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AT A GLANCE
Capital:
(largest city)
Castries
14°1 N, 60°59 W
Area:
239 square miles
Language:
English is the official language of the island, but Kwéyòl,
a French/African patois, is spoken among the majority or the locals.
Government:
Parliamentary democracy
Commonwealth Realm
Head
of State:
H.M. Queen Elizabeth II
Governor
General:
H.E. Dame Pearlette Louisy
Prime
Minister:
Hon. Stephenson King
Time
Zone:
St Lucia lies in the time zone of VENEZUELA (Caracas) at -4 GMT
(DST in place).
Calling code:
+ 1 758
Currency:
USD $1.00 = EC$ 2.67
GBP £1.00 = EC$ 4.72
EUR €1.00 = EC$ 3.20
CAD $1.00 = EC$ 2.30
Please note that these are not exact and can change daily.
Electricity:
220 ~ 240 volts, 50 cycles AC (a few hotels are 110 volts, 60 cycles).
Most sockets take 3 pin square plugs (UK standard) but some take 2 pin
round plugs or flat American plugs, which are rarer. Adaptors are genersally
available at the hotels.
Island
Districts:
Anse-la-Raye
Castries
Choiseul
Dauphin
Dennery
Gros Islet
Laborie
Micoud
Praslin
Soufrière
Vieux Fort
Population:
Saint Lucia counts 166,312 inhabitants (July 2005 estimate),
and sees about 250,000 visitors annually, with 36 percent visiting from
the U.S.
Geography:
Saint Lucia is a volcanic and mountainous island with some broad, fertile
valleys. It is located in the Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and
the North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines and south of Martinique and Dominica
All
info adapted from guidetostlucia.com
Copyright CGDesigns Inc.
St. Lucia is the sort of island that travellers to the Caribbean dream about. A small, lush tropical gem that is still relatively unknown. One of the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, it is located midway down the Eastern Caribbean chain, between Martinique and St. Vincent, and north of Barbados. St. Lucia is only 27 miles long and 14 miles wide, with a shape that is said to resemble either a mango or an avocado (depending on your taste). The Atlantic Ocean kisses its eastern shore, while the beaches of the west coast owe their beauty to the calm Caribbean Sea.
In natural beauty, St. Lucia seems like an island plucked from the South Pacific and set down in the Caribbean. Its dramatic twin coastal peaks, the Pitons, soar 2,000 feet up from the sea, sheltering magnificent rain forests where wild orchids, giant ferns, and birds of paradise flourish. Brilliantly-plumed tropical birds abound, including endangered species like the indigenous St. Lucia parrot. The rainforest is broken only by verdant fields and orchards of banana, coconut, mango, and papaya trees.
St. Lucia has been inhabited since long before colonial times, and its cultural treasures are a fascinating melange of its rich past and its many different traditions. The island's people have earned a well-deserved reputation for their warmth and charm, and the island itself is dotted with aged fortresses, small villages, and open-air markets.
There is a broad array of exciting and exotic activities available on St. Lucia. The island's steep coastlines and lovely reefs offer excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. The rainforest preserves of St. Lucia's mountainous interior are one of the Caribbean's finest locales for hiking and birdwatching. Of course, the island also possesses excellent facilities for golf, tennis, sailing, and a host of other leisure pursuits. Not to be missed is St. Lucia's Soufriere volcano, the world's only drive-in volcanic crater.
NATURAL ATTRACTIONS
St. Lucia possesses a topography and ecology of stunning beauty, matched by no other location in the Caribbean. The island's pride in its natural resources is evident in the country's ongoing protection and conservation efforts. In the mountainous interior lies the enormous National Rain Forest, and the island's protected coastal sights include the breathtaking, unforgettable spires of Les Pitons. All sorts of nature hikes, tours, and programs have been developed to showcase these peerless assets, allowing visitors to enjoy the island without harming its complex and fragile environment.
St. Lucia's environmental philosophy also extends beyond its shoreline to the protection of its beautiful coral reefs, with their rich and diverse tropical sea life. The government has created four preservation areas, encompassing all of the island's outstanding reefs. Watersports enthusiasts, divers, and boat owners are required to purchase a permit before entering the reserve, and the fees are used for repairs to the reef and preserving threatened marine species.
The
Pitons
Located near Soufriere, these primeval twin peaks, topping 2,000
feet, are St. Lucia's most famous landmark. Only the most daring climbers
have ventured an ascent to their summits, but they can be seen in all
their glory from Mt. Gimie or from the decks of a boat offshore.
National
Rain Forest
Of particular appeal to bird watchers, hikers and nature lovers,
it covers 19,000 acres of lush mountains and valleys. It is home to giant
ferns, birds of paradise and many other indigenous tree species, exotic
flowers and fruits, and its paths are strewn with tiny bromeliads, wild
orchids and mushrooms. Among the rare and beautiful birds adding color
to the scene are the brightly-hued St. Lucia Parrot, known locally as
the "jacquot," the White Breasted Thrasher, the St. Lucia Peewee,
and the St. Lucia Oriole. Contact our Tour Desk for more info.
The
Sulphur Springs
Now dormant, it is the world's only drive-in volcano. A tour of its bubbly,
steamy sulphur springs offers a direct and fascinating lesson in the violent
geology of the Caribbean Rim.
Mt. Gimie
At 3,117 feet, it is the highest point on St. Lucia. One of the best eye-filling
views of this peak is to be had on emerging from the rain forest. Guided
tours are conducted up the mountain.
Diamond
Falls
France's King Louis XVI had bathhouses built for his troops at
these natural, mineral-rich falls. An invigorating shower under the cascading
waters is still a refreshing break.
Latille
Gardens
This beautiful hidden treasure of St. Lucia is filled with luscious
fruits, blooming flowers, thriving plants, shading trees, and vibrant
waterfalls. A walk on the waterfall trails or a relaxing night under the
moon and stars, amidst the scent of healthy vegetation, are adventures
not to be missed. Contact our Tour Desk for more info.
Wildlife
Two small islands off the coast of Vieux Fort, the Maria Islands are a
nature reserve and the refuge of two species found nowhere else in the
world. The Kouwes Snake, noted as the world's rarest snake, and the Zandoli
Te, a ground lizard whose males display a brilliant blue tail. Frigate
Island is a haven for frigate birds during mating season.
Barre
de L'isle Rain Forest Trail
The highlight of this trail, which runs along the perimeter of the rain
forest, is a climb to the top of Morne la Combe that is only for the stout
of heart. The mountain, towering 1,446 feet, lies on the Barre de Lisle
ridge and offers panoramic views west to the Roseau and Mabouya valleys.
Contact our Tour Desk for more info..
Adapted
from stlucia.org
Copyright The St. Lucia Tourist Board
LINKS
Anse
La Raye Village
Balenbouche Estate
Exotic Tours
Fond Doux Estate
Hackshaws Boat Charters
Jungle Reef Adventures
Jungle Tours
Kieran Yacht Services
Solar Tours and Travel
SunLink Tours St. Lucia
St. Lucia Helicopters
Trim's Riding Stables
