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Welcome to St Lucia on the Paradise
Islands website. The
island is one of the
Windward Caribbean
islands and lies north
of
Saint Vincent and 21
miles south of
Martinique (it's closest
neighbour) and around 90
miles northwest of the
island of
Barbados. |
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The
island is volcanic, some 27
miles long and 14 miles
wide with a mountainous
interior. A central
mountain range spans the
length of the island
(the highest point is
Mount Gimie at 950
metres / 3,120 feet) and
the interior of the
island is covered
in lush
rainforest;
with a flatter area in
the north where the
majority of the island's
hotels are located.
The most notable
landmarks are
the Pitons
(Gros Piton (797 metres)
and Petit Piton (750
metres)) close to the
town of Soufriere in the
southwest of the island.
The Pitons, now dormant
volcanoes, are one of
the most famous
landmarks in the
Caribbean region. (See
also the active
Soufriere Volcano of
the same name on the
island of
Montserrat). Saint
Lucia also boasts plenty
of white sandy beaches
and some spectacular
scenery. |
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In common with
most
Caribbean
islands the
popular
tourism season
is from December
to May with
peaks at
Christmas and
Easter due to
the warm drier
climate in the
winter months.
Visitors should
keep in mind
that this is
a mountainous
island covered
in lush
rainforest and
the local
climate is
wetter than most
islands and
can be quite
unpredictable. |
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Most tourists to
Saint Lucia arrive
by cruise ship
in the main town
of
Castries.
Popular
attractions and
excursions
include the
drive-in
Soufriere
Volcano (Sulphur Springs)
near the town of Soufriere,
the Pitons,
Marigot Bay
(location of the
1967 movie
Doctor Doolittle)
and the
Diamond Botanical
Gardens.
This Caribbean
gem was
discovered by
Columbus in 1499
and the first
attempt to
colonise the
island was by
the British in
1605 and then by
the French in
1667. For the
next 150 years
the island
changed hands
several times.
St Lucia gained
independence in
1979. |
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Travel, holiday, vacation and cruise
guide to Caribbean. All text and images are
Copyright
Paradise Islands
org. All photographs on this Caribbean travel guide website are obtained with
the permission of the owners and come from various sources
including the island's tourist boards. |
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Quick Facts
Capital
Castries
Main Airport
Hewanorra
International
Main Port
Castries
Language
English
Currency
Eastern
Caribbean
Dollar
Government
Independent
Island Size
238
Square Miles
Population
174,000
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The Pitons |
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Castries |
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Rodney Bay |
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Drive-In Volcano |
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Marigot Bay |
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Diamond Botanical
Gardens |
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Rainforest |
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More Photos |
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Cruise Port Guide |
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