St. Lucia, often called “The Helen of the West Indies,” is an unspoiled, stunning Caribbean paradise. Nearly two-thirds of the island is covered in lush tropical forests providing a refuge for exotic wildlife, giant ferns, wild orchids, and trees. Some species, like the St. Lucia Whiptail Lizard (Cnemidophorus vanzoi, exist nowhere in the world except St. Lucia.

Stunning Waterfalls: Magnificent waterfalls dot the interior of the Island; some of them are hot, creating wonderful mineral springs to soak in.

Friendly People: The St. Lucian people are friendly and warm. A tour of the Island will take you to local villages, many of whom still rely on fishing as a major source of income. You can always grab a quick fish kebob or roast chicken, pork, or lamb, on your round-island trip at one of the many road-side food stands.

Language: English is the national language, but local St. Lucian’s also speak a French-Creole language known as patois.

Fresh, Exotic Fruits: St. Lucia is an ideal climate for a variety of fruit trees that tend to grow all over the island. These include: mangos, limes, lemons, grapefruit, oranges, four types of bananas (plantain), wax apples; and a number of other indigenous fruits and local produce.

Things to Do for Everyone: St. Lucia really has something for everyone – golf, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, walking in botanical gardens, water sports of every kind, hiking, or basking in the sun on one of its many beaches. Be sure to visit the Pitons, the world-renowned twin peaks rising more than 2,400 feet into the air. You can hire a guide to hike these majestic spires.

Culture and Music: The Island is also known for its music festivals and cultural events – such as Jazz and Carnival. Be sure to visit the official St. Lucia Tourism site for a listing of these events www.stlucia.org.

Geographic Location: St. Lucia lies roughly between 60° and 61° West longitude and 13° and 14° North latitude. It is approximately 1,300 miles southeast of Florida, in the Windward Islands. The Windward’s are a part of the Lesser Antilles, which are in turn is part of the West Indies. The 238-square-mile island is 21 miles from its nearest neighbour, the French island of Martinique. It is just 24 miles north of St. Vincent and 100 miles northwest of Barbados.

Comfortable Climate: The climate is subtropical with temperatures ranging from the mid-sixties to the mid-eighties. During the hottest time of the year, from June to August, temperatures can reach the mid-nineties. Things are kept pretty cool by the constant trade winds. Summers are usually warm and wet; while the winters are quite dry. Average rainfall ranges from 60 inches in the coastal regions up to 160 inches in the rainforest. The rainy season is from June to October, but it is by no means a constant downpour.

Time Zone: Atlantic Standard Time Zone.

Size & Population: St. Lucia is 27 miles long and 14 miles wide. The population is about 160,000.