Learn the basics before you travel:
St. Lucia has many different regions, each
offering something unique!
St. Lucia is a
unique destination as it offers
visitors something most other
islands are no longer able to, a
traditional Caribbean experience.
St. Lucia has remained relatively
unknown as a Caribbean destination
and only in recent years has the
tourist industry begun to flock
there. As St. Lucia becomes more of
a tourist destination it becomes
increasingly important to take steps
to preserve the natural charm of the
island and its people.
Etiquette
When visiting
St. Lucia it is important to
remember that you are visiting
someone's home, and so you need to
respect the local culture and
environment. In general, the British
influence as well as the strong
presence of the Catholic Church has
made St. Lucia a fairly conservative
traditional culture. It is important
for visitors to conduct themselves
in a respectful manner and dress
conservatively when not on the
beach.
The local
people of St. Lucia are incredibly
friendly and accommodating, they
will go to great lengths to make
your visit to St. Lucia a wonderful
and memorable experience. Treat
locals with respect and always ask
their permission before taking
photographs of them, it is also a
good idea to offer them a small
gratuity in appreciation.
Street
markets in St. Lucia are places
where tourist-local relations can be
strained. Tourists may become
frustrated if local street vendors
become a little forward and pushy
with them to buy their goods. The
best way to deal with this is to
politely decline and be firm with
any further persistence on the part
of the vendor.
Regions
Although St.
Lucia is a fairly small island,
there are geographic and cultural
differences throughout the island
that visitors should be aware of.
Knowing these regional differences
can assist in planning a trip that
is catered to your specific
interests and resources.
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Location |
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Description |
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Castries |
As
the capital of St.
Lucia, Castries is one
of the more developed
parts of the island. The
town of Castries has
twice been destroyed by
fires that have consumed
much of the original
architecture. The
rebuilding efforts have
created an interesting
mix of surviving
historical architecture
and modern concrete
buildings. Visitors will
find a variety of things
to do in and around
Castries ranging from
shopping to sightseeing.
At Pointe Seraphine,
located on the north
side of the Castries
harbor, you will find
fantastic duty free
shopping in a modern
mall setting for
tourists and cruise ship
passengers. In the heart
of Castries you will
find shopping at street
markets where local
vendors sell their
produce and crafts. The
Castries Central Market
is the largest of these
street markets and
offers the best deals in
fruit and other produce.
Across from the Central
Market you can find the
Vendor's Arcade which
offers a set of craft
stalls offering
souvenirs and hand made
crafts to visitors.
There are certain
landmarks in Castries
that would be a shame to
miss if you are planning
a trip to the city, one
such landmark is the 400
year old saman tree that
defines the center
square of the town. |
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Marigot Bay |
Just
south of Castries is the
small fishing village of
Marigot, whose adjacent
bay has become a very
popular destination for
sailing and yachting.
Some of the most
exclusive and expensive
accommodations can be
found here due to the
picturesque
surroundings. Marigot
Bay has been featured in
several movies including
Doctor Doolittle, filmed
in Marigot Bay in the
1960s. Visitors will
find that life in
Marigot Bay is a little
slower than on the rest
of the island, which
makes it a perfect
destination if you're
looking for a romantic
getaway. |
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|
Pigeon Island |
Off
the coast of St. Lucia
just north of Castries,
you will find an island
rich with history.
Pigeon Island once
served as barracks for
the 18th century battles
between the French and
English for possession
of the island. It also
served as a U.S.
Military base during
WWII. Today Pigeon
Island National Historic
Park is a popular
destination for tourists
as it offers a little
something for everyone.
Visitors can explore the
ruins of the 18th
century barracks
alongside hunting for
artifacts of the Arawak
Indians who inhabited
the island long before
the French and English.
Beyond the rich history
of the island, the
beaches draw many people
to Pigeon Island, they
are said to be some of
the best in St. Lucia.
Whatever your interests,
you are sure to find
something that interests
you on Pigeon Island,
making it an essential
stop on your visit to
St. Lucia. |
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|
Rodney Bay |
Rodney bay is an eighty
acre man-made lagoon
located between Pigeon
Island and Castries.
This is the region that
hosts the greatest
number and variety of
hotels and restaurants
on St. Lucia. There are
enough to satisfy the
needs of any visitor,
with the added bonus of
being in close proximity
to some of the island's
greatest attractions.
One such attraction is
Rodney Bay Marina, which
is said to be one of the
best yachting ports in
the Caribbean, and the
reputation is quickly
spreading. The bay is
quickly becoming a very
popular destination for
private yachts and
cruise ships alike.
Another attraction in
Rodney Bay is Gros
Islet, the town which is
the host to the popular
Friday night"jump up"
street party. Every
Friday night streets in
the town are blocked off
and filled with local
vendors selling food and
crafts. Of course it
wouldn't be a true St.
Lucian party if locals
and tourists alike
weren't filling the
streets with dancing and
music. It has been said
that the"jump up" street
party is the best way
for visitors to get a
taste of true St. Lucian
culture. |
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Soufriere |
Soufriere is located on
the southwestern coast
of St. Lucia and was the
former capital when
under French possession.
It is also the oldest
town in St. Lucia.
Unlike Castries, much of
the original
architecture still
stands today, so if you
want a taste of French
colonial architecture, Soufri�re is the place
to be. The waterfront of
this town is so
picturesque it draws
movie studios and
tourists alike. Soufri�re
is an excellent
destination for visitors
to experience both the
St. Lucian culture and
the environment. Soufri�re
has everything, from
beautiful beaches to
towering mountains. For
the adventurous
traveler, it is the
perfect destination for
both relaxation and
adventure. Just outside
of Soufri�re is the
popular drive-in volcano
which is thought to have
once been a site for
human sacrifice by the
Arawak Indians. Visitors
are allowed to drive
very nearly into the
volcano and then be
guided around the area
by a tour guide. Just
south of the town of
Soufri�re along the bay,
the most distinguishing
feature of St. Lucia can
be found, the Pitons.
These two towering twin
mountains are not only
beautiful to look at,
but they a popular
hiking destination that
draw people from around
the world. |
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Vieux Fort |
At
the southern tip of St.
Lucia you will find the
town of Vieux Fort and
the beautiful adjacent
bay. Many visitors will
arrive in Vieux Fort as
it is the location of
the Hewanorra Airport.
As the second largest
port in St. Lucia,
visitors will find many
services catering to
tourists needs. Besides
the airport, Vieux Fort
offers a great number of
attractions for visitors
to experience. Vieux
Fort is said to be one
of the best places in
St. Lucia to buy
authentic local crafts,
so for those looking to
bring a souvenir of
their trip to St. Lucia
back home, a visit to
Vieux Fort is a must.
For those travelers
interested in
eco-tourism, one of the
main draws to this area
is the Maria Islands
Nature Reserve. The
Reserve is a wonderful
place to experience
local wildlife and get a
chance to see some of
the more rare species of
animals and reptiles in
the Caribbean. On site
at the Nature Reserve is
a museum that functions
as a wonderful resource
on everything from St.
Lucia's wildlife to its
culture. |
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Central |
It
may seem as though most
of the attractions in
St. Lucia are located on
the coast, but for those
willing to venture to
the center of the
island, they will
certainly not be
disappointed. The center
of the island, for the
most part, is a dense
rain forest maintained
by the Forestry
Department. Visitors can
attempt the trails by
themselves but the
Forestry Department does
offer visitors guided
tours to help them
navigate the trails and
truly experience the St.
Lucian wild. Trails
range from easy to
challenging so visitors
can always find the
level they are most
comfortable with. Trail
guides can be found at
most major trail heads
from 9:00 a.m until
12:00 p.m, but for less
popular trails visitors
will need to contact the
Forestry Department
directly to arrange for
a guide. |
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Visitors to St.
Lucia will find an island full of
adventure and possibility. Being
aware of cultural expectations and
regional differences will help
visitors have the best experience
they possibly could have. St. Lucia
is a wonder of natural beauty and it
is important for visitors to respect
the culture and environment to
preserve St. Lucia for future
generations. |
