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Saint Lucia is an island in
the Caribbean sea, which is
south of Florida and the U.S. gulf
states. 13º 54' north and 60º 50' west
One of the Windward islands, we
are situated between Martinique
and St. Vincent, and to the
northwest of Barbados. Get maps
here
Airport departure tax
US$15.00, payable on departure at all airports.
Airlines
There are 2 airports on the island: George Charles Airport in
capital Castries and Hewanorra Airport in Vieux Fort.
American Eagle, BWIA, HelenAir and LIAT serve George
Charles; British Airways, BWIA, Air Canada, Air Jamaica,
HelenAir and Virgin Atlantic are the main carriers into
Hewanorra.
Flying times from major cities:
3½ hours from Miami
4 hours from New York
5 hours from Toronto
8 hours from London
Banks/ATM machines
Banks offer a full range of banking and foreign currency
services. Banks are closed Saturdays, Sundays and local
holidays. Most banks have ATM machines. You can get
cash (local currency equivalent) using your credit card at
banks and some ATMs. Barclays Bank, CIBC, Caribbean
Banking Corp, Scotiabank, National Commercial Bank,
Royal Bank of Canada, St Lucia Cooperative Bank.
Business hours
Generally from 8 am - 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday and 8:30
am -12:30 pm Saturdays. Malls and supermarkets open
longer hours.
Car rentals, Scooters & Taxis
Several major rental car companies have offices on the
island, and taxis are plentiful.
Charter Operators
Various air charter companies run charters on St Lucia.
Charter operators considering St Lucia as a charter
destination.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are widely accepted by most hotels, restaurants
and stores.
Currency Click Here For Currency Exchange
Saint Lucia's currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$).
Currency exchanges can be made at banks, most major
hotels and at Pointe Seraphine. The current exchange rate is
about $2.70 EC to $1 U.S. at banks and about $2.60 through
stores or hotels. Shops, restaurants and resorts accept most
major credit cards.
Dress
Casual resort clothing is appropriate year-round on Saint
Lucia, although a wrap or pullover may be needed on cooler
winter evenings. Some of the larger restaurants require men
to wear jackets and sometimes ties. Swimwear and short
shorts should be reserved for the beach. Go bare-backed
only on the beaches.
Driving
In Saint Lucia, you drive on the left side of the road. A
driver's permit is required; a 3-month permit may be obtained
from the immigration department at the airport or seaport.
Duty free allowance
200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco; 1 litre (40 ounces) of
wine or spirits for arriving passengers.
Electricity
220 Volts, 50 cycles (Hz) with square 3 pin plug. A few
hotels have 110 Volt, 50Hz supply
Environmental measures
Recent laws have been passed to protect Saint Lucia's rich
natural resources. Most coastal waters surrounding the
island are now protected areas and no spearfishing or
collecting live fish are permitted, in order to preserve the
environmental integrity of Saint Lucia's waters.
Geography
One of the more mountainous of the Windward islands, Saint
Lucia is 238 square miles and is shaped like a mango --
about 27 miles long and 14 miles at its widest. The island is
blessed with fertile volcanic soil and grows a vast supply of
fruits and vegetables. Saint Lucia is one of the leading
banana exporters in the Caribbean (12 varieties of banana are
grown on our verdant hillsides) and has a population of
140,000.
Saint Lucia's capital city of Castries is in the northwest; the
famed fishing village of Soufrière is to the southwest; and
Vieux Fort, the island's second-largest port, is perched at the
southern tip.
Government
Saint Lucia is an independent country with a
democratically-elected government. The Prime Minister,
Hon. Dr. Kenny Anthony is the head of the government.
Elections are constitutionally due every 5 years.
Languages
The main language in Saint Lucia is English. A French-based
Creole (Kwéyòl) is also spoken, due to the island's early
French influence.
Public holidays
The following dates are public holidays in St Lucia in 2000:
January 1
New Year's Day
June 22
Corpus Christi
January 2
New Year's Holiday
August 7
Emancipation
February 22
Independence
October 2
Thanksgiving
April 21
Good Friday
December 13
Festival of Lights &
Renewal
April 24
Easter Monday
December 25
Christmas Day
May 1
Labour Day
December 26
Boxing Day
May 29
Whit Monday
Roads
Saint Lucia has a well-developed road network covering the
island.
Telephones
Saint Lucia's international area code is 758. Telecom
facilities are well developed.
Time zone
Saint Lucia lies in the Atlantic Standard Time Zone -- four
hours behind Europe (five during daylight saving time), and
one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
Tipping
Generally 10 - 15%, US$1.00 per bag for airport porters
Tours
A variety of tour operators and reps on the island can provide
tours to suit all interests. Go to Tour Operators
Travel documents
Valid passports must be carried by all persons entering St
Lucia, except USA, UK and Canadian citizens who posess
valid return tickets and are on a visit not exceeding 6
months. Visas are not required for citizens of the USA or
commonwealth countries.
Water
Although St Lucia's water system is to modern standards, it
is generally advisable to boil all tap water before drinking.
Never drink water from rivers or streams, no matter how clear
it seems. Bottled water is widely available.
Weather
Saint Lucia's climate is mild, with almost constant northeast
trade winds. The mean temperature is 79 degrees Fahrenheit.
June to November is the rainy season.