Summary
A great way to visit St. Lucia is by taking a cruise ship there, walking out onto the deck of the ship on arrival and drinking in the view of Castries Harbor. It is simply beautiful.

Photo copyright St. Lucia Tourist Board

The habor was one of three experiences that made our visit there so memorable. The other two were the ATV ride along an equally beautiful, private and unspoiled coastline for some members of our family and the volcano mud bath for others.

The island is ranked 16th in total tourism. Only slightly more people visit the island via cruises than with stopovers.

Attractions
Unique attractions on a St. Lucia vacation include Pigeon Island National Landmark with a history of Amerindians, piracy and battles between the English and French; Fond d'Or Nature Historic Park with more island history, nature and culture; and Fond Doux Estate,  an authentic working plantation. Noteworthy regular attractions include an emphasis on touring the back country by hiking, biking, horseback and ATV mentioned above.

Tourism / When to Go
U.S. and Canadian stopover visitors require a passport. Cruise visitors simply need to have their ship IDs available when leaving the ship and returning.

St. Lucia has strong and consistent visits from December through May, drops in June and peaks in July. The lowest visit months are September and October.

Weather
Temperatures are unusually consistent. The average high temperature is in the mid-80s year round, while the average low temperature is in the high 70s. tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August.

Currency / Tipping
Currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar. U.S. dollars and major credit cards are widely accepted. Tipping is typically 10-12 percent of a bill. There is an 8 percent government tax on hotel and restaurant bills.

Culture / Geography
English is the official language, but French patois is common thanks to England and France exchanging control of the island 14 times over history. The geography is volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys. The economy increasingly relies on tourism and offshore banking.

Sources/ More information
State Department: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1027.html
CIA Factbook: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/st.html
Caribbean Tourism Organization: http://www.onecaribbean.org
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: http://www.noaa.gov