|
|
 t.
Lucia is the sort of island that people looking for a holiday spot in the
Caribbean dream about - a small, lush tropical gem that is still pristine
and relatively unknown. And ... it has both natural beauty and wonderful
people. |
|
| The Atlantic Ocean kisses
its eastern shore, while the beaches of the west coast owe their beauty
to the calm Caribbean Sea. In its 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 plantations of banana, coconut, mango, and papaya trees.
More and more visitors are going to the island, though it’s still less
popular than many Caribbean islands - but part of its lure is the
still charming, undeveloped feel to its locale and most of its attractions.
St. Lucia gained its independence from England in 1979 and is now a member
of the British Commonwealth. |
|
 |
St. Lucia is one of the
greenest and lushest areas in the Caribbean. The island is mountainous,
except for the northern area around Gros Islet and Rodney Bay. Most of
the resorts and towns are located right along the shore. The twin volcanic
peaks, Petit Piton and Gros Piton—probably the most photographed mountains
in the Caribbean—are on the southwestern side of the island. Much of it
is markedly rural in nature: a mix of small fishing villages, secluded
coves, sprawling banana plantations and mountainous jungle. The most dramatic
scenery is in the south, where the twin volcanic peaks of the Pitons rise
sharply from the shoreline to form distinctive landmarks. The capital,
Castries, is built on the southern shore of a large harbor surrounded by
hills. |
 |
|
| The scenic bay is a 15-minute
drive north of Castries. Set on a man-made lagoon, it has become a chic
center for nightlife, hotels, and restaurants - in fact, it's the most
active place on the island at night. The marina is one of the top water-sports
centers in the Caribbean, and a destination every December for the Atlantic
Rally for Cruisers, when the yachting set crosses the Atlantic to meet,
compare stories and swap lies. A spate of resort developments on St Lucia
has made this high green island one of the Caribbean's trendy destinations,
but it's still a long way from being sanitized and overdeveloped. If you're
worried about visiting a potential second Montserrat with an erupting volcano,
relax - there hasn't been an eruption in St. Lucia since 1766. |
|
