| St Lucia would be just at home in the South | | | | directed. The smaller airport (George |
| Pacific, but it resides in the southeastern | | | | Charles) to the north of the island serves |
| Caribbean Sea, and is part of the Windward | | | | most of the smaller Caribbean air carriers. |
| Islands. | | | | Of course the majority of the best known |
| | | | hotels are located on the north of the |
| Just north of Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago | | | | island. |
| lies a tropical paradise equal to the Pacific | | | | |
| islands of Tahiti and Fiji. The calm waters | | | | Flying into Hewanorra airport on the southern |
| of the Caribbean Sea which is usually | | | | end, and booking a hotel or resort on the |
| compared to the color turquoise, appears to | | | | northern end can result in a long 2 hour |
| be royal blue around the island of St Lucia. | | | | trip. Rather than look at the travel time to |
| No doubt this is due to the fact this is a | | | | the hotel with dread, consider it a prime |
| volcanic island unlike the coral islands of | | | | opportunity for an enjoyable island tour. The |
| the Caribbean basin. | | | | mountain route offers a more scenic view of |
| | | | the magnificent Pitons. The eastern route is |
| Old ship records speak of how captains and | | | | faster, and you wind through hundreds of |
| sailors alike were awed by the sighting of St | | | | banana groves, and beautiful scenery. Take |
| Lucia. Perhaps this is why the island was | | | | your pick, but I recommend the longer western |
| fought over and changed hands 14 times in its | | | | route. |
| history. Two countries, England and France | | | | |
| fought 14 battles back and forth to gain | | | | St Lucia is home to some of the most unique |
| control of the island. The English eventually | | | | resorts, charming inns, guesthouses and |
| won the war, but France won the battle since | | | | romantic hideaways in the Caribbean. Two of |
| the island is definitely French in culture. | | | | the most unique are Ladera and Anse |
| | | | Chastanet. |
| The most photographed scene in the Caribbean | | | | |
| and landmark of St Lucia are Petit Piton and | | | | Ladera offers an open wall concept with your |
| Gros Piton. These two enormous volcanic | | | | own private pool. The western side of each |
| mountains are covered with lush green | | | | unit is open to the view of the Pitons. It's |
| vegetation and rise over 2,600 feet above the | | | | like staying in a luxury tree house, and as |
| sea, and 1,000 feet below. Soufriere, located | | | | they said "the only thing separating you from |
| at the base, is where the jungle meets the | | | | nature is the netting on your bed". |
| royal blue sea. The majestic twin Pitons | | | | |
| greet you at every turn while on the island - | | | | Anse Chastanet is a luxury mountaintop |
| such an awesome sight! | | | | retreat where every room offers something |
| | | | different - no two are alike. Most rooms are |
| As a comparison among its Caribbean | | | | scattered in the lush hillside, and a few |
| neighbors, the only two that come close to St | | | | more expensive rooms are located on the |
| Lucia's beauty is Dominica (the nature | | | | beach. Be forewarned there are nearly 100 |
| island), and the interior of the island of | | | | steps to the beach from the hillside. |
| Jamaica. St Lucia boasts a variety of exotic | | | | |
| black sand beaches, tropical birds, plants | | | | Jalousie Plantation is located beneath the |
| and flowers. Everywhere you turn, and on each | | | | Pitons, and offers a very romantic, private |
| island adventure there is just more beauty to | | | | location that is hard to match anywhere in |
| be seen. I attempted to capture the island on | | | | the Caribbean. Another choice is the |
| picture, but the color intensity and depth | | | | Windjammer Landing with your own secluded |
| was lacking more than often. While family and | | | | villa in a Mediterranean styled village |
| friends remarked at how beautiful our | | | | setting. |
| vacation pictures were, I knew the true | | | | |
| essence of the island needs to be seen in | | | | The smaller hotels of Rodney Bay which are |
| person. | | | | Caribbean Jewell, Coco Kreole, and Coco Palm |
| | | | offer a location that is within walking |
| This is an island to be explored with nature | | | | distance to shopping, restaurants and |
| walks, mountain hikes, visits to the natural | | | | nightlife. Reduit beach is one of the prime |
| reserves, boat trips to nearby island | | | | attractions of Rodney Bay, which is also home |
| sanctuaries, drive through the world's only | | | | to the European yachting community. Each of |
| "drive through volcano, and a trip to the | | | | these smaller hotels has a unique charm, |
| interior rainforest is a must! About the | | | | excellent service and moderate prices. |
| drive through volcano - you literally drive | | | | |
| through the crater to over 15 pools of thick | | | | There are approximately eight all inclusive |
| black bubbling lava. The smell is a bit | | | | on this small island. Many Caribbean islands |
| overwhelming. In this region you will also | | | | offer all inclusive properties where visitors |
| find green and yellow sulfur steam coming up | | | | are isolated and spend most of their time. St |
| out of the ground, and pools of hissing steam | | | | Lucia all inclusive celebrate the islands |
| - You can definitely feel the heat from the | | | | beauty and attractions, and make every effort |
| ground, and guides lead you around the hot | | | | to promote the islands beauty and culture. |
| stones. | | | | The most popular all inclusive are Sandals - |
| | | | which offers three different resorts, the |
| Another interesting site outside of Soufriere | | | | Body Holiday Spa Resort, and Rendezvous - a |
| is Diamond Waterfall and the Mineral Baths. | | | | popular, romantic couples only resort. |
| Louis XVI sent a sample of the mineral water | | | | |
| to France back in the late 1700's to be | | | | The beaches of St Lucia offer as much variety |
| tested, and it was deemed beneficial. We had | | | | as the lush vegetation. There are black sand |
| a lovely time at the Mineral Baths, and admit | | | | beaches where the sand is courser, soft white |
| I felt quite invigorated afterwards. Diamond | | | | sand beaches, beaches of beige-grey and |
| Waterfall is near the baths, and this rivals | | | | brown. One thing to remember - black sand |
| many of the waterfalls on the island of | | | | heats up much faster than white sand, and |
| Jamaica - simply beautiful! | | | | your feet can get burned and blistered. |
| | | | |
| The lush mountainous region is home to the | | | | While the island is French in culture, |
| rain forest which offers lush and colorful | | | | English is widely spoken in the business and |
| foliage. As you venture into the northern | | | | tourist areas. Elsewhere you will hear |
| part of the island, mountains turn into lush | | | | Creole, along with a French patois. The |
| hills, and orchards of banana, coconut, | | | | Creole spoken on the island is derived from |
| mango, citrus and papaya trees. | | | | the original slaves mixing their African |
| | | | language, along with French words. There is |
| Aside from land tours, a half day or one-day | | | | even a national holiday where every St Lucian |
| sail around the island is recommended. From a | | | | is encouraged to speak Creole, and prepare |
| small peninsula that extends from the | | | | Creole food dishes. |
| southern tip of the island you can view where | | | | |
| the rough Atlantic Ocean meets the calm | | | | If you're used to the typical steel drums and |
| Caribbean Sea. On a clear day you can even | | | | calypso of the Caribbean, you will find the |
| spot the tiny island of St Vincent. Another | | | | French Caribbean has a taste for Zouk, |
| location advantage is you easily island hop | | | | African drumming, and also Soca. The French |
| to the islands of Martinique, Dominica and | | | | Caribbean is not as reserved as the islands |
| Guadeloupe. | | | | with a British influence, and the English |
| | | | lyrics are quite explicit about current |
| The Eastern or Windward side of the island is | | | | social norms - in other words you may be a |
| on the Atlantic coast, and has big waves and | | | | little shocked at what you hear. |
| surf, and swimming is not recommended, but | | | | |
| the ocean views will be remembered far after | | | | Zouk is a Creole word for "party", and is |
| your vacation is over. | | | | upbeat tempo with layered percussions and |
| | | | loud brass. You'll hear Zouk mostly in the |
| The Western, or Leeward island side, is | | | | French Caribbean islands of St Lucia, |
| located on the Caribbean Sea, and the waves | | | | Martinique and Guadeloupe. The beat is |
| and waters are quite calm, and most of the | | | | infectious, and you can't help but dance or |
| beachfront resorts on located on this side of | | | | at least tap your feet. |
| the island. | | | | |
| | | | Soca is a combination of calypso with a more |
| No matter which side of the island you | | | | up-tempo beat, and interestingly enough has |
| choose, you will find the constant cooling | | | | its origins in a combination of calypso mixed |
| trade wind breezes coming off the coast of | | | | with Indian rhythms from Trinidad and Tobago. |
| Africa. | | | | |
| | | | Not your typical Caribbean island! If I had |
| Getting to St Lucia can be challenging time | | | | to sum up what's special about St Lucia, I |
| wise depending on where you are starting | | | | would conclude the following - An exotic |
| from. Expect a minimum 5-6 hour trip from | | | | island paradise with unique resorts and |
| North America. One important aspect in | | | | romantic hideaways, great beaches, hiking, |
| booking your vacation is the proximity of the | | | | sailing and deep sea fishing. Also the |
| hotel to the airport. St Lucia has two | | | | island's steep coastlines and excellent reef |
| airports, and the major airport (Hewanorra) | | | | system offers world class snorkeling and |
| on the southern tip of the island is where | | | | scuba diving. |
| most of the air traffic from North America is | | | | |