Saint Lucia's twin volcanic peaks, the Pitons, rise above the town of Soufrière on the west coast, and most visitors split their time between them, the resorts and marina of Rodney Bay in the north and the sheltered anchorage of Marigot Bay. Cruise ships dock at Castries, the capital, by the Pointe Seraphine shopping area. Saint Lucia is an independent country outside the EU's Roam Like at Home area, so a European SIM pays its operator's roaming rates there.
Key facts for Saint Lucia
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Flow (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 911 for police, ambulance and fire; 999 also reaches the police
- Embassies: the UK has a high commission and France an embassy in Castries; the US covers the island from Barbados
Before you fly: the entry form
Visitors arriving by air must fill in an online immigration form, no more than three days before they land, and receive a QR code by email; one form covers a whole family. British visitors can stay up to six weeks without a visa, and you need a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from a country where the disease is present.
From the airport
International flights land at Hewanorra International Airport in Vieux Fort, at the southern tip and about 40 miles from Castries, while George F. L. Charles Airport near Castries handles regional flights. Many accidents happen on the east coast road between Hewanorra and the north, and rural roads are narrow with hairpin bends, so a transfer is the relaxed option after a long flight. If you drive, you need a temporary local permit; traffic keeps to the left, and you should not stop if pedestrians try to flag you down.
Crime and the sea
Gang-related shootings remain a serious risk, and some have happened in public places. The US warns that guests at tourist resorts have been victims of violent crime and that overcharging, scams and aggressive vendors are common in tourist areas. Crime risk rises around the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival in May and Carnival in July. Avoid isolated beaches after dark and use licensed taxis, which have light-blue TX number plates; they are not metered, so agree the fare first. Currents can be deceptively strong, and not every beach has lifeguards or warning flags.
Laws, health and money
Wearing camouflage clothing is illegal for everyone, children included, and drug penalties are severe. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal and can carry long prison sentences. Medical treatment can be expensive, and the Tapion Hospital does not accept travel or foreign insurance as payment, so be ready to pay and claim later. Dengue occurs all year. The currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, but US dollars are widely accepted, as are major cards.
Hurricanes and volcanoes
The hurricane season runs from June to November, and after a storm power, communications, transport and water can all be disrupted. The FCDO also advises checking the alert levels of two volcanoes to the south, Kick 'em Jenny and La Soufrière on St Vincent.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM installed before departure connects as soon as you land at Hewanorra, so you can follow the map on the long drive north. A Caribbean plan also covers Martinique, Barbados and other islands, which suits a cruise or the Express des Îles ferry to Martinique, Dominica and Guadeloupe. Leave your regular SIM in the phone for bank codes, with data roaming turned off.
Local SIMs: Digicel and Flow are the two local operators.
Consular protection: who to call in Saint Lucia
- Call 911 for the police, an ambulance or the fire service; 999 also connects to the police.
- The British High Commission in Castries helps British nationals, and France's embassy to the Eastern Caribbean states is based in Saint Lucia. The US covers the island from its embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, Canada has an honorary consul at Rodney Bay, and Spain covers Saint Lucia from its embassy in Port of Spain.
- EU citizens whose country is not represented in Saint Lucia can go to the embassy of any other EU country, such as France, which must help them as it helps its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- English is the official language, and Saint Lucian Creole, Kwéyòl, is widely spoken.
Questions travellers ask about Saint Lucia
Will my EU plan work in Saint Lucia?
Only on roaming at your operator's own rates, because Saint Lucia is outside Roam Like at Home.
Do I need to fill in a form before flying?
Yes. Air arrivals complete the online immigration form no more than three days before landing.
Which network does a Telcomia eSIM use in Saint Lucia?
Flow, with 4G where available.
Is it safe to drive from Hewanorra airport?
Many accidents happen on that road, so a pre-booked transfer is the easy option.
The short version
Fill in the entry form three days before you fly, install the eSIM at home, take a transfer from Hewanorra, leave camouflage clothing behind, use licensed TX taxis, avoid quiet beaches at night, and save 911.
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