A D E S T I N A T I O N S P E C I A L I S T C O U R S E

J O B A I D

SAINT LUCIA

Castries

Soufrière

Moule à ChiqueAnse de Sables Beach

Gros IsletRodney Bay

Anse La Raye

Marigot Bay

Gros Piton

Mt. Gimie

HewanorraInternational

Airport

George F. L. Charles Airport

Choc Bay

Petit Piton

Saint LuciaNational

Rain Forest

C A R I B B E A N

S E A

AT L A N T I C

O C E A N

Vieux Fort Maria Islands Nature Reserve

Saint Lucia

CapitalCity or townAttractionMountainMain roadNational forestHiking trailAccommodationsDiving site

Saint Lucia

0

0

1.87 km

3 mi

Pigeon IslandNationalLandmark

Babonneau

Paix Bouche

FrégateIslandsNatureReserve

Canaries

AnseChastanet

Anse La Liberté

BalenboucheLaborie

Micoud

Dennery

Fond d’Or Bay

Grande AnseEstate

MarquisEstate

Cas en BasCap

Estate

Latille Waterfalls

PraslinBayDes Cartiers

Rain Forest Trail

Eastern Nature Trail

Barre de l’Isle Trail

Savannes Bay Nature Reserve

Choiseul

DiamondWaterfall

Soufrière Estate

DiamondBotanicalGardens

Sulphur Springs

Rouseau R.

Saint Lucia is one of the Caribbean’smost beautiful and geologicallydiverse islands. Covering only 238square miles, it is located in thesoutheastern Caribbean, about1,300 miles from Florida. Twotowering Pitons, which rise almosta half-mile high above thesoutheast coast, are Saint Lucia’smost famous landmarks. Less wellknown but equally dramatic are the19,000 acres of mountains andvalleys that make up the rich SaintLucia National Rain Forest wherewild orchids, giant ferns, and bird-of-paradise plants flourish. Its richvolcanic soil produces anabundance of fruits and vegetables.Its dramatic black-sand beaches, inaddition to the many golden-sandbeaches, rival those of Hawaii’s BigIsland. And Saint Lucia has theworld’s only drive-in volcano.

Indeed, the scenery is so strikingthat several times Saint Lucia has beenvoted “Caribbean HoneymoonIsland of the Year” by readers ofCaribbean World Magazine.Understandably, the Saint LuciaTourist Board’s adopted slogan forthe island is “Simply Beautiful.” Yetecotourism, scuba diving, wind-surfing, and fishing are all strongmarkets as well. For example, SaintLucia has excellent whale watching,and its shore diving is some of theCaribbean’s finest. Saint Lucia israpidly becoming one of theregion’s leading soft-adventuredestinations due in part to itsexcellent system of hiking trails tomountain peaks and along the coast.

Although Saint Lucia is part of theBritish Commonwealth, itscombined French and Creolehistory has a pronounced influencealmost everywhere. It’s the basisfor the names of most of the citiesand fishing villages such as Castries,Vieux Fort, and Gros Islet. Andalthough English may be theofficial language, a French-basedCreole or patois is still thepreference for many everydayconversations.

Unlike some Caribbean islands, SaintLucia is far enough south to escapethe ravages of any cold fronts thatcome barreling out of the Arctic.The climatic pattern is normally setby the northeasterly trade windsthat blow throughout the year.Average monthly temperaturesrange from about 75°F to 81°F.Hurricanes typically track north ofSaint Lucia, but the island isconsidered to be inside thehurricane belt. Traditionally, themost active months for hurricanesand tropical storms are Augustthrough October.

Northwest Saint Lucia • Cap Estate golf community• Pigeon Island National

Landmark• Gros Islet Friday night Street

Party • Rodney Bay restaurants and

nighttime entertainment• Union Nature Trail and

Interpretive Centre

Castries Area • George F. L. Charles Airport• Minor Basilica of the

Immaculate Conception• Derek Walcott Square • Two duty-free shopping facilities

(Pointe Seraphine and PlaceCarenage)

• Castries Market• Morne Fortuné (Hill of Good

Luck)

West Central • Marigot Bay yacht harbor• Anse La Raye fishing village• Canaries fishing village • Anse La Liberté campground

and hiking trails • Rum Distillery Tour

Soufrière Area• Anse Chastanet Beach (excellent

diving)• Diamond Botanical Gardens,

Waterfall, and Mineral Baths• Sulphur Springs and Drive-In

Volcano• Scenic hiking trails• Soufrière Estate• Heritage sites

The Southern Tip • Choiseul fishing village • Balenbouche Estate• Laborie fishing village• Vieux Fort, second-largest town• Hewanorra International Airport• Cap Moule à Chique peninsula

and lighthouse• Anse de Sables Beach

(windsurfing)• Maria Islands Nature Reserve• Savannes Bay Nature Reserve

East Coast • Des Cartiers Rain Forest Trail

(hiking) • Praslin Bay• Mamiku Gardens • Frégate Islands Nature Reserve• Dennery fishing village • Latille Waterfalls• Fond d’Or Nature Reserve and

Historical Park and a widewhite-sand beach

• Grande Anse Estate, leatherbackturtle nesting beach

• Cas en Bas Beach (windsurfing)• Marquis Estate working

plantation

The Interior • Rain forest (bird watching and

scenic hiking trails)

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