World Country Guide

Introduction

St Lucia is a beautiful volcanic island with lush rainforests, undulating agricultural land and unspoilt beaches. There is still considerable British and French influence felt on the island. There are several trips and tours available to enable visitors to experience the island. Boat trips offer the visitor an exhilarating day viewing the island from the sea and possibly weighing anchor to picnic at an interesting location. Alternative means of transport include brigs, catamarans and private yachts.
Castries is one of the most beautifully situated Caribbean cities. Surrounded by hills, its large, safe harbour 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 colourful, 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.
Gros Islet, on the northwest coast of the island, stages a street party every Friday. Nearby Pigeon Island National Landmark has a small museum telling the history of the island. It was from here that Admiral Rodney set sail in 1782 and destroyed the French Fleet in one of the most decisive engagements in European history. This end of the island is now being developed as a centre for tourism.
Anse La Raye, on the west coast south of Castries, is a colourful fishing village where locals make boats from gum trees; every Friday evening brings the Friday Night Fish Fry BBQ. Marigot Bay, also on the west coast, is a secluded, palm-fringed yachtsman’s paradise. Above Marigot Bay lies Cul de Sac, an area of three large banana plantations. From above, they look like gently moving oceans of green leaves. It was here that the original Dr Doolittle was filmed.
Soufrire is the second-largest settlement on the island and takes its name from the volcano. This deep-water port stands at the foot of two extinct volcanoes, the Pitons. Rising to 798m (2619ft) above sea level, these are probably St Lucia’s most famous landmarks. The town itself is typically West Indian, a cluster of brightly painted arcaded buildings set hard against the jungle.
The road between Soufrire and Fond St Jacques runs eastwards through the rainforest; here are the Diamond Waterfalls and Sulphur Springs - St Lucia's 'drive-in volcano'. .
The picturesque little villages of Choiseul and Laborie are surrounded by splendid vegetation. The Morne Coubaril Estate is also worth a visit.
On the east of the island, the headlands project into the ocean; a visit to the fishing villages of Dennery and Micoud is highly recommended.