The Original Official Site of the St. Lucia Tourist Board
St.
Lucia is the sort of island that travellers to the Caribbean dream
about--a small, lush tropical gem that is still relatively unknown. One
of the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, it is located midway
down the
Eastern Caribbean chain, between Martinique and St. Vincent, and north
of Barbados. St. Lucia is only 27 miles long and 14 miles wide, with
a shape
that is said to resemble either a mango or an avocado (depending on your
taste). The Atlantic Ocean kisses its eastern shore, while the beaches
of the west coast owe their beauty to the calm Caribbean Sea.
In
natural beauty, St. Lucia seems like an island plucked from the South
Pacific and set down in the Caribbean. Its dramatic twin coastal peaks,
the Pitons, soar 2,000 feet up from the sea, sheltering magnificent
rain forests where wild orchids, giant ferns, and birds of paradise
flourish. Brilliantly-plumed tropical birds abound, including endangered
species like the indigenous St. Lucia parrot. The rainforest is broken
only by verdant fields and orchards of banana, coconut, mango, and papaya
trees.
St. Lucia has been inhabited since long before colonial times, and its cultural treasures are a fascinating melange of its rich past and its many different traditions. The island's people have earned a well-deserved reputation for their warmth and charm, and the island itself is dotted with aged fortresses, small villages, and open-air markets.
There is a broad array of exciting and exotic activities available on St. Lucia. The island's steep coastlines and lovely reefs offer excellent snorkeling and scuba diving. The rainforest preserves of St. Lucia's mountainous interior are one of the Caribbean's finest locales for hiking and birdwatching. Of course, the island also possesses excellent facilities for golf, tennis, sailing, and a host of other leisure pursuits. Not to be missed is St. Lucia's Soufriere volcano, the world's only drive-in volcanic crater.
St. Lucia Home Page | History | Culture | Travel Tips | Getting There | Accommodations
Restaurants & Nightlife | Calendar of Events | Exploring St. Lucia | Natural Attractions | Activities
Weddings | Tourist Offices | St. Lucia Browser's Page | Geographia Home
