A four hour flight from JFK in New York will get you to one of the most amazing islands in the Caribbean, St. Lucia. This lush playground has everything you could want in a vacation spot - all inclusive resorts in all price ranges, plenty of excursions from zip lining to visiting a dormant volcano and having a mud bath to nice beaches. Located 21 miles from Martinique on the northern tip of the island and St. Vincent 26 miles from the Southern tip, the island is 27 miles long and 14 miles wide. However, due to the extremely hilly terrain that roads must be built around, getting around can take more time than you would anticipate on a small island. From the Hewanorra Airport to Castries, the main tourist area, the ride can take about an hour by car.
There are two airports - Hewanorra (UVF) located about 40 miles from Castries and George F. L . Charles Inter Island Airport in Castries. Most airlines fly into Hewanorra hut you can take a helicopter from Hewanorra to the Castries airport to avoid a drive of about an hour and a half.
 |
| Coconut Bay Resort in St. Lucia |
English is the official language but French Creole (Patois) is also spoken. The U.S. dollars is widely accepted, but the Eastern Caribbean Dollar is the official currency, which is linked to the US Dollar at the exchange rate of 1 US$ to about 2.70 EC$. A passport is required to enter the country for U.S. citizens.
A tropical climate kept mild by trade winds allow St. Lucia to be a year round destination. From June to November be prepared for sporadic tropical showers. Average temperatures range from 70 degrees to the mid 90's and can be hot and humid. June through August are the hottest months, and December and January are the coolest, with temperatures between the mid 70's to mid 80's. There is a rainy season from June to November. During this time, there can be heavy rainstorms that quickly clear.
There are large rainforests and the Piton Mountains are a major attraction on the island. Visitors exploring the trails through the rain forest in the center of the island need to be prepared for some very hot and humid weather without any relief from the trade winds. Many of the major landmarks in St. Lucia were made by nature. These include the two volcanic domes of the Pitons, Sulfur Springs Drive In Park located at a dormant volcano and Diamond Falls, which features a mineral bath, botanical garden, and waterfall. At Sulpher Springs, walk through the crater and you'll see pools and hot springs bubbling up. Just outside, you can bathe in the warm pools.
There are many award winning resorts on St. Lucia - from the Body Holiday, Hotel Chocolat, three Sandals Resorts, Jade Mountain, Anse Chastenet and many more, there is something for everyone. Enjoy water sports and seek out rare wildlife. Some hotels feature water parks, beach volleyball, and multiple pools for everyone's enjoyment. There are many excursions that can be purchased - take the family to stunning waterfalls, rainforests and mineral baths. Don't forget a stop at the "world's only drive in volcano" located in Soufriere - and have a mud bath!
Rodney Bay is located in northwest St. Lucia and probably the most active city on the island. During the day, the gorgeous beach of Rodney Bay makes any St. Lucia experience memorable and is the perfect location to experience nightlife and multiple restaurants, cafes, shops, night clubs and even a casino. Every Friday night, Gros Islet comes alive with dancing, seafood and Caribbean music in what is called "jump in".
Love spas? The Soufriere Volcano supplies mineral rich mud and steam baths unique to the island. Resort spas use these natural resources in some of the most sophisticated spa treatments in the world.
St. Lucia is also the perfect place for a destination wedding - there is no residency period and you can apply for a marriage license two days before the date of marriage (most resorts suggest arriving three to four days before your wedding date to complete final paperwork and get your marriage license). Your guests will be thrilled to attend a destination wedding on such a diverse island.
So what's not to like? We are St. Lucia Specialists and can provide the right resort for you based on your wants and needs. Contact us for more information. 516-608-0568
No comments:
Post a Comment