St. Lucia is the second largest of the Windward Islands. Located between St. Vincent and Martinique, there is a hint of the South Pacific about this lush, beautiful island. Castries, the capital city of St. Lucia is one of the most beautifully situated Caribbean cities. Surrounded by hills, its large, safe harbor at the head of a wide bay is a constant hive of activity. Castries is a major port of call for cruise ships, which dock at Pointe Seraphine.
The spacious Derek Walcott Square features the 19th-century Catholic Cathedral standing in the shade of a 400-year-old samaan tree. There is also a colorful, bustling market. Morne Fortune, ‘hill of good luck’, affords the visitor the chance to inspect the fortification which defends Castries. It also provides a magnificent panorama of the city and the surrounding area.
There are a wide variety of shopping experiences from Castries market, where local crafts are available, to Po inte Seraphine and La Place Carenage, two duty free shopping centers in Castries where resort wear, Colombian Emeralds jewelry, cosmetics and perfumes are available. A variety of shopping malls with extended opening hours offer a wide selection of boutiques and restaurants.
Things to See & Do
* Derek Walcott Square
* Castries Heritage Walk
* Pitons
* Sulphur Springs
* Samaan Tree
Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$)
Language – English & French
Land Area – 616 sq km
Population – 70,000
Electricity – 2 vertical square pins and one perpendicular below British style
Time – GMT minus four hours
International Country Telephone Code – 758
Port Location – The main docking facility is Pointe Seraphine in Castries. It is within walking distance to the center of town. On rare occasions, if the port is unusually crowded, some ships may have to dock at Port Careenage, less conveniently located to the center of town.
Transport Links – Hewanorra International Airport at Vieux Fort is located 40 miles south of Castries. George F. L . Charles Inter Island Airport is just outside Castries.
Rental cars, taxis and mini buses are available for getting around Castries.