St. Lucia is an island in the Windward chain, between Martinique and St. Vincent, and (160 km) due west of Barbados. Pigeon Island, at the very northwest tip of St. Lucia has beautiful white-sand beaches and offers a variety of water sports.
Once home to a group of Carib Indians and later a pirate hideout, today Pigeon island is part of the St. Lucia National Trust, with beaches, a restaurant, and the historic remains of the barracks and garrisons where the French and English once fought for control of St. Lucia. The history of the island can be discovered at the Museum and Interpretive Centre, housed in the restored British officers' mess building. A hike up to the hilltop ruins of Fort Rodney gives sweeping views of the sea and the mainland.
Things to See & Do
* Fort Rodney
* Water sports
* Hiking
* Pigeon Island Museum
Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency – Eastern Carribean Dollar (ECD)
Language – English and French Creole Patois
Land Area – 616 sq km
Population – 155,000 (St Lucia)
Electricity – 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style or with a round pin below
Time – GMT minus four hours
International Country Telephone Code – + 1 - 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 Carenage, less conveniently located to the center of town.
Transport Links – St Lucia is served by many airlines including Caribbean Star and LIAT, the Caribbean Airline.
The main ports are Castries, Soufrière and Vieux Fort. L’Express des Iles, a high-speed catamaran service, operates between St Lucia and Dominica, calling at Martinique and Guadeloupe.
Hire cars can be obtained either in Castries, Soufrière and Vieux Fort, or through hotels. Hotels and local tour operators run coach trips for groups. Minibus services connect rural areas with the capital. There is a good service from Castries to Gros Islet in the north of the island with buses departing every 30 minutes during the day. Many services also operate on weekends and holidays. Hiring a taxi is easy and cheap, with standard trips having fixed rates.