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all about Saint Lucia

Reasons to visit Saint Lucia

Located in the heart of the Caribbean, St. Lucia is probably best known as a perfect honeymoon destination. With a dramatic mountain skyline, emerald seas and stunning white sandy beaches, it certainly hits the spot if you’re after a tropical paradise. But you’d be mistaken for thinking this is all St. Lucia has to offer.

Challenge the wealth of water sports available, from snorkelling to deep-sea fishing; explore the island’s wild nature while gliding above the rainforest on a canopy tour or leave the beaches behind and dance the night away in the pulsating capital, Castries.

We love St Lucia for

  • Birdwatching
  • Coastal walks
  • Deep sea fishing
  • Diving
  • Gardens
  • Hiking
  • Horseriding
  • Sailing
  • Sandy Beaches
  • Watersports
  • Windsurfing
  • Whalewatching

When to go to St Lucia

The high season runs from mid December to mid April when hotel prices will rise and you will need to book up to a year in advance to get the best deals.

We recommend that you try travelling to St Lucia at other times if you are not bound by school holidays, where you will find some great hotel and airfare deals. Check out our latest deals to St Lucia with Virgin Atlantic and British Airways.

Weather in St Lucia

The rainy season runs from July to November although you can still find rain at other times. The mountains have about four times the amount of rain as the coast. The hottest months are from June to September and the coolest are December and January. The average temperature is 27°C in the dry season and 29°C during the wet season. Hurricane season is from June to October.

Planning your holiday

St Lucia for weddings, anniversaries and special occasions

If you are looking for help organising a trip to St Lucia for a group, whether that’s for a special family occasion such as an anniversary or wedding just get in touch. We have organised many types of trips, including music tours for some of the most well known bands in the Caribbean.

Beach Holidays in St Lucia

There is plenty of choice when it comes to sandy beaches and good places for snorkelling or water sports in St Lucia.

Places to stay in St Lucia

Many of the hotels in St Lucia are small friendly guesthouses, affordable apartments and hotels. We recommend that anyone renting a private villa should ensure there is adequate 24 hour security on the site. We have a range of specially selected hotels in St Lucia for our customers so do let us know how we can help.

Cultural and Adventure Holidays in St Lucia

There is a wealth of French and English history on the island and lots of plantation houses to visit.

St Lucia for couples

The island is often seen as a romantic getaway for couples that enjoy nature, who are celebrating their honeymoon or an anniversary.

Family reunions and holidays to St Lucia

When considering a trip to St Lucia, many travellers choose the island for its spectacular scenery with the Piton mountains and for diving, sailing and snorkelling in its marine park on the west coast.
We recommend that you find the time to hire a car in advance as it takes a lot of time to negotiate the local transport and the south is not as well served as the north with buses.

 

Getting to Saint Lucia

There are direct flights to St Lucia from Gatwick with Virgin Atlantic and British Airways. You need to book at least a year in advance to travel during the Christmas period.

Getting around

We recommend hiring a car in St Lucia but allow plenty of time to get around the island, as the roads are naarrow and slow. Car rental makes it easier to see the main sights and we offer some great rates here.

Things to do and see in Saint Lucia

Turtle Watching

You can watch the green, hawksbill and leatherback turtles come to lay their eggs at Grande Anse and Anse Louvet on the east coast beaches between March and July.

Diamond Gardens

The Diamond Gardens and Sulphur Springs are well worth a visit near Soufriere.

Hike the Gros Piton Trail

You can trek up the Gros Piton Trail south of Soufriere in a 4 hour return trip however it is very strenuous and you need to be in shape to tackle it.

Events & Holidays

1 & 2 January - New Year holiday
22 February - Independence Day
Easter - Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday.
1 May - Labour Day
First Monday in May - Whit Monday, Corpus Christi Carnival
May - Annual St Lucia Jazz Festival, open air concerts
29 June - St Peter’s Day with decorated fishing boats
July - Carnival with music, dancing and Calypso finals
1 August - Emancipation Day
30 August - Feast of the Rose of Lima - singing and dance in costume
First Monday in October - Thanksgiving Day
17 October - La Marguerite festival with parades, music, food and drink
November - Food and Rum Festival at Rodney Bay, cooking shows and tastings.
December - Kalalu World Music Festival, at the beginning of the month with African and Caribbean musicians and concerts in Samaans Park.
13 December - St Lucy the patron saint of light is honoured with a procession of lanterns.
25-26 Dec - Christmas Holidays

Useful St Lucia travel information

The island is 27 miles long and 14 miles wide.

Language - Whilst English is the official language a patois called Creole French is widely spoken across the island.

Currency - The East Caribbean dollar is the official currency.

Emergencies - Dial 911 for emergencies

Local Customs - It is customary to dress smart casual when dining out at restaurants and to only wear swimwear and beachwear on the beach.

Tipping - Restaurant and hotel staff expect 10-15% of the bill and a small amount if the service is already included.

Voltage - This is 220 volts although a few hotels operate on 110 volts.

Time Difference - GMT -4 hours (Atlantic Standard Time)

Country dialing code is +758

Departure tax - See our flight pages for details of the departure tax payable.

Security in St Lucia - Many visitors travel to the island each year and do not have any incidents however we recommend that you take care at night and exercise caution at all times. Do not stray from the town centre of Castries.  Take advice from the locals as to any city areas you should avoid at all times and do not leave your belongings unattended on the beach. Use your hotel safe or security boxes to store your valuables. Avoid driving at night outside the main town centres.

When taking a boat trip check that the boat operator has sails or oars in the event of an engine breakdown, a radio and lifejackets and equipment in the event of a fire. Accidents do happen and boats can break down.

Useful Links

St Lucia High Commission in the UK
1 Collingham Gardens, London SW5 0HW, UK
Tel: (020) 7370 7123.
www.stluciahcuk.org

Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 0930-1730, Fri 0930-1700.

St Lucia Tourist Board in the UK
1 Collingham Gardens, London SW5 0HW, UK
Tel: (020) 7341 7000.
www.stlucia.org

Handpicked hotels

 

St Lucian by Rex Resorts
Reduit Beach, Saint Lucia

 

Bay Gardens Beach Resort
Reduit Beach, Saint Lucia

 

Royal by Rex Resorts
Reduit Beach, Saint Lucia

 

Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa
View Fort, Saint Lucia

 

Bay Garden's Hotel
Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia

 

Bay Gardens Inn
Reduit Beach, Saint Lucia

 

blu St. Lucia
Rodney Bay, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia

 

Papillon St Lucia by Rex Resorts
Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia

 

Coco Palm
Rodney Bay Village, Saint Lucia

Insider tips

Climbing the Pitons

Pitons Bay, St Lucia

Climbing The Pitons is tough but really fun. It's a full on climb but the views are definitely worth it, and the sense of achievement - A must do for anyone who visits St Lucia. 

Destination Guides

“The Travel Shop was recommended to me and they have not let me down.  The service I continue to receive has been consistent, professional and always courteous.  As I lack flexibility with dates for my trips usually I find the extra effort made by staff have been above and beyond any expectations I could have for a travel agent and I have recommended clients to them based on the fantastic service. Jamie. Last contacted us Sep 14   ”

J Gomes - Read more