We will start our Saint Lucia Travel Tips by talking about this country. Saint Lucia is an island nation in the East Caribbean, with a pair of sharply tapered mountains, the Pitons, on its west coast. These Mountains are a landmark and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Country’s name makes it the first country to be named after a woman. Its coastline is home to volcanic beaches, places for coral diving, luxury resorts and fishing villages. Trails in the inland rainforest lead to waterfalls such as the 15m-high Toraille, which pours into a garden over a cliff.
Around 100,000 people live around the coasts of Saint Lucia, while a further 60,000 live in Castries or further within the mainland. The capital, Castries, is a popular cruise port.
Table of Contents
Things to do in Saint Lucia
- Marigot Bay
- Rodney Bay
- Pigeon Island
- Anse Chastane
- Sulphur Springs, Saint Lucia
- Gros Piton
- Diamond Botanical Gardens
- Morne Coubaril Estate
- The Tet Paul Nature Trail
- Reduit Beach Avenue
Language
English is the official Language of St. Lucians. However, Around 85 percent of the people speak French Patois or Creole. Whereas, around 20 Percent of the people don’t even speak English at all. French Patois is as a result of the shared French Creole heritage and a combination of British and French domination during colonial years.
According to Saint Lucia Travel Tips, French Patois or Creole is widely used by St. Lucians as a way of communicating by using figurative expressions or phrases.
Currency
The Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$) is The official currency of Saint Lucia. While the U.S. Dollar is widely accepted in this country. Bank issue notes in denominations of EC$5, 10, 20, 50, and 100. While coins comes in the denomination of EC$0.01, $0.02, $0.05, $0.10, $0.25, and $1.00.
Visa, American Express and MasterCard are widely accepted at hotels, car-rental agencies, shops, and restaurants. ATMs are also widely available in this country, mostly they accept Visa and MasterCard both.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit St. Lucia is from January to April. These are the dryest months of the year in this country. The country receives most of the tourist during this season. However, hotel rates are on the higher side during this period.
While people also travel to this country during summer carnivals in May & June. You should avoid traveling to this country from August to October due to the risk of hurricanes. Also, these months fall into the rainy season.
Saint Lucia Tourist Visa
The visa is on arrival for Indians. Validity For 3 months.
Documents required for Saint Lucia Visa
- 2 certified passport size photographs.
- A valid passport for up to six months.
- A return ticket to port of origin.
- Travel itinerary.
- Proof of hotel/private accommodation.
- Letter of invitation (if invited by a friend or relative with).
Time Zone
Time zone in Saint Lucia (GMT-4).
Emergency Numbers
- Police 911
- Fire 911
- Ambulance 911
Internet & Wi-Fi
The Internet speed in Saint Lucia is good and rates are affordable. You can buy SIM cards for your phone from the airport or one of many retailers all over Saint Lucia. All you need is the passport to get the sim card in this country.
Flow & Digicel are the two main internet service providers in this country. According to Saint Lucia Travel Tips, The Places with free Wi-Fi connection are airports, restaurants, hotels, coffeehouses.
Electricity
The standard voltage is 240 V, and 50 Hz is the normal frequency. In Saint Lucia the power plugs and sockets are of type G. Type G is from British origin. This socket only works with plug G.
According to Saint Lucia Travel Tips, You can use your electric equipment in this country if the standard voltage in your country is in between 220 – 240 V. Though carrying a travel adapter is advisable to stay connected with the world.
Climate
St Lucia gets more rain than other less mountainous Caribbean islands such as Barbados or Antigua. Also bear in mind that the hurricane season runs from June to November, with September and October statistically the likeliest months for major storms.
There is little to worry about from the weather, the hotels all have plans and there are many storm shelters. The average Temperature is between 25°C in January to 28°C in October / November with the min-max between 22°C and 35°C. Whilst it can be colder or warmer it rarely so.
The humidity is constant between 70 and 80%. The sea temperature is always warm, between 22°C and 25°C depending on the time of day/year and location. It is generally clear unless hurricane or severe bad weather has stirred the sea up.
Culture
One of the best reasons to visit St. Lucia is taking in the island’s vibrant community. As in June when Castries transforms into a place of glamorous parades, soca concerts, lavish costumes, and street parties in the theme of Mardi Gras, the people of Saint Lucian celebrate their culture with pride, music, and cheer.
The traditional foods of Saint Lucian are rooted in the diverse culture and cultures of the island, with a mix of French and Creole tastes, and West Indian touches.
The national dish of the island is green fig and salt fish, which features salted cod cooked with spices and served alongside savory green bananas. If you’re visiting Saint Lucia make sure you have an opportunity to take it all in.
Reasons to Travel Saint Lucia
- Hike up the Piton Mountains
- Stop by the world’s only drive-in volcano, Sulphur Springs.
- Bathe in the fresh waters at Toraille Waterfall.
- Have a taste of wonderful St Lucian cuisine.
- Sip cocktails on the beach.
- Take a Segway tour.
- Hike up the Tet Paul Nature Trail.
- See how chocolate is made at Hotel Chocolate.
- Dance the day (and night) away to the best beats in the Caribbean.
- Hop over to Pigeon Island.
History of Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea. The island is considered part of the Windward Islands and gets its name from the French who named it after St. Lucy of Syracuse. The first inhabitants were the Native American Arawaks. Later the Caribs took over the island.
The Spanish first landed on the island in the late 15th or early 16th century, however, the first trading posts weren’t established until the 17th century. They faced difficulty from the unfriendly Caribs. In 1815 the English took control of the island primarily to develop the sugar industry.
In 1979 Saint Lucia became a fully independent country although the country still considers Queen Elizabeth II its queen. The island is a member of CARICOM, the Caribbean Community and Common Market. Two Nobel laureates call Saint Lucia home, Derek Walcott and Arthur Lewis.
Religion
Reflecting early French colonial influence, most of the Saint Lucians are Roman Catholics, though many have been converted in recent years by Protestant sects. Every village and many rural settlements have Catholic churches.
Most of the priesthood is now Saint Lucian, a change from colonial times when almost every church had French priests. All the Catholic holidays and sacraments are celebrated.
Packing Tips for Saint Lucia
- Passport & Travel map
- Day Bag or Backpack
- Sunglasses and Sun Hat
- Comfortable Clothes
- Breathable tees
- Power Charger
- Travel Adapter
- Insect Protection
- Toiletries
- Shoes
- Accessories
- Tickets and travel documents
- Swimming Suite
- Medical kit
Is it Safe to Travel Saint Lucia?
St. Lucia is safe. That was an unfortunate incident and an even worse one recently happened in Antigua. Crime happens everywhere and if you live in Ontario you are more than aware of that. There is no perfect utopia but if you use common sense and don’t leave your brains at home your chances of being a victim of a crime anywhere is decreased significantly.
When we talk about Solo Women Travelers you should be careful in this country, as long as you have a guide with you you’ll be fine. However, It is not advisable to visit beaches by yourself especially ones away from the main tourist resorts. The crime rate here is low but any place where you don’t see many locals, don’t go by yourself.
Conclusion
However, If you need more information about Saint Lucia Travel Tips ??? Call us at +918860284198 or contact us at [email protected].
FAQs
Good Things about Saint Lucia?
1. Beaches 2. Water sports 3. Spicy cuisine
Bad things about Saint Lucia?
1. Crime 2. Bad Infrastructure 3. Corruption
Weird Things about Saint Lucia?
1. Drive-in volcano 2. Only nation names after female 3. Weather
Saint Lucia Travel Restrictions?
It's open for travel. You only need PCR test done no more than 7 days prior to arrival in Saint Lucia.
How many cities in Saint Lucia?
There are 21 Cities in Saint Lucia.
