Castries is one of the most beautiful places in the Caribbean. Surrounded by hills, the large harbor is always busy. Castries is one of the most important ports for many cruise lines docking in Pointe Seraphine. In Castries you will find the great Derek Walcott Square, where a Roman Catholic cathedral from the 19th century was in the shadow of 400 years old tree stands. You will also find a colorful and lively market in the city. The Morne Fortune, “Mountain of Happiness”, offers a fantastic view of the city and its surroundings. There are several tour operators who organize hiking tours in the surrounding region.
In Gros Islet, on the northwest coast of the island, there is a street festival every Friday. In the vicinity of the Pigeon Island National Landmark there is a small museum that tells about the history of the island. Here, in 1782, Admiral Rodney destroyed the French fleet in one of the decisive battles in European history. This part of the island has now become a tourist center.
Anse La Rayeon the west coast south of Castries is a colorful fishing village where the Friday Night Fish Fry BBQ is celebrated every Friday night. The palm-fringed Marigot Bay, also on the west coast, is a paradise for sailors.
Soufrière is the second largest town on the island and is named after the largest volcano on the island. The deep harbor is at the foot of two extinct volcanoes, the Pitons. At 798 m above sea level, these two volcanoes are probably the landmarks of St. Lucia. The place itself is typically Caribbean, with numerous buildings in contrasting colors.
The road between Soufrière and Fond St. Jacques leads east through the rainforest, here you can see waterfalls, the Diamond Botanical Garden and sulfur springs.
The picturesque villages of Laborie and Choiseul are surrounded by beautiful vegetation. The Morne Coubaril Estate is also worth a visit.
In the east of the island you should visit the fishing villages of Dennery and Micoud.
According to payhelpcenter, there are several vendors who organize tours of plantations where visitors can see how the people of St. Lucia lived in colonial times.
The sandy beach of Anse de Sable offers ideal conditions for windsurfing, both for beginners and experts. The waves at Cas en Bas and Vieux Fort are a challenge even for the most experienced. The west coast also offers a selection of hotels geared towards water sports enthusiasts. Water skiing is possible all over the island, hang gliding over Rodney Bay. The natural and man-made reefs of St. Lucia make the island an ideal place for diving and snorkeling. Turtles and sharks are very common in the clear waters of the Caribbean to see, but also “The Thing” (the “Loch Ness Monster” of St. Lucia). Diving equipment can be rented from most hotels. There are diving schools all over the island that accept both beginners and more experienced divers. The most popular places to dive are Anse Chastanet, Anse Le Raye, Coral Gardens at the foot of Gros Piton, Lesleen M Shipwreck and Superman’s Flight.
The whole west coast is great for swimming. The waves on the Atlantic coast can get very choppy, so only very experienced surfers and swimmers should go into the water. St. Lucia is one of the best places in the world to spot whales, home to 20 species including sperm whales, pilot whales and humpback whales.
The hotels offer yachts, boats and small motor boats on an hourly basis or for half a day, the costs depend on whether the boats belong to the hotel or have to be rented for the guest. In Marigot Bay and Rodney Bay, experienced sailors can rent all types of vessels, from small boats and yachts to vessels of 12 and 18 meters (including crew if necessary).
Furthermore, fishing trips offered to catch fish such as mackerel or barracuda.
The St. Lucia Department of Forestry and the National Trust organize a variety of walksthrough the rainforest, over mountains and plantations. Local guides are available if you need help climbing the Pitons. The best spots for bird watching are Bois d’Orange Swamp, Boriel’s Pond and of course the rainforest. Contact the St. Lucia Department of Forestry for more information.
St. Lucia – important addresses
St. Lucia Tourist Board in Germany: c / o ART Marketing,
Silcherstrasse 9, 40593 Düsseldorf
Telephone: (0211) 1675 4012/10, Fax: (0211) 1675 4011
email: info@stlucia.org
The Tourist Board of St Lucia in Germany is also responsible for Austria.
St. Lucia Tourist Board in Switzerland : Haltmatte 9
CH 6072 Sachseln
Telephone: 0041 41 661 2690, Fax: 0041 41 661 2691
St. Lucia Tourist Board in Great Britain : 1 Collingham Gardens London,
London SW5 OHW, UK
Phone: 0044 20 7341 7000, Fax: 0044 20 7341 7001 Hours of Operation
: Mon – Fri 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
St. Lucia Tourist Board: PO Box 221,
Sureline Building, Vide Bouteille, Castries, WI
Telephone: 452 4094, Fax: 453 1121
email: iherman@stlucia.org
Honorary Consul of St. Lucia in Germany (with visa issue): Mr Bernd O. Ludwig, Honorary Consul,
Weidebornweg 21, 61348 Bad Homburg
Telephone: (06172) 30 2324, Fax: (06172) 30 5314
Opening times: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., after prior telephone appointment.
In Austria and Switzerland, St. Lucia does not have any diplomatic missions; the diplomatic missions of Great Britain are responsible here.
Honorary Consulate of Germany in St Lucia : Karen Cave, Honorary Consul,
Care Service Building, Gros Islet, St. Lucia
Postal address: Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany, PO Box 2025, Cros Islet, St. Lucia, WI
Telephone: (001758) 450 8050, Fax: (001758) 450 0255
email: karencave@candw.lc
