The Facts For Your St. Lucia Vacation

St. Lucia travel guests find that St. Lucia (pronounced"loo-sha"), is one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean, is a Windward Island just south of Martinique. The island has managed to maintain an amazing balance between the St. Lucia vacation industry and natural beauty and preservation.  You will find top-notch St. Lucia resorts as well as amazing plant and animal life. The culture of the island is a distinct blend of British, Creole, French, and Indian influences, a great culture for all St. Lucia vacation guests.

St. Lucia Vacation: Facts at a Glance

Currency The official currency of St. Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$). The U.S. dollar is widely accepted, but St Lucia vacation guests may still receive change in EC$. The exchange rate is permanently fixed at about EC$2.70 to each US$1 (EC$1 = US$.37). Electricity St. Lucia uses a 220- or 230-volt system, so St Lucia travel guests from the U.S. should bring adapters. GDP Per Capita The average per capita income is about $5,400(USD). Island Size The island is about 238 square miles in area. Language English is the official language, but Kwayòl, a French patois, is widely spoken. Population The island is home to about 160,500 residents, and sees about 250,100 St. Lucia vacation guests annually, with 36 percent visiting from the U.S.

St. Lucia travel guests that visit the northern portion of the island are generally advised to arrive via George F. L. Charles Airport since taxi rides from Hewanorra International Airport can be lengthy and expensive. St. Lucia vacation guests that visit the south are advised to arrive at Hewanorra International Airport. Taxis are available at both airports to all St. Lucia hotels and St. Lucia resorts.

Entry Requirements

All St. Lucia vacation guests, including those from within the Caribbean, must have a valid passport and an ongoing or return ticket, regardless of their country of origin.

Geography

St. Lucia travel guests will find that the interior of St. Lucia is a forested mountain range with peaks that range from 1,000 to 3,145 feet in height. Tropical forests cover the mountainsides down to the flat land around the island's exterior. The capital city of Castries lies in the northwestern portion of the island. The southwest coast boasts two famous Caribbean landmarks: the volcanoes of Gros Piton and Petit Piton. St. Lucia vacation travelers can experience unique geographical adventures such as driving into a volcano or taking a dip in the Sulphur Springs.

St. Lucia has about as much crime as major metropolitan areas like London or New York. We advise St. Lucia vacation guests to use common sense when traveling to this island. Don't flaunt cash or expensive jewelry, don't carry large amounts of cash on your person, and don't leave valuables unattended in your St. Lucia hotel room or on St. Lucia beaches. Be wary of hitchhikers. Also keep in mind that the use of narcotic drugs is illegal, and your government cannot help you much if you are arrested for their use or possession. Local prisons are not a great way to spend your visit.

People

The culture of the island undoubtedly plays a major role in its popularity for St. Lucia vacation guests. The island's culture evolved from the influences of highly contrasting groups of people. This diversity of experience draws St. Lucia travel visitors from across the globe. Indian food, British manners, Caribbean music, and varied languages are all present on the same block, if not in the same building making your St. Lucia vacation a wonderful experience.

Two St. Lucians are Nobel Prize winners. Sir W. Arthur Lewis won the Nobel Prize for Economics in 1979, and Derek Walcott won the Nobel Prize for Literature for his poetry in 1992.

Cuisine is a proud point for locals. The soil of St. Lucia is rich and fertile due to past volcanic activity, and the island is famed for its produce. St. Lucia vacation guests will enjoy bananas, mangoes, pineapples, and many other tropical fruits grow on the island. Locals blend Indian spices and Creole methods with fresh and delicious seafood to create a distinct flavor that St. Lucia travel guests will find nowhere else in the world.

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