Getting Around Saint Lucia

To get to Saint Lucia, all that most western nationals require is a valid passport and an onward or round trip ticket. French citizens however, can enter simply with their national identity card. There are two airports on the island that handle flights in and out of Saint Lucia. The Hewanorra International Airport in Vieux Fort is the larger of the two airports and is mainly used for international flights, while the smaller George FL Charles Airport in Castries generally caters to charter and smaller airplanes. Both these airports are well equipped with tourist information booths, pay phones, car rental agencies, and taxi stands. If you are interested in flying to Saint Lucia, American Airlines, Air Canada, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic all fly here.

You can also get to St Lucia by sea. A number of cruise ships dock at Castries or at Pointe Seraphine, where one can enjoy some excellent duty free shopping. Ferry services also exist between St Lucia and Martinique, with boats also traveling back and forth between Castries and Dominica as well. There is also a ferry service between Saint Lucia and Guadeloupe. If you like, you can also visit St Lucia by yacht with marinas at Rodney Bay, Castries, Vieux Fort and Marigot Bay.

Once you are in Saint Lucia, the best way to travel around the island is by bus. Mostly minivans, traveling by bus in St Lucia is a great way to mingle with the locals up close and personally, and provide you with some wonderful stories to take back home with you once your vacation is over. The cheapest way to get around the island, Saint Lucia has a good bus service; however, the buses have no scheduled timetable. There are no bus stops, so if you wish to catch the bus all have to do is wave one down. The fare is paid directly to the bus driver.

In Saint Lucia, you can also rent a car or a motorcycle to see the island on your own. All you need is an International Driving Permit or purchase a local permit. Driving here is on the left side of the road, however, not all the roads are up to standard. While some sections offer a smooth ride, others are bumpy and full of potholes. Hertz, Avis and National all have car rental agencies on St Lucia with a number of affordable local alternatives as well. You may wish to rent a 4WD if you are planning to tour the island extensively due to poor inland road conditions especially after the rains.