Destination Guides & Maps - Saint Lucia

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Capital City: Castries

Language

English is the official language but many people speak a French patois. The French legacy is also evident in many place names.

Area: 238 square miles (620sq km)

Population: 156,260. More than 90% of the people are of African descent.

Currency

The local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$), made up of 100 cents, and pegged to the US dollar, at a rate of US$1 = EC$2.70. Notes come in EC$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 denominations. Coins come in 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents, and in EC$1 denominations. The current exchange rate is £1 to EC$3.80.

US dollars are also widely accepted (though any change usually comes in EC dollars), and it's best to carry travellers cheques in dollars rather than Sterling as they get a better exchange rate (though there will be no problem with changing sterling). Twenty-four hour ATMs can be found at banks and in shopping malls.

All major credit cards are widely accepted, along with major charge cards such as American Express.

Visa

None needed for UK passport holders for stays of 42 days or less, but you will need to show a return or onward ticket.

Geography

Second largest of the Windward Islands, St Lucia was formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago.

It's surrounded by the Caribbean Sea to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and is just 27 miles long by 14 miles wide.

A volcanic, mountainous island, its highest peak is Mount Gimie in the southwest, which rises to 3,118ft (950m).

Its most spectacular and best-known geographical feature is the Pitons, two dramatic peaks that rise sheer out of the sea on the West Coast.

The island is lush and fertile, with luxuriant vegetation. Wide valleys run down from the mountains, many of them planted with bananas and coconuts.

About one tenth of St Lucia is covered in rainforest, much of it protected as a nature reserve, and there are some mangrove swamps on the Southeast coast.

There is volcanic activity in the form of hot sulphur springs, but the last volcanic eruption on the island was in 1766.

Religion

90% Roman Catholic. Other denominations include Anglican, Baptist, Methodist, Christian Science, Seventh Day Adventist and Pentecostal.

Time

Four hours behind GMT.

Electricity

220V AC, 50Hz (a few hotels are 110V/60Hz). Most sockets take three-pin square plubs (UK standard) but some take two-pin round plugs or flat American plugs. Adapters are generally available in the hotels.

Emergencies

For police, fire and ambulance services dial 999. For an ambulance, you can also call either Victoria Hospital in Castries (452 2421) or St Jude's Hospital in Vieux Fort (454 6684).

Telephone

To dial St Lucia from the UK: 00 1 758 followed by the local seven-digit number. For calls on the island itself, just dial the seven digits.

Public phone boxes take coins and cards (available at the Cable & Wireless office, tourist board and other outlets, including airports and Rodney Bay Marina).

Post

Post offices open 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Business hours

Most shops open from 8.00 or 8.30 to 12.30 in the morning, then again from 1.30 to 4.00 or 4.30 in the afternoons, Monday to Fridays. On Saturdays, most are open mornings only. Shops in big malls tend to open later.

Banks are generally open from 8am to 3pm, Monday to Thursday, and from 8am to 5pm on Fridays. Some banks are also open until midday on Saturdays.

Tipping

A service charge of 10% is usually already added to your bills in hotels and restaurants, and no extra tip is expected. There's no need to tip taxi drivers, but they appreciate it if you do. Porters should get US$1 per bag.

BBC World Service

MHz 17.72, 15.22, 6.195, 5.975

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