South Pacific Island in the Caribbean Sea
By Linda Thompkins
St Lucia would be just at home in the South Pacific, but it resides in
the southeastern Caribbean Sea, and is part of the Windward Islands.
Just north of Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago lies a tropical paradise
equal to the Pacific islands of Tahiti and Fiji. The calm waters of the
Caribbean Sea which is usually compared to the color turquoise,
appears to be royal blue around the island of St Lucia. No doubt this is
due to the fact this is a volcanic island unlike the coral islands of the
Caribbean basin.
Old ship records speak of how captains and sailors alike were awed by
the sighting of St Lucia. Perhaps this is why the island was fought over
and changed hands 14 times in its history. Two countries, England and
France fought 14 battles back and forth to gain control of the island.
The English eventually won the war, but France won the battle since
the island is definitely French in culture.
The most photographed scene in the Caribbean and landmark of St
Lucia are Petit Piton and Gros Piton. These two enormous volcanic
mountains are covered with lush green vegetation and rise over 2,600
feet above the sea, and 1,000 feet below. Soufriere, located at the
base, is where the jungle meets the royal blue sea. The majestic twin
Pitons greet you at every turn while on the island - such an awesome
sight!
As a comparison among its Caribbean neighbors, the only two that
come close to St Lucia’s beauty is Dominica (the nature island), and
the interior of the island of Jamaica. St Lucia boasts a variety of exotic
black sand beaches, tropical birds, plants and flowers. Everywhere you
turn, and on each island adventure there is just more beauty to be
seen. I attempted to capture the island on picture, but the color
intensity and depth was lacking more than often. While family and
friends remarked at how beautiful our vacation pictures were, I knew
the true essence of the island needs to be seen in person.
This is an island to be explored with nature walks, mountain hikes,
visits to the natural reserves, boat trips to nearby island sanctuaries,
drive through the world‘s only “drive through volcano, and a trip to the
interior rainforest is a must! About the drive through volcano - you
literally drive through the crater to over 15 pools of thick black
bubbling lava. The smell is a bit overwhelming. In this region you will
also find green and yellow sulfur steam coming up out of the ground,
and pools of hissing steam - You can definitely feel the heat from the
ground, and guides lead you around the hot stones.
Another interesting site outside of Soufriere is Diamond Waterfall and
the Mineral Baths. Louis XVI sent a sample of the mineral water to
France back in the late 1700’s to be tested, and it was deemed
beneficial. We had a lovely time at the Mineral Baths, and admit I felt
quite invigorated afterwards. Diamond Waterfall is near the baths, and
this rivals many of the waterfalls on the island of Jamaica - simply
beautiful!
The lush mountainous region is home to the rain forest which offers
lush and colorful foliage. As you venture into the northern part of the
island, mountains turn into lush hills, and orchards of banana, coconut,
mango, citrus and papaya trees.
Aside from land tours, a half day or one-day sail around the island is
recommended. From a small peninsula that extends from the southern
tip of the island you can view where the rough Atlantic Ocean meets
the calm Caribbean Sea. On a clear day you can even spot the tiny
island of St Vincent. Another location advantage is you easily island
hop to the islands of Martinique, Dominica and Guadeloupe.
The Eastern or Windward side of the island is on the Atlantic coast,
and has big waves and surf, and swimming is not recommended, but
the ocean views will be remembered far after your vacation is over.
The Western, or Leeward island side, is located on the Caribbean Sea,
and the waves and waters are quite calm, and most of the beachfront
resorts on located on this side of the island.
No matter which side of the island you choose, you will find the
constant cooling trade wind breezes coming off the coast of Africa.
Getting to St Lucia can be challenging time wise depending on where
you are starting from. Expect a minimum 5-6 hour trip from North
America. One important aspect in booking your vacation is the
proximity of the hotel to the airport. St Lucia has two airports, and the
major airport (Hewanorra) on the southern tip of the island is where
most of the air traffic from North America is directed. The smaller
airport (George Charles) to the north of the island serves most of the
smaller Caribbean air carriers. Of course the majority of the best
known hotels are located on the north of the island.
Flying into Hewanorra airport on the southern end, and booking a
hotel or resort on the northern end can result in a long 2 hour trip.
Rather than look at the travel time to the hotel with dread, consider it
a prime opportunity for an enjoyable island tour. The mountain route
offers a more scenic view of the magnificent Pitons. The eastern route
is faster, and you wind through hundreds of banana groves, and
beautiful scenery. Take your pick, but I recommend the longer western
route.
St Lucia is home to some of the most unique resorts, charming inns,
guesthouses and romantic hideaways in the Caribbean. Two of the
most unique are Ladera and Anse Chastanet.
Ladera offers an open wall concept with your own private pool. The
western side of each unit is open to the view of the Pitons. It’s like
staying in a luxury tree house, and as they said “the only thing
separating you from nature is the netting on your bed”.
Anse Chastanet is a luxury mountaintop retreat where every room
offers something different - no two are alike. Most rooms are scattered
in the lush hillside, and a few more expensive rooms are located on
the beach. Be forewarned there are nearly 100 steps to the beach
from the hillside.
Jalousie Plantation is located beneath the Pitons, and offers a very
romantic, private location that is hard to match anywhere in the
Caribbean. Another choice is the Windjammer Landing with your own
secluded villa in a Mediterranean styled village setting.
The smaller hotels of Rodney Bay which are Caribbean Jewell, Coco
Kreole, and Coco Palm offer a location that is within walking distance
to shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Reduit beach is one of the
prime attractions of Rodney Bay, which is also home to the European
yachting community. Each of these smaller hotels has a unique charm,
excellent service and moderate prices.
There are approximately eight all inclusive on this small island. Many
Caribbean islands offer all inclusive properties where visitors are
isolated and spend most of their time. St Lucia all inclusive celebrate
the islands beauty and attractions, and make every effort to promote
the islands beauty and culture. The most popular all inclusive are
Sandals - which offers three different resorts, the Body Holiday Spa
Resort, and Rendezvous - a popular, romantic couples only resort.
The beaches of St Lucia offer as much variety as the lush vegetation.
There are black sand beaches where the sand is courser, soft white
sand beaches, beaches of beige-grey and brown. One thing to
remember - black sand heats up much faster than white sand, and
your feet can get burned and blistered.
While the island is French in culture, English is widely spoken in the
business and tourist areas. Elsewhere you will hear Creole, along with
a French patois. The Creole spoken on the island is derived from the
original slaves mixing their African language, along with French words.
There is even a national holiday where every St Lucian is encouraged
to speak Creole, and prepare Creole food dishes.
If you’re used to the typical steel drums and calypso of the Caribbean,
you will find the French Caribbean has a taste for Zouk, African
drumming, and also Soca. The French Caribbean is not as reserved as
the islands with a British influence, and the English lyrics are quite
explicit about current social norms - in other words you may be a little
shocked at what you hear.
Zouk is a Creole word for “party”, and is upbeat tempo with layered
percussions and loud brass. You’ll hear Zouk mostly in the French
Caribbean islands of St Lucia, Martinique and Guadeloupe. The beat is
infectious, and you can’t help but dance or at least tap your feet.
Soca is a combination of calypso with a more up-tempo beat, and
interestingly enough has its origins in a combination of calypso mixed
with Indian rhythms from Trinidad and Tobago.
Not your typical Caribbean island! If I had to sum up what’s special
about St Lucia, I would conclude the following - An exotic island
paradise with unique resorts and romantic hideaways, great beaches,
hiking, sailing and deep sea fishing. Also the island’s steep coastlines
and excellent reef system offers world class snorkeling and scuba
diving.
Linda Thompkins, Owner/Travel Consultant
Travel 2 the Caribbean
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Thompkins
By Linda Thompkins
St Lucia would be just at home in the South Pacific, but it resides in
the southeastern Caribbean Sea, and is part of the Windward Islands.
Just north of Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago lies a tropical paradise
equal to the Pacific islands of Tahiti and Fiji. The calm waters of the
Caribbean Sea which is usually compared to the color turquoise,
appears to be royal blue around the island of St Lucia. No doubt this is
due to the fact this is a volcanic island unlike the coral islands of the
Caribbean basin.
Old ship records speak of how captains and sailors alike were awed by
the sighting of St Lucia. Perhaps this is why the island was fought over
and changed hands 14 times in its history. Two countries, England and
France fought 14 battles back and forth to gain control of the island.
The English eventually won the war, but France won the battle since
the island is definitely French in culture.
The most photographed scene in the Caribbean and landmark of St
Lucia are Petit Piton and Gros Piton. These two enormous volcanic
mountains are covered with lush green vegetation and rise over 2,600
feet above the sea, and 1,000 feet below. Soufriere, located at the
base, is where the jungle meets the royal blue sea. The majestic twin
Pitons greet you at every turn while on the island - such an awesome
sight!
As a comparison among its Caribbean neighbors, the only two that
come close to St Lucia’s beauty is Dominica (the nature island), and
the interior of the island of Jamaica. St Lucia boasts a variety of exotic
black sand beaches, tropical birds, plants and flowers. Everywhere you
turn, and on each island adventure there is just more beauty to be
seen. I attempted to capture the island on picture, but the color
intensity and depth was lacking more than often. While family and
friends remarked at how beautiful our vacation pictures were, I knew
the true essence of the island needs to be seen in person.
This is an island to be explored with nature walks, mountain hikes,
visits to the natural reserves, boat trips to nearby island sanctuaries,
drive through the world‘s only “drive through volcano, and a trip to the
interior rainforest is a must! About the drive through volcano - you
literally drive through the crater to over 15 pools of thick black
bubbling lava. The smell is a bit overwhelming. In this region you will
also find green and yellow sulfur steam coming up out of the ground,
and pools of hissing steam - You can definitely feel the heat from the
ground, and guides lead you around the hot stones.
Another interesting site outside of Soufriere is Diamond Waterfall and
the Mineral Baths. Louis XVI sent a sample of the mineral water to
France back in the late 1700’s to be tested, and it was deemed
beneficial. We had a lovely time at the Mineral Baths, and admit I felt
quite invigorated afterwards. Diamond Waterfall is near the baths, and
this rivals many of the waterfalls on the island of Jamaica - simply
beautiful!
The lush mountainous region is home to the rain forest which offers
lush and colorful foliage. As you venture into the northern part of the
island, mountains turn into lush hills, and orchards of banana, coconut,
mango, citrus and papaya trees.
Aside from land tours, a half day or one-day sail around the island is
recommended. From a small peninsula that extends from the southern
tip of the island you can view where the rough Atlantic Ocean meets
the calm Caribbean Sea. On a clear day you can even spot the tiny
island of St Vincent. Another location advantage is you easily island
hop to the islands of Martinique, Dominica and Guadeloupe.
The Eastern or Windward side of the island is on the Atlantic coast,
and has big waves and surf, and swimming is not recommended, but
the ocean views will be remembered far after your vacation is over.
The Western, or Leeward island side, is located on the Caribbean Sea,
and the waves and waters are quite calm, and most of the beachfront
resorts on located on this side of the island.
No matter which side of the island you choose, you will find the
constant cooling trade wind breezes coming off the coast of Africa.
Getting to St Lucia can be challenging time wise depending on where
you are starting from. Expect a minimum 5-6 hour trip from North
America. One important aspect in booking your vacation is the
proximity of the hotel to the airport. St Lucia has two airports, and the
major airport (Hewanorra) on the southern tip of the island is where
most of the air traffic from North America is directed. The smaller
airport (George Charles) to the north of the island serves most of the
smaller Caribbean air carriers. Of course the majority of the best
known hotels are located on the north of the island.
Flying into Hewanorra airport on the southern end, and booking a
hotel or resort on the northern end can result in a long 2 hour trip.
Rather than look at the travel time to the hotel with dread, consider it
a prime opportunity for an enjoyable island tour. The mountain route
offers a more scenic view of the magnificent Pitons. The eastern route
is faster, and you wind through hundreds of banana groves, and
beautiful scenery. Take your pick, but I recommend the longer western
route.
St Lucia is home to some of the most unique resorts, charming inns,
guesthouses and romantic hideaways in the Caribbean. Two of the
most unique are Ladera and Anse Chastanet.
Ladera offers an open wall concept with your own private pool. The
western side of each unit is open to the view of the Pitons. It’s like
staying in a luxury tree house, and as they said “the only thing
separating you from nature is the netting on your bed”.
Anse Chastanet is a luxury mountaintop retreat where every room
offers something different - no two are alike. Most rooms are scattered
in the lush hillside, and a few more expensive rooms are located on
the beach. Be forewarned there are nearly 100 steps to the beach
from the hillside.
Jalousie Plantation is located beneath the Pitons, and offers a very
romantic, private location that is hard to match anywhere in the
Caribbean. Another choice is the Windjammer Landing with your own
secluded villa in a Mediterranean styled village setting.
The smaller hotels of Rodney Bay which are Caribbean Jewell, Coco
Kreole, and Coco Palm offer a location that is within walking distance
to shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Reduit beach is one of the
prime attractions of Rodney Bay, which is also home to the European
yachting community. Each of these smaller hotels has a unique charm,
excellent service and moderate prices.
There are approximately eight all inclusive on this small island. Many
Caribbean islands offer all inclusive properties where visitors are
isolated and spend most of their time. St Lucia all inclusive celebrate
the islands beauty and attractions, and make every effort to promote
the islands beauty and culture. The most popular all inclusive are
Sandals - which offers three different resorts, the Body Holiday Spa
Resort, and Rendezvous - a popular, romantic couples only resort.
The beaches of St Lucia offer as much variety as the lush vegetation.
There are black sand beaches where the sand is courser, soft white
sand beaches, beaches of beige-grey and brown. One thing to
remember - black sand heats up much faster than white sand, and
your feet can get burned and blistered.
While the island is French in culture, English is widely spoken in the
business and tourist areas. Elsewhere you will hear Creole, along with
a French patois. The Creole spoken on the island is derived from the
original slaves mixing their African language, along with French words.
There is even a national holiday where every St Lucian is encouraged
to speak Creole, and prepare Creole food dishes.
If you’re used to the typical steel drums and calypso of the Caribbean,
you will find the French Caribbean has a taste for Zouk, African
drumming, and also Soca. The French Caribbean is not as reserved as
the islands with a British influence, and the English lyrics are quite
explicit about current social norms - in other words you may be a little
shocked at what you hear.
Zouk is a Creole word for “party”, and is upbeat tempo with layered
percussions and loud brass. You’ll hear Zouk mostly in the French
Caribbean islands of St Lucia, Martinique and Guadeloupe. The beat is
infectious, and you can’t help but dance or at least tap your feet.
Soca is a combination of calypso with a more up-tempo beat, and
interestingly enough has its origins in a combination of calypso mixed
with Indian rhythms from Trinidad and Tobago.
Not your typical Caribbean island! If I had to sum up what’s special
about St Lucia, I would conclude the following - An exotic island
paradise with unique resorts and romantic hideaways, great beaches,
hiking, sailing and deep sea fishing. Also the island’s steep coastlines
and excellent reef system offers world class snorkeling and scuba
diving.
Linda Thompkins, Owner/Travel Consultant
Travel 2 the Caribbean
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Thompkins
St. Lucia has two
airports: Hewanorra
International Airport UVF
at Vieux Fort
and George Charles
(Vigie) Airport SLU near
Castries.
Soufriere is placed
between the two airports.
Airlines who have a service
to St. Lucia are American
Airlines, US Airways, Air
Jamaica, BWIA, Air Canada,
Delta Air Lines, American
Eagle, British Airways,
Virgin Atlantic, LIAT and
Caribbean Star
airports: Hewanorra
International Airport UVF
at Vieux Fort
and George Charles
(Vigie) Airport SLU near
Castries.
Soufriere is placed
between the two airports.
Airlines who have a service
to St. Lucia are American
Airlines, US Airways, Air
Jamaica, BWIA, Air Canada,
Delta Air Lines, American
Eagle, British Airways,
Virgin Atlantic, LIAT and
Caribbean Star
Soufriere |
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