St. Lucia Overview

The lush tropical greenery and spectacular scenery of St. Lucia is exquisite. Explore beautiful rain forests and mountains and enjoy fantastic snorkeling, diving, windsurfing and sailing.

St. Lucia was a stronghold of the Carib Indians, the early inhabitants of these islands. They did not surrender this island paradise easily and their culture can still be seen in the local crafts. The European colonization period was marked by squabbles between the British and the French. Both left their mark on the St. Lucian culture of today. St. Lucia declared its independence from the British Commonwealth on February 22, 1979.  

Capital

Castries

Language

Officially, the language is English but you will mostly hear St. Lucians speaking a French-based Patois.

POLITICS - St. Lucia is an Independent State within the British Commonwealth.

Population

140,000

The People

St. Lucians are primarily of African or East Indian descent. Despite most recent ties to Great Britain, the population is decidedly Creole (a blend of France and Africa). East Indians brought their own culture when they arrived as indentured servants. St. Lucian's are proud people. Politeness is met in kind. Please ask before taking a St. Lucian's picture.

Industry

There are many local crafts but bananas are the chief export. The tourist industry continues to grow.  

Entry Requirements

Proof of U.S. or Canadian citizenship (birth certificate with photo ID or passport) and a return or ongoing ticket is required. The departure tax is U.S. $11.

Money Matters

Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$2.70 = U.S. $1.00) U.S. currency is generally accepted at all hotels, restaurants and shops.

Business Hours

Banking hours are generally from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. Shopping hours are generally from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. On Saturday, most shops are closed by noon.

Communications

The area code for St. Lucia is 758.

Electricity

220-230 volts AC, 50 cycles (U.S. appliances will need a converter)

Time

Atlantic Standard Time (one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time)

The Climate

St. Lucia has a tropical climate. The temperature ranges from 80 - 90°F. The normally drier period is February through May with July to September being the months with the most rain. Throughout the year the mountains enjoy more rainfall than the lower lying areas.

The Land

St. Lucia is one of the Windward Islands with a land area of about 240 square miles (27 miles long and 14 miles wide). Its dramatic topography causes St. Lucia to be frequently compared to the islands in the South Pacific. The 2000-foot tall green twin peaks of the Pitons (volcanic cones) dip down to tropical valleys and banana plantations cover the rolling green hills. The tropical vegetation gives way to beautiful wide beaches. Streams, including those fed by hot springs, are abundant.

More Information

For more information contact the St. Lucia Tourist Board at (800) 456-3984. The Tourist Board has offices on Sans Souci Street in Castries, Paris, London and New York. On the web, St. Lucia Tourist Board offers an informative homepage at http://www.interknowledge.com/st-lucia.

St. Lucia Guide

About St. Lucia

The lush tropical greenery and spectacular scenery of St. Lucia is exquisite. Explore beautiful rain forests and mountains. Enjoy fantastic snorkeling, diving,… more

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