Fourteen degrees north and sixty degrees west, you'll find our little paradise. With only 238 square miles of land, the island is home to a little more than 180 thousand people. It is found in the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean, and it is the perfect place for a relaxing getaway with your friends, family or significant other. Tourism is the main economic industry on the island and travelers can be bombarded with things to do. However, I will give you some advice on the must do’s and the don’ts when exploring St. Lucia.
First off, if you’re planning a vacation to our island, I recommend you come during the summer months between June and August because this is when tourism seasons starts to die down and you get smaller, more personalized, down-to-earth experiences. It’s almost always warm and sunny in St. Lucia, even during the quieter seasons, with a few sessions of rain every now and then.
I recommend packing light, thin clothing, and feel free to bring all your bright colors! Also, you probably will want to bring all of your swimsuits. Be sure to leave some space in your suitcase for any local clothing you may purchase and bring back with you.
I also recommend you take part in tours and excursions, specifically Sea TREK, snorkeling, ATV riding and ziplining through the rainforest. For the more adventurous, take a hike up our twin pitons or through the rainforest.
If you’re a diver or you just want to snorkel I recommend you get in contact with my dad, Anthony Leonce, phone number 1-758-484-3346. He owns a local dive company and will get you to the best snorkel and dive sites on the island, and the best prices, too! If, however, you want to snorkel on your own, you can always head up to Pigeon Island Beach to snorkel in a safe, protected area. Pigeon Island Beach is located on the north side of the island and houses a national park, a few restaurants and several hotels. The beach is also home to Sea Adventures, Inc., a tourism operation that takes you on amazing Sea TREK experiences, among other exciting things. There is something for everyone to do, and it never gets overly crowded; you always have your own personal space to relax. In addition, there is 24-hour security. It is the safest beach on the island– and my personal favorite.
Obviously, after a nice day at the beach, you will need to get some good food to eat. My favorite place to go is a small sushi restaurant called Rituals Sushi in the Rodney Bay Marina on the north side of the island. I recommend this spot for all sushi and seafood lovers. Their restaurant is right next to a marina, so you get to enjoy the ambiance of the ocean while you enjoy your food. Also, be sure to get your fair share of local street restaurants and cuisines. Higher-end restaurants may not reflect the true taste of the island.
If nightlife is what you want, attend our famous Friday night street parties, where you get to mingle and party with the locals. We also have a fish festival that happens every Friday night at two locations on the island, and that always makes for a good night out. Or, visit the Baywalk Shopping Mall and the Rodney Bay area, where you will find the local casino and all the local bars and grills.
Unlike other countries, during the weekdays St. Lucia does not have a very active nightlife, most businesses close at five and most stores close at about eight. The latest store closes at roughly around ten, and restaurants and bars shut down at about midnight. However on weekends, stores extend their hours, and restaurants, clubs, bars and grills usually stay open till two in the morning! Since tourism is our number one economic industry, gratuities have slowly integrated into our culture. It’s becoming a norm in the service industry, and there is no cap on how much one can tip; your contribution is based on the quality of service you feel you have received.
If you are looking for a place to stay during your visit to St. Lucia, you have a number of options. For someone looking for a high-end, 5-star hotel, I recommend Jade Mountain Resort. You can find out all you need to know about them at www.jademountain.com. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a place that is budget-friendly but still offers great quality service and a high-end experience, consider Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Spa or the all-inclusive Windjammer Landings Villa Beach Resort. Both are wonderful resorts that provide excellent service and will give you the best experience for your dollar.
If you’re staying at a hotel, I highly recommend you use the hotel’s taxi services to get around the country. Be aware that occasionally, local taxi drivers will overcharge because of the incorrect stereotype that all tourists are rich! If you really know your way around the country and want to blend in with the locals, you can take the public buses, or you can rent a vehicle. Unfortunately, we have no Uber or Lyft services on the island...yet.
We don’t have tight restrictions on domestic or wild animals in St. Lucia, so you will probably see animals, like cows or goats, just roaming around the forested areas! We have wild dogs and cats as well. Iguanas are native to the island, however, there are not many left, so we protect them. The national bird is a parrot species called the Amazona Versicolour; it is endangered and therefore also protected.
The people of St. Lucia are very friendly and open to interaction. It’s customary to greet people when you meet them. Don’t be alarmed when everyone greets you every time we see you!
