My St Lucia Island information on the Pitons, Soufriere, Castries

CAPITAL: Castries.
AIRPORT: Hewanorra International Airport.
LANGUAGE: English.
CURRENCY: Eastern Caribbean or U.S. dollar. Credit cards are widely accepted.
TIME ZONE: GMT - 4 hours.
VISAS: Visas are not usually necessary for British passport holders.
VACCINATIONS: No compulsory vaccinations, however, Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid are recommended.
Please consult your G.P. before travelling.

Lush, green and tropical, St. Lucia is one of the most picturesque Caribbean islands. From its sandy beaches on the north west coast to the dramatic scenery in the south, St. Lucia has a lot more to offer
than just sunbathing, and if you are adventurous with a camera, the opportunities are everywhere.
Fought over for more than 150 years, St. Lucia was highly sought after, and was the scene of many bloody battles between the French and English.
The French influence is still apparent today in the spicy Creole food, and the native patois which is widely spoken amongst the locals. Visit Castries Market, a conglomeration of noise, colour and activity to hear this for yourself.

Most of the hotels are scattered along the sheltered north west coast, where a wide range of water-sports are available from the long sandy beaches. However, don't miss seeing the rest of this beautiful island. A trip to Soufriere, one of the oldest settlements in St. Lucia, is highly recommended. Go by boat, or bumpy road, and experience the island's abundant natural beauty, culminating in Les Pitons mountains -twin peaks towering majestically over the south.

Although the water taxis ply from the Anse Chastenet area to Castries, you can ask them to take you anywhere, and Carol and I spent a fabulous evening visiting the bat cave of Soufriere, following the setting sun as I took pictures of the harbourside homes.

The beauty of St. Lucia is not confined to the land. Scuba diving is particularly good in the south of the island, with visibility of up to 100 feet. There are some good dive schools and vast stretches of coral reef, a dazzling variety of marine life, and many wrecks are all waiting to be explored.
Evening activities and entertainment tend to be hotel based, although there are a number of good bars and restaurants in Castries and the Rodney Bay area.
Everyone goes out on a Friday night.
St. Lucia's mountains mean that it has a higher rainfall than some other Caribbean islands. However, the showers are usually short, and often cooling after the heat of the tropical sun.

Getting About: The roads in St. Lucia are gradually being improved. Car hire is easily available, and if you can put up with the jolting and bumping, you really can get off the beaten track. A local license is required which will be organised by the car hire company for a small charge. You will need to take a full British Driving License. Driving at night is not recommended. Public transport is unreliable, however taxis are in good supply. Agree the fare - in E.C. or U.S. dollars - before you get in.

Weather Averages for St. Lucia	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Daily Sunshine (Hrs)	8	9	8	8	9	7	9	8	7	8	8	8
Temperature (F)	82	83	84	87	88	88	87	88	88	87	85	83
Rainfall (inches)	5	4	4	3	6	9	9	11	10	9	9	8