Overview
St. Lucia is an enchanting volcanic island with tropical rainforest, rolling farmland and pristine beaches. Due to its trade winds, it is also one of the windiest places in the world. Traditionally, banana and sugar exports have dominated St. Lucia’s economy, but the government is now increasingly investing in the rapidly growing tourism sector. St. Lucia offers visitors numerous attractions, including excellent sandy beaches, beautiful mountain scenery, the Qualibou volcano with its bubbling sulphurous springs and country lanes lined with colorful tropical flowers. Also the unique culture of the island, whose British and French influences are still unmistakable today, is an attraction. The people of St. Lucia are friendly and accommodating towards tourists and are happy to share their relaxed way of life with them. See other countries in North America on cheeroutdoor.
Getting there
Arriving by plane
St. Lucia is served directly from London by British Airways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic (VS). Good feeder connections to London Gatwick exist from many German cities as well as from Zurich, Basel, Vienna and Salzburg; partly with airport change in London. Lufthansa (LH) flies to St. Lucia via Manchester. United (UA) flies regularly non-stop from New York Newark to St. Lucia.
Flight times
Frankfurt/M., Zurich, Vienna – St. Lucia: approx. 10 hours 30 minutes (pure flight time; some airport changes in London; sometimes long waiting times at stopovers).
Departure fee
The airport taxes are already included in the price of the flight ticket.
Arrival by car
Documentation: Drivers of motor vehicles are required to carry a local driver’s license; this can be purchased upon arrival at the airport upon presentation of the national driver’s license.
Arrival by ship
The main ports of St. Lucia are Castries, Vieux Fort and Soufrière. Pointe Seraphine, a cruise ship freeport, offers duty free shops, restaurants and bars and is also accessible to non-cruise passengers. However, a valid passport and airline ticket are required for duty-free shopping. St. Lucia is served by cruise lines as well as domestic passenger and cargo lines. For more information on ports and airports, contact the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA).
Cruise ships
Aida and Phoenix call at St. Lucia on their cruises departing from Germany.
Ferry provider
L’Express des Isles, connects St. Lucia with Guadeloupe (journey time: 6 hrs 45 mins), Dominica (journey time: 4 hrs 15 mins) and Martinique (voyage time: 1 hr 30 mins) by high-speed catamaran. ).
Transportation
Traveling by plane
Caribbean Flights connects George FL Charles (SLU) and Hewanorra (UVF) airports with charter and helicopter flights. Also on offer are charter flights to neighboring islands.
Traveling by car/bus
The road network is relatively well developed and connects all larger towns. The island’s main road runs from Vieux Fort in the south of the island to Castries in the north.
Right-hand traffic/left-hand traffic
Left
Condition of the roads
Most roads are dual carriageway, but narrow and often winding. Travelers should also always expect potholes.
Car rental
Cars can be hired from Castries, Soufriere and Vieux Fort or from hotels. Buses are available for group tours.
Taxi
Taxis are inexpensive; Fixed prices apply on standard routes.
Bicycle
In the larger towns there are bike and scooter rentals. Hotels also offer organized bike tours.
Coach
Buses connect the rural areas with the capital. Buses run every 30 minutes between Castries and Gros Islet in the north of the island (service often also on weekends and bank holidays). Minibuses are available in towns and villages across the island.
Regulations
Traffic regulations: – left-hand traffic; – A visitor’s driver’s license is mandatory, see also the Documents section. Speed limits: – urban: 25 km/h; – extra-urban: 50 km/h.
Roadside Assistance
The ADAC foreign emergency call offers ADAC members and holders of ADAC foreign health and accident insurance comprehensive assistance in the event of vehicle breakdowns, traffic accidents, loss of documents and money, and medical emergencies. The emergency number is available around the clock; in the event of damage to the vehicle: Tel. +49 (89) 22 22 22, in the event of illness: +49 (89) 76 76 76. In the event of breakdowns with the rental car, the car rental company should be contacted first.
Documentation
Drivers of motor vehicles must carry a visitor’s license. This can be obtained at Castries Airport and Police Station on presentation of your national driving licence.
Traveling by ship
Boats are available for hire in Castries, Marigot Bay and Rodney Bay.
