About St Lucia

          Capital: Castries
          Population: 168,458 (approx)
          People: St. Lucians
          Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollars
                                Distance from UK: 4227 miles

Originally inhabited by Arawak Indians before being exterminated or forced off the island by the Carib Indians, St. Lucia changed hands between the British and the French fourteen times before its 238 square miles became a British colony in 1814. St. Lucia finally gained independence from Britain on 22^nd February 1979. The island now has a blend of English governmental heritage mixed with a French cultural heritage with English being the official language. French patois (a Creole dialect) is also spoken by many St. Lucians. St. Lucia’s monopoly in Europe through exporting bananas has been lost and the island has had to look to the tourist industry as a new source of foreign exchange.

Some of the most outstanding landmarks in the Caribbean can be found in St. Lucia in the form of twin-mountains that rise from the sea known as the Pitons. Located close to the island’s second city, Soufriere, which is 15 miles from the capital, Castries, the steep, forested sides of the twin peaks are a challenge to experienced mountaineers.

Beaches in St. Lucia are plentiful with the famous Vigie Beach stretching some three miles made up of pure white sand and beautiful clear water. Reduit Beach and Pigeon Island are also worth a visit, as is Rodney Bay all of which are located on the northern side of the island. Marigot Bay is ideal for anchoring yachts and snorkelling. Qualibou volcano located at Soufriere is a prime tourist attraction where you can ‘drive in’ to gain access to one of many sulphur springs in the surrounding area that are renowned for their curative properties

The island’s main port, a fine deep water harbour, was built in Castries in 1948 and is used by cruise liners visiting St. Lucia. Hewanorra Airport, located in the south, is the island’s main airport with a smaller airport to be found in Vieux Fort which provides for regional flights.

A visit to this 238 square mile Caribbean island will give visitors an opportunity to not only relax and take in the natural beauty to be seen, but you can enjoy a wide variety of water sports, golf, hiking, biking, whale watching, deep sea fishing, to name but a few of the activities available in St. Lucia. The Jazz Festival in May has become more and more popular with locals and tourists alike as has the Fish Fry in Anse la Raye on Friday nights

Why not visit St. Lucia where temperatures that range from 70º-90º Fahrenheit are cooled by constant trade winds and where you can experience St. Lucian hospitality from its friendly and fun-loving people.