TRAVEL continued
Staircase, Piton Wall (1 & 2), Sugar Beach, Jalousie, Coral Garden, Lesleen M Wreck, Grande Caille, Turtle Reef, Anse Chastanet Reef, Fairyland, Anse Cochon, Virgin Point, Anse La Raye Wall, Anse Galet, Rosemund Trench, Daini Koyamoru Wreck, and Malgretoute. A lot of Saint Lucia’s attraction, both above and below the waves, is its tropical climate just above the equator where it stays generally the same year-round with coastal temperatures ranging from 79 F. (26 C) to 89 F. (32 C) while water tem- peratures range from 80 F. (26.6 C) to 85 F. (29.2 C). The rainy season on the island is considered June to December. Topside Adventures Saint Lucia is bisected (north to south) with a range of volcanic mountains that offer a range of adventure tours involving waterfalls, botanical gardens, river tours, zip-line experiences, hot springs/geyser tours, and “sulfur springs” mud bath experiences. Coastal areas offer a variety of water activities from snorkeling, kayaking, waterboards, sailboats, and cruises to those that want to just hang out on a sandy beach. There are plenty of hiking and mountain biking opportunities also along the costal areas including the eastern Atlantic side of the island. While Mount Gimie is the largest volcanic mountain (3,117 ft.) in the center of the island, many hiking and rock climbing and scrambling activities occur on the island’s signature twin peaks of Gros Piton (2,619 ft.) and Petit Piton (2,438 ft.) north of Soufriere along the coast. The island hosts challenges for visitors to tackle all three peaks with the assistance of local guides. Birding is also a major attraction to the island as it hosts a number of endemic species in its rainforest. A number of these “Saint Lucia” named birds and creatures include its own species of parrot, black finch, oriole, plus a worm snake, whiptail, and pygmy gecko. One of Saint Lucia’s colonial attractions was its fertile soil for agricultural projects so the island has many farms growing crops of banana, mango, coconut, avocado, citrus fruits, root crops, vegetables, and especially cocoa as the island is known for its chocolate production and exports. Tours are available
to view the farms and experience the processing of these crops (including chocolate production). Getting There For international flights, Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) services major international flights from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries. The airport is located in the southern tip of the island in Vieux Fort where major airlines like American Airlines, Jet Blue, Air Canada, United Airlines, and some Caribbean airlines are based. The capitol of Castries in the northwestern section of the island also has an airport (George F.L. Charles Airport/SLU) but mainly handles regional Caribbean flights. Like many Caribbean islands, Saint Lucia now offers an online immigration form that needs to be completed and submitted no more than three days prior to arrival to make the process easier. One form is needed per family and a QR code will be emailed to you in order to present to immigration officials. Travelers can access this form at: https://travelslu.govt.lc. Visitors from the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and some other countries do not require a visa to enter but many other countries do require one.
The official language of Saint Lucia is English, but a French Creole dialect called Kweyol is often spoken among natives. The official currency is the East Caribbean Dollar, but the US dollar is widely accepted on the island. Clocks on the island follow the Atlantic Standard Time which is generally one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time (except the island does not follow daylight savings time practices). There is usually a value-added tax of 10% on hotel and restaurant bills, plus often a service charge of 10% is also ap- plicable. Voltage in Saint Lucia is 240 volts/50 cycles although some hotels offer 110 volts/60 cycles for guests. The “Helen of the West Indies” attracts many weddings and
honeymooners to the island for its romantic setting, but divers are also finding a special urge to make repeat visits to Saint Lucia to enjoy the beauty of “Helen” both above and below the waves.
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FORTY-THREE| SCUBA DIVING INDUSTRY
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