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Guide to St Lucia

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Saint Lucia is Simply Spectacular

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An Overview of the island of Saint Lucia

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SYLLABICATION: Saint Lu·cia
PRONUNCIATION: Saint Loo Sha
LISTEN TO THE PRONUNCIATION (Wikipedia):  St Lucia

So where is St Lucia?

St Lucia is said to be one of the early finds of Christopher Columbus, describing it to be the most beautiful island in the region. Simply beautiful! St Lucia is the emerald island in the Caribbean where you will find a unique mixture of history, culture and quiet charm. It is rich in natural beauty, from inland tropical forests to dramatic waterfalls and lovely sandy beaches.

St Lucia is famous for the twin peaks of the magnificent Pitons, rainforest walks, waterfalls, golden beaches and bubbling volcanic springs. It even boasts the world only drive-in volcano.

The St Lucian Jazz Festival attracts visitors from all over the world every May and Carnival in July is a week-long party for the whole island. In fact, St Lucians love to party and beside the annual flower festivals, Christmas, New Year, the Calypso Competition and the Independence Day celebrations, some of the villages hold main street jump ups every Friday night of the year.

When is the best time to visit St Lucia?

The best time to visit Saint Lucia is generally between the months of November and June, but the best answer is ANYTIME! 

Late spring is one of the best times to visit the island. The months of May and June can often have fewer crowds, wonderful weather (high 70s to 80s), and the rates are at their low end. The hotel peak season is winter from December lasting into April, this is when visitors come to escape the winter cold. 

The island at this time may tend to be a little crowded, as well as the hotel rates are at there peaks. But being a tropical island, the weather is always warm and there are many activities and events especially during the summer and fall, but beware as this is also hurricane season so people who visit Saint Lucia at this time are taking a risk. 

Hurricane Season

Hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through November 30. Although hurricanes are generally unpredictable, conventional wisdom has dictated that peak season varies by geography. In the Eastern Caribbean and along the U.S. East Coast, the season tends to be busiest between mid-August and mid-September.

The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814. Even after the abolition of slavery on its plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island, dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.

CIA
St Lucia at a Glance St Lucia's Geography St Lucia's Government Communication in St Lucia Transportation in St Lucia Security in St Lucia Customs Regulations in St Lucia Emergency Number for St Lucia
Much of the information below has been borrowed directly from the cia.gov website... For more in depth info visit their link.

St Lucia at a Glance

Full name:
Saint Lucia

Named after Saint LUCY of Syracuse by French sailors who were shipwrecked on the island on 13 December 1502, the saint's feast day (the ONLY country in the world named after a woman).
Locally known as:
Lucians
Population:
164,994 (July 2017 est.)
Capital:
Castries
Major languages:
English (official), French patois
Major religion:
Roman Catholic 61.5%, Protestant 25.5% (includes Seventh Day Adventist 10.4%, Pentecostal 8.9%, Baptist 2.2%, Anglican 1.6%, Church of God 1.5%, other Protestant 0.9%), other Christian 3.4% (includes Evangelical 2.3% and Jehovah's Witness 1.1%), Rastafarian 1.9%, other 0.4%, none 5.9%, unspecified 1.4% (2010 est.)
Life expectancy:
Total population: 77.9 years
Male: 75.2 years
Female: 80.8 years (2017 est.)
Monetary unit:
1 East Caribbean dollar = 100 cents
East Caribbean dollar (EC) – US:
1 US = 2.679 East Caribbean dollars
Main exports:
Bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, avocados, mangoes, coconut oil (2010 est.)
Internet domain:
.lc
International dialing code:
+1 758
Electricity:
220 ~ 240 volts, 50 cycles AC (a few hotels are 110 volts, 60 cycles). Most sockets take 3 pin square plugs (UK standard) but some take 2 pin round plugs or flat American plugs, which are rarer. Adaptors are generally available at the hotels.
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St Lucia's Geography

Location:
St Lucia is located in the Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, north of Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and south of Martinique
Geographic coordinates:
13.9094° N, -60.9789° W
Total area:
Total: 616 sq km (238 sq miles
Land: 606 sq km
Water: 10 sq km – 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Coastline:
158 km (61 sq miles)
Maritime Claims:
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:
Current Weather tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August
Terrain:
Volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Elevation extremes:
Lowest point – Caribbean Sea 0 m / highest point – Mount Gimie 950 m
Natural resources:
Forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential
Natural hazards:
Hurricanes; volcanic activity
Geography – note:
The twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean
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St Lucia's Government

Government type:
Parliamentary democracy (Parliament) under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Administrative divisions:
10 districts - Anse-la-Raye, Canaries, Castries, Choiseul, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort
Independence:
22 February 1979 (from the UK)
Constitution:
Previous 1958, 1960 (pre-independence); latest presented 20 December 1978, effective 22 February 1979; note - in mid-2015, an amendment was proposed to replace the London-based Privy Council with the Caribbean Court of Justice as the country's highest appellate court (2016)
Legal system:
English common law
Chief of state:
Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Neville CENAC (since 12 January 2018)
Head of government:
Prime Minister Allen CHASTANET (since 7 June 2016)
Cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Elections/appointments:
The monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by governor general
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Communication in St Lucia

Telephone Systems:
General assessment: an adequate system that is automatically switched
Domestic: fixed-line teledensity is 20 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 105 per 100 persons
International: country code - 1-758; the East Caribbean Fiber System and Southern Caribbean Fiber submarine cables, along with Intelsat from Martinique, carry calls internationally; direct microwave radio relay link with Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; tropospheric scatter to Barbados (2016)
Broadcast media:
3 privately owned TV stations; 1 public TV station operating on a cable network; multi-channel cable TV service available; a mix of state-owned and privately owned broadcasters operate nearly 25 radio stations including repeater transmission stations (2007)

Netflix works fine but is limited to the region, will not have a lot that is available in the US
Internet users:
Total: 86,000
Percent of population: 52.4% (July 2016 est.)
Internet country code:
.lc
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Transportation in St Lucia

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
J6 (2016)
Airports:
2:

George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU) - North of the island, located in Castries
Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) - South of the island, located in Vieux Fort
Airports - with paved runways:
Total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)
Roadways:
Total: 1,210 km
Paved: 847 km
Unpaved: 363 km (2011)
Ports and terminals:
Major seaport(s): Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort
Driving Side of the Road:
Drivers drive on the Left Hand side of the road, as in the UK

USA - be aware...
Modes of Getting Around St Lucia:
Rental cars, Taxi, Mini Bus, Water Taxi, Ferries and Organized Tours
Ports and terminals:
Major seaport(s): Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort
Ports and terminals:
Major seaport(s): Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort
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Security in St Lucia

Some security Notes:
St Lucia is, for the most part, an idyllic and laid-back place, but it is not without its hazards and nuisances. As you would anywhere in the world, even in your own hometown, be alert and aware of your surroundings. As in any situation, be mindful about venturing alone in deserted or unlit areas as well as areas you are not familiar with.

The more densely populated areas like Castries and Rodney Bay are patrolled by police regularly and there are police stations in each of the island’s districts. 

If touring the island, be sure to secure personal belongings on your person or leave them in a safe location in your room or villa.

If you are staying in a hotel, which generally has gated security, take the precaution of informing your reception or concierge of your plans and anticipated return.

If hiring a car, don’t pick up strangers. If you are traveling by yacht, then inform neighbouring yachts when you are going ashore for the day or evening. 
St Lucia’s many delights and its wonderful people are yours to safely enjoy with keeping these few precautions in mind.
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Customs Regulations in St Lucia

Customs notes:
The duty free allowance into St. Lucia is 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco or 50 cigars, one litre of spirit or wine. Duty free shopping is available at Pointe Seraphine, La Place Carenage and at the departure lounge of Hewanorra Airport. Luxury items include Jewelry, Batiks, Giftware, Local Crafts, Liquor, Cigarettes and Cigars.
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Emergency numbers in St Lucia

Important numbers to remember:
Dial 999 to reach the police in an emergency, 911 for Fire, Ambulance and other emergencies
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CALL IF YOU NEED

Important contact numbers to keep in mind

Emergency numbers

All telephone numbers below are local Saint Lucia numbers, if in doubt, place area code 758 in front before dialing.

Fire Service Head Quarters

Location: Manoel Street, Castries
Control Room: 452-2373 / 452-2374 / 455-6100
Officer I/C: 455-6126

Soufriere Fire Station

Location: Bridge Street, Soufriere
Control Room: 455-6164
Officer I/C: 455-6165

Gros Islet Fire Station

Location: Beausejour, Gros Islet
Control Room: 450-9111 / 450-9009 / 455-6190
Officer I/C: 455-6191

George Charles Fire Hall

Location: Vigie Airport, Castries
Control Room: 455-6109
Officer I/C: 455-6116

Dennery Fire Station

Location: Dennery Highway, Dennery
Control Room: 455-6170 / 453-8888
Officer I/C: 455-6171

Micoud Fire Station

Location: Micoud Highway, Micoud
Control Room: 455-8180
Officer I/C: 455-6181

Crash Fire Hall- Vieux Fort

Location: Hewannorra Airport, Vieux Fort
Control Room: 455-6161
Officer I/C: 455-6160

Vieux Fort Fire Station

Location: St.Jude's Highway, Vieux Fort
Control Room: 455-6150
Officer I/C: 455-6151

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Hospitals

Victoria Hospital
(Main General Hospital)

Castries - 758 452 2421

National Wellness Centre
Psychiatric Hospital

Castries - 758 452 2142

St Jude's Hospital
(District General Hospital)

Vieux Fort - 758 454 6041

Tapion Hospital
(Private Hospital)

Castries - 758 459 2000

Soufriere Hospital
(District Hospital)

Soufriere - 758 459 7258

Gros Islet Polyclinic

758 450 9661
758  450 9696

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St Lucia Public Health Centres

Gros Islet450 9661
Monchy450 1319
Grande Riviere450 1651
Baboneau450 5858
Fond Assau450 5939
Tirocher - Castries 452 3529
Entrepot 452 1873
Castries 452 4416
La Clery 452 4303
Ciceron 453 7934
Bexon 452 1261
La Resource 453 3312
Richfond 453 3355

Mon Repos 455 3229
Micoud 454 4230
Tirocher-Micoud 455 4520
Desruisseaux 455 4250
Belle-Vue 454 8001
Grace 454 8357
Vieux Fort 454 6337
Laborie 454 6930
Saltibus 455 1589
Lafargue - Choiseul 459 3238

Mongouge - Choiseul 459 3123
Etangs 459 7589
Fond St Jacques 459 7595
Anse-La-Raye 451 4225
Jacmel 451 4004
Vannah 451 4247
La Croix Maingot 451 4248

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