One of the Windward Islands, St. Lucia is located in the middle of the Eastern Caribbean chain of islands and is approximately 21 miles south of Martinique and 90 miles northwest of Barbados. The main language in St. Lucia is English although many St. Lucian’s also speak French and Spanish. English, French, Amerindian and African heritages have shaped the interesting and colorful past of St. Lucia.

 

The island is 238 sq. miles, 27 miles long, 14 miles wide with a combination of high mountains, forests, low lying lands and beaches. A central mountain range runs the length of the island, with peaks ranging between 1,000 and 3,145 feet. Forests dominate the mountains, while jasmine, scarlet chenille and wild orchids provide splashes of color to the lush green slopes. The two towering volcanic cones on the southwest coast, Gros Piton and Petit Piton rise over 2,000 feet out of the ocean and are one of the Caribbean’s most famous landmarks. The volcanic origin of the island provides visitors with an opportunity to visit a “drive-in volcano” and take a dip in the reputedly therapeutic Sulphur Springs.

St. Lucia is a rugged landscape and a perfect island vacation for those of you who seek adventure and activity. St. Lucia is also an island for those seeking luxurious or romantic accommodations, including several high quality All-Inclusive and non All-Inclusive resorts.

 

Romance is in the air throughout St. Lucia. A sampling of romantic examples include the Piton Mountains (of course); Soufriere - a romantic blend of French and Caribbean cultures and home to hiking trails that reveal panoramic island views; The Enbas Saut Waterfalls Trail - two waterfalls cascading into natural swimming pools giving couples the chance to cool off in a secluded, exotic setting; beaches galore - all beaches in St. Lucia are public, so feel free to find the ultimate beach for your mood and enjoy, even ride horseback along a beautiful beach. And certainly a sunset cruise around the picturesque shores of St. Lucia is a must for true romantics.

St. Lucia has two airports: Hewanorra International is located in the southern part of the island and about 90 minutes from the majority of resorts. However, it is the airport that receives flights from the US. George F.L. Charles Airport receives flights from San Juan but is located near Castries. It is a trade off. You will get to St. Lucia earlier at Hewanorra and with better connections but have more transfers time to your new home in St. Lucia. We recommend taking the helicopter transfer to your resort to save time and benefit from the scenic aerial views. We have.

 

The Town of Gros Islet is known as the night-life capital of St. Lucia. There is nightly activity in the Rodney Bay area, from quiet fine dining to just chilling at a popular bar or grabbing your favorite toppings from a pizzeria near by. 

The longest running street party in St. Lucia, the Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party, is a hot spot for locals and visitors alike. With the pulsating rhythms echoing from the speakers of the islands DJs and the occasional appearance of local artists, one would be hard pressed not to enjoy themselves and even more so not to move to the infectious bass lines that accompany the Caribbean music. You can find a variety of Bar-Be-Que grills serving mouthwatering local cuisine including chicken, pork and seafood. Gros Islet Friday Night is a must-stop for any visitor who loves to party.

 

Your most difficult decision in St. Lucia is which street party to participate in on Friday's. We say do both. In that case you need to know about Seafood Friday in the sleepy village of Anse la Raye, south of Castries along the west coast. Street stalls offer the catch of the day, as well as delicacies such as squid, octopus, shrimp or lobster. Caribbean music provides the prefect party background and of course you wash your seafood delicacies down with a local rum or Piton (the local beer which is quite good).

 

While speaking about food - cuisine is part of the attraction to St. Lucia. St. Lucia's cornucopia of tropical fruit and vegetables are what deliver the extra unique flavor and taste, and they include bananas, mangoes, passion fruit, cassava, dasheen taro, plantains, breadfruit, okra, avocados, limes, pumpkins, cucumbers, guavas, pineapples, papayas, soursop, yams, chayote and coconuts. Be sure to try a local Caribbean specialty Callaloo (soup made from leafy green, similar to spinach), stuffed crab back, pepper-pot stew, curried chicken or goat, and conch (a favorite of ours).

 

Certainly we understand that shopping is an integral part of travel for many of you. St. Lucia has an enormous variety of shopping options. Some of its most popular items are the arts and crafts products produced right on the island. Here is a sample of just two of the major shopping areas:

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Soufriere - The crafts market is on the north side of the dock, where you will find a wide variety of items including island-made hand-woven baskets, straw hats, local spices and clay pots.

Castries - This is a livelier party atmosphere with probably the largest number of authentic island-made souvenirs at the Craft Market on Jeremie Street. In addition to the baskets and clay pots, you will find some beautiful and authentically crafted wood carvings. as well as spices. Perhaps better yet is since the cruise ships stop here there you now have La Place Carenage, a 2-level waterfront duty-free complex with a variety of boutiques selling everything from fine china, crystal and jewelry, to clothing stores selling batik and island fiber-made clothing, as well as duty-free liquor.

 

St. Lucia is a favorite of Honeymooners. Take a look at the hotels and resorts ULTIMATE VACATIONS has selected in St. Lucia and you will soon learn why so many romantics chose St. Lucia.