St. Lucia

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Saint Lucia is a British Commonwealth country that is an island in the Caribbean, off the coast of Central America. It lies between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago. The twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton) are striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere that are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean.

Population: 162,781 people

Area: 616 km2

Highest point: 950 m

Coastline: 158 km

Life expectancy: 77.22 years

GDP per capita: $13,300

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History

Saint Lucia's first known inhabitants were Arawaks, believed to have come from northern South America around 200-400 CE. Numerous archaeological sites on the island have produced specimens of the Arawak's' well-developed pottery. Caribs gradually replaced Arawak's during the period from 800 to 1000 CE.

Europeans first landed on the island in either 1492 or 1502 during Spain's early exploration of the Caribbean. The British failed in their first attempts at colonization in the early 17th century. The island was first settled by the French, who signed a treaty with the local Caribs in 1660. Like the British and Dutch, the French began to develop the island for the cultivation of sugar cane on extensive plantations.

Caribbean conditions were hard, and many slaves died before they lived long enough to have children. The French (and later British) continued to import slaves until the latter nation abolished the trade, and then the legal institution. By that time, people of ethnic African descent greatly outnumbered those of ethnic European background.

Thereafter Saint Lucia was much contested by the two European powers until the British secured it in 1814. It was part of the British Windward Islands colony. It joined the West Indies Federation (1958–62) when the colony was dissolved. In 1967, Saint Lucia became one of the six members of the West Indies Associated States, with internal self-government. In 1979 it gained full independence.

Climate

Tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season from May to August; Experiences hurricanes.

Activities

The Sulfur Springs - just south of Soufriere, these hot springs are one of the main attractions on the island. There is a pool that the hot water runs through, so make sure to take your swimming trunks and go for a dip!

Rainforest hikes - there are several official hiking routes on the island. The Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries [4] site has links to information about the ones they support.

Climbing the Gros Piton is an achievable goal for most people. The trailhead begins at an elevation of about 600 feet (approx. 180 m) above sea level and requires about two hours of moderate to strenuous hiking to reach the summit of about 2600 feet (approx. 800 m) above sea level. A further 1-and-a-half hours are needed to descend. Guides are required and entrance costs $30 US. Taxis or local buses can be used to reach the trail head.

Snorkeling is popular and a number of beaches are suitable.

SNUBA diving - done at Pigeon Island, one of the island's Historical Landmarks, as well as between The Pitons, a World Heritage Site. (758) 484 3346/ (758) 285 7354.

Drinks

St. Lucia has fantastic Rum Punch. It's hard to go wrong. Highly recommended:

Chairman's Reserve (cask-aged dark rum)
Crystal Lime (clear rum infused with lime)

Most bars will have both, even at the smaller resorts.

In addition to rums, Piton Lager beer is brewed and bottled on the island and is quite good (although it has a slightly higher alcohol content than most American beers). It's usually offered in eight ounce bottles, often for $1 US.

Also seen in coolers: Heineken, Champagne, Wine, Water, Coke (usually $1 US)

Shopping

Castries market is a good place to buy gifts as is the JQ Shopping Mall in Rodney Bay. There is also La Place Carenage, a duty free and gift and souvenir outlet located in the main harbour of Castries. There you will find fine jewellry arts and crafts, ideal for gifts.

Supermarkets have quite good prices on rums produced or bottled on the island, e.g., Elements 8, Admiral Rodney, and especially Chairman's Reserve.

Visits by cruise ships over the years have generated a duty free mall (at dockside, Point Seraphine, Castries) with jewelry, souvenirs, art, liquor/rums and other offerings typical for cruise shoppers.

You may also find lower, "duty-Free" prices available across the island in strip malls and resorts. You may need identification as a visitor to qualify for duty-free treatment.

This article is based on Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike 3.0 Licensed text from the article Saint Lucia on Wikivoyage.

blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border; the blue color represents the sky and sea, gold stands for sunshine and prosperity, and white and black the racial composition of the island (with the latter being dominant); the two major triangles invoke the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), cone-shaped volcanic plugs that are a symbol of the island

Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Climate: tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August

Population: 162,781 inhabitants (127th on the world)

Area: 616 km2 (193th on the world)

Population density: 264 people per km2

Population growth rate: 0.36% (127th on the world)

Life expectancy: 77.22 years (69th on the world)

Highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m

Coastline: 158 km

Border countries:

Independence: 22 February 1979 (from the UK)

National holidays: Independence Day, 22 February (1979)

Ethnic groups: black 82.5%, mixed 11.9%, East Indian 2.4%, other or unspecified 3.1%

Lanuguages: English (official), French patois

Religions: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Protestant 18.2% (Seventh-Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%), other Christian 5.1%, Rastafarian 2.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5%

GDP: $2,233,000,000 (127th on the world)

GDP growth rate: 20.00% (127th on the world)

GDP per capita: $13,300 (99th on the world)

Agriculture: bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa

Industries: tourism; clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, lime processing, coconut processing

Cities in St. Lucia

Gros Islet

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Gros Islet is a town at the far northern end of Saint Lucia. The town itself is the newest town in Saint Lucia, having only recently been promoted from being a village. There is a small beach at Gros Islet, but there are larger beaches and several large tourists resorts within walking distance to the north. ... (read more)

Interesting places:

Pigeon Island National Park
Reduit Beach
Smugglers Cove
Beausejour Stadium
Bonne Terre Tropical Gardens

Visit Gros Islet!

Soufriere

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Soufriere is the former capital of Saint Lucia.

Interesting places:

St. Lucia Rain Forest
Anse Chastanet Beach
Sulphur Springs
Jalousie Beach
Diamond Falls

Visit Soufriere!

Castries

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Castries is the capital city of Saint Lucia. Founded by the French in 1650, Castries now has a population of just over 11,000. Of itself, Castries doesn't have a huge amount to offer visitors, and it's usually just a place that you'll pass through on your way to the more obvious attractions of Saint Lucia. ... (read more)

Interesting places:

St. Lucia Town Hall
St. Lucia Cathedral
St. Lucia National Library
Immaculate Conception Church
Derek Walcott Square

Visit Castries!

Cap Estate

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Visit Cap Estate!

Marigot Bay

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Marigot Bay is a city in the country of Saint Lucia.

Interesting places:

Marigot Bay

Visit Marigot Bay!

Vieux Fort

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Interesting places:

Maria Islands Nature Reserve
Moule a Chique Lighthouse
Savannes Bay Nature Reserve
Mankote Mangrove

Visit Vieux Fort!

Anse Cochon

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Visit Anse Cochon!

Mamiku

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Visit Mamiku!

Micoud

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Visit Micoud!

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Points of Interest in St. Lucia

Pigeon Island nature reserve - just north of Gros Islet, the park has some of the oldest buildings on St.Lucia and affords views across to Martinique.