Luxury St Lucia Holidays

Time difference: St Lucia is 4 hours behind the UK (GMT -4 hours)

Flight duration: The flight to St Lucia is about 8 hours and 30 minutes long. 

Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (ECD) although US dollars are readily accepted.

Capital: Castries

Language: The official language of St Lucia is English; however, around 95% of the local people speak St Lucian Creole French.

Visa Information: British passport holders do not need a visa to enter St Lucia. 

Voltage: The standard voltage is 240 V. The frequency is 50 Hz. You can use electrical appliances in St Lucia if the standard voltage in your home country is between 220 – 240 V (as it is in the UK).

When is the best time to travel to St Lucia?

If you’re longing for warm weather and sunshine, St Lucia is the ideal holiday destination any month of the year – average temperatures for St Lucia hit the high 70s all year round, although September, October and November are the rainiest months of the year, with up to 19 days of rainfall during both September and October.

The island is a hive of activity during summer and late fall, but there is a much higher risk of hurricanes. The busiest and most expensive time to visit St Lucia is during the island’s driest season, which falls between December and April.

We would recommend that the best time to visit St Lucia is during May or June when temperatures are likely to be in the high 70s to 80s, and there are reasonable room rates at some of the island’s best luxury best hotels. Music lovers should definitely consider visiting in early May to attend the St Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, which is held annually at Pigeon Island National Landmark.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing getaway or a fun-packed adventure, St Lucia has activities to keep every guest entertained. Here are our top picks for the best things to do during your holiday to St Lucia:

Explore Castries Market

Established in 1891, St Lucia’s biggest open-air market is ideally situated at the centre of the island’s capital. This colourful affair is your one-stop destination for spices, locally produced arts and crafts and delicious locally grown fruits and vegetables. Breathe in the sights, sounds and smells of local life at the market between the hours of 7am and 1pm (daily) before taking a well-earned rest to enjoy some local street food delights.

Fill up at the Friday Night Fish Fry

Check out the quaint fishing village of Anse La Raye on a Friday night – you’ll find the whole main street lined with local people cooking up a storm. Enjoy crayfish, lobster or grilled fish accompanied by roasted bakes and corn. Live music and a steady flow of drinks add to the energy of this traditional St Lucian evening out.

Take a soak in the Sulphur Springs

Visitors to St Lucia can enjoy a natural mud bath experience at the Sulphur Springs in Soufriére. Slather your body in the warm grey mud, rinse off in the thermal spring pool before cooling down underneath a natural waterfall. Best of all, the waters of Sulphur Springs are packed full of minerals which are believed to offer bathers a number of healing benefits.

Charter a sailboat

If setting sail on the Caribbean is on your bucket list (and why wouldn’t it be!), consider chartering a sailboat or powerboat from Marigot Bay or Rodney Bay. Sailing offers a wonderful way to explore St Lucia’s many welcoming bays and coves, and you can choose to travel with or without a crew. If you fancy a longer journey, why not venture through the nearby Grenadines?

Visit Marigot Bay

Lying just five miles south of Castries, Marigot Bay is famed for being one of the most beautiful natural harbours on the Caribbean. Spend a little time admiring the yachts and sailboats at Capella Marina, indulge in a delicious waterside lunch or take the small ferry across the bay to the tiny beach and indulge in some rest and relaxation.

St Lucian cuisine combines Creole, French, Indian and British delicacies and there are many delicacies to enjoy whilst you are there.

The fertile soil of the island helps to produce food that is both attractive and delicious in equal measure, so St Lucian chefs love to place a high emphasis on the presentation of their food.

Packed with spices, natural flavours and the freshest seafood, you’ll find a dish to suit every palate here, whether you prefer the convenience of casual street food fare or the elegance of a fine dining experience.

Typically, St Lucian’s enjoy a diet of limited protein alongside plenty of starchy foods, vegetables and fruits. Unsurprisingly, seafood is always readily available, including lobster, fresh fish and shellfish.

Popular St Lucian dishes include:

Green Figs and Saltfish

This national speciality is usually made using kippered herring or salted codfish and served with green figs (unripe bananas).

St Lucia Lobster

Choose from a variety of options from lobster ceviche and steamed lobster tails to langouste (spiny lobster) sushi.

Pepper Pots

A traditional St Lucian stew made using whatever vegetables, fish or meat are available.

St Lucia Lambi

A popular weekend dish that’s often enjoyed at St Lucian street parties. Conch shellfish is cooked in a sauce made with plenty of spices and seasoning.

Fried Plantain

Plantains are a non-sweet variety of banana that must be cooked before eating. Many of the local St Lucian restaurants fry plantains in coconut oil before seasoning and serving them with a dash of spicy sauce.

There is always a party going on somewhere in St Lucia, with everything from lively music festivals and local cultural celebrations to weekly fish fries and buzzing street parties.

Here’s the lowdown on some of the island’s most popular annual events:

January

Nobel Laureate Week – a celebration of the achievements of St Lucia’s Nobel Laureates, Sir Arthur Lewis and Sir Derek Walcott. Workshops, exhibitions and discussions take place throughout the week to commemorate their achievements.

February

Independence Day – A colourful and lively annual celebration of St Lucia’s independence anniversary.

May

St Lucia Jazz - Regarded as the best jazz festival in the Caribbean, the St Lucia Jazz Festival produced in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Centre sees the biggest names in modern jazz showcasing their talents at a whole host of venues across the island.

June

Fishermen’s Feast (Fete Peche) - St Lucian Fishermen take part in this annual thanksgiving celebration on the last Sunday in June.

June – July

St Lucia Carnival - The St Lucia Carnival celebrates Caribbean culture, history and creativity. It features a range of competitions, community events and a seemingly endless calendar of fetes and parties. The event finale is an energetic, fun-packed two-day street parade featuring live bands and DJ’s, colourful carnival costumes and the joyful merriment that’s typical of the Caribbean culture.

September

Food and Rum Festival - Designed to attract the very best chefs, food critics, wine lovers and rum connoisseurs from across the globe, this unique festival showcases St Lucian and other Caribbean restaurants, chefs, rums and food/drink products. Epicureans will delight in the many cookery demonstrations, tastings and culinary experiences, all complemented by music and other cultural performances.