St. Lucia

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.







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