St Lucia - Traveller information

Local laws and conventions: It is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing. Visitors should ask before taking photographs of local people or their property. There are severe penalties for all drug-related crimes.

The Roman Catholic Church has a strong presence in St Lucia and the island has a fairly conservative culture. Visitors should dress modestly away from the beach. Casual clothing is generally acceptable.

Business visits and meetings may be conducted in English or French. Conference facilities are available in some of the island’s hotels. Office hours are Mon–Fri 0800–1630, Sat 0830–1230.

Immigration and customs: A valid passport is required by all those arriving into the country. New arrivals must also present a return or onward ticket and show they have sufficient funds for their stay. Airport departure tax must be paid when leaving St Lucia.

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required by all those arriving from infected countries.

Firearms, pornographic material and flowers and plants are prohibited imports.

Travel within the country: Traffic drives on the left and visitors will need to purchase a local driving permit, which can be obtained from car hire firms or police stations on presentation of a national driving licence. Some of the mountainous roads can be extremely steep with hairpin bends.

Boat charters are easily available at Castries, Marigot Bay and Rodney Bay, and several ferry lines connect St Lucia with Martinique.

There are regular minibus services that connect rural areas with the capital. Visitors may also catch one of the privately owned 14-seater minivans at marked bus stops or by flagging one down along the three major bus routes on the coastal road.

Taxis can be hailed in towns and have fixed fares for standard journeys, though all fares should be agreed on before starting out. Some taxi drivers offer a full-island tour for a little extra.

Travel health: Visitors must ensure they have comprehensive health insurance that includes medical evacuation. Health facilities are good but costs are high.

Dengue fever can occur, and visitors should protect themselves from mosquito bites by using insect repellent and wearing suitable clothing, especially in the evenings and during the rainy season when the dengue fever mosquito is most prevalent. Care should be taken when hiking near streams or ditches as the poisonous lancehead snake thrives along the island’s coastline.

Tap water is generally considered safe to drink; bottled water is widely available.

Money: Major credit cards are widely accepted and ATMs are available in Castries, Rodney Bay, Soufrière and Vieux Fort. Travellers cheques in US dollars will ensure a better exchange rate. Banking hours are Mon–Fri 0800–1400 (some banks stay open until 1700 on Friday).

There were 317,939 tourist arrivals in 2005.