soufriere is a working plantation where they grow cocoa, coconuts and manioc (also known as cassava, a starchy tuberous root. There is also a recreated farmers' village on the property. There is also a mineral pool for swimming on the property, so be sure to bring or wear your bathing suit.
• At the Drive-in Volcano (also known as Sulphur Springs), located to 2 miles south of Souffriere, the road goes all the way to the edge of the volcanic activity. From there, a guide will take you through the area, explaining the unique natural sights along the way. The smell give some a headache, so beware.
• The Diamond Falls Botanical Garden, not far from the Drive-in Volcano, is a beautiful area where you will find a number of pools, each at a different temperature, as well as the falls themselves.

Check out this video of some of the St. Lucia attractions mentioned above:

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Beaches

• Reduit Beach, on Rodney Bay, is family-friendly and the most popular beach on the island. There are many types of water sports for an active day on the water, as well as, massage services and a variety of dining options.
• Anse Chastanet Beach, located on on the southwestern coast of the island, offers the best snorkeling and diving on the island, as well as, beach chairs for rent and shade provided by palm trees. The swimming area is roped off to prevent any accidents from the many small boats that are in the area, and the view of the nearby Pitons is amazing. There is an open air restaurant and bar on site as well.
• Pigeon Point Beach, part of the Pigeon Island National Park, offers a quieter, more relaxing option if that's what you are looking for. With its views of Martinique and nearby ruins to explore, it also offers walking distance to the town of Gros Islet for exploring. Restaurants and bars are nearby as well.

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Shopping

The closest shopping to the cruise ship dock is just outside the welcome area, Pointe Seraphine - look for the buildings with the red roofs. In order to take advantage of the duty free prices, bring your boarding ticket and passport. There are also duty-free shops in the Welcome Area itself.

Another popular duty-free shopping area is the Place Carenage Shopping Mall in Castries. In Soufriere, a town market where a large variety of hand-crafted items is sold is at the northern end of the waterfront Maurice Mason walkway.

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Golf

Because of the hilly geography on St. Lucia, golf can be a bit challenging. The only 18-hole course is the St. Lucia Golf & Country Club in Cap Estate that boasts views of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The course is a par-71 and plays to 6,685 yards. Rates range between $95-$145 depending on the time of year and whether you play 18 or 9 holes. You can book your tee time online or contact them by phone at (758)450-8523.

There is also a 9-hole course at Sandals Regency La Toc in Castries, a short and very challenging course.

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Scuba

St. Lucia is a very popular destination for divers, offering dive sites ranging from easily-accessible shallow reefs to deep wall dives. The Caribbean (west) side of the island offers the best visibility. There is an underwater national park at Anse Chastanet as well as several wrecks to explore - one is 90 feet below the surface! The area at the base of the twin Pitons is particular noted for excellent diving.

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Tours

• Segway Tours are another unique way to explore the island. An eco-friendly adventure, this company offers the new X-2 model Segways that can be ridden practically anywhere, including on the beach. A particular favorite is their Sunset Beach Tour, offered daily at 5 pm. They also offer tours of Pigeon Island and a daily tour in the Reduit Beach/Rodney Bay area. Their facility is located at the LucianStyle Experience Center in Rodney Bay.
• Setting out from the village of Gros Islet near Rodney Bay, you can experience an island horseback adventure with Island Riders. You will enjoy both a ride along the beach as well as an actual swim with the horses, a once in a lifetime experience. Be sure to wear your bathing suit under your clothes if you want to participate in the swim. The ride will be tailored to your group and to your wishes or interests - children are welcome, and guides will lead their horses if needed. The horses are healthy and happy, which is not always the case with horses used for rides in the Caribbean.
• If horses, boats, or Segways don't interest you, there are jeep, ATV and helicopter tours of the island as well.

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Other

An interesting side note is that the island of St. Lucia is home to two Nobel Prize winners - the late Sir W. Arthur Lewis, who won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1979, and poet Derek Walcott, who won the 1992 Nobel Prize for Literature.

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What are the best eats in St. Lucia? Where are the best places to get them?

Callaloo Soup, a green meatless stew made from kale, sweet potatoes, okra, coconut milk, tomato, black-eyed peas, and spices, is the island's national dish. The Coal Pot Restaurant, in the Vigie Marina area just across the bay from the cruise ship dock is one of the best places to sample this local fare.

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What are the must-drinks in St. Lucia? Where is the best place to get them?

Try a Shandy, which is a combination of beer, ginger ale, lemon soda or sorrel soda, while in St. Lucia.

There are also several unique drinks to enjoy on St. Lucia, from the local rums such as : Bounty, Denros, and Old Fort Reservein small roadside huts called cabawes, served either straight up or with coke. There are also 2 coffee liqueurs that are also very popular - Ti Tasseand La Belle Creole Black. Piton, sometimes called "The Mystic Mountain Brew" is the local beer. ↑ Back to Top

Which are the best souvenirs to buy in St. Lucia? Where can I get them?

Under $25:

The Bagshaw Shop in the Point Seraphine Duty-Free area sells reversible dolls dressed in the traditional St. Lucian madras design on one side and in tropical prints on the other for about $16 USD. They also sell a full-line of silk screened items.

$25-$75

The Caribbean Perfumes Shop, located in the garden area of Jacques Waterfront Dining in Castries overlooking Vigie Cove, offers custom-blended scents for both men and women. There are six scents for women and two after-shaves for men - women's fragrances include Pink Orchid, Marigot, Le Bleu, Frangipani, La Passion and Soleil; men can choose from either Perequito or Tropique. Their items are also available at several gift shops on the island.

Over $75

A piece of art from Llewellyn Xavier, the most well-known St. Lucian artist, would be an excellent reminder of your trip to the island. His shop is located in Gros Inlet, and a unique choice would be a piece from his environmental line, which he has created in protest against the destruction of the world's environment.

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What is the weather like in St. Lucia?

Current Temperature

Average Monthly Temperatures and Rainfall in St. Lucia

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