St. Lucia History St. Lucia is a sovereign island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 617 km2 (238.23 sq mi) and has a population of 174,000 (2010). Its capital is Castries. One of the Windward Islands, Saint Lucia was named after Saint Lucy of Syracuse by the French, the island's first European settlers.. They signed a treaty with the native Carib Indians in 1660. Britain took control of the island from 1663 to 1667; in ensuing years, it was at war with France 14 times and rule of the island changed frequently (it was seven times each ruled by the French and British). In 1814, the British took definitive control of the island. Because it switched so often between British and French control, Saint Lucia was also known as the "Helen of the West Indies". Representative government came about in 1924 (with universal suffrage from 1953). From 1958 to 1962, the island was a member of the Federation of the West Indies. On 22 February 1979, Saint Lucia became an independent state of the Commonwealth of Nations associated with the United Kingdom.[4] Saint Lucia has a legal system based on English common law.
St. Lucia is one of the Windward Islands, located in the middle of the Eastern Caribbean chain. Its terrain is a combination of high mountains, forests, low-lying lands and beaches. Mountain ranges runs the length of the island and forests dominate the mountains, while jasmine, scarlet chenille and wild orchids provide splashes of color to the lush green slopes. July is hot and humid in St. Lucia as it is in most Caribbean islands. Afternoon rain showers are common in July . Showers are brief and the sun returns quickly. St. Lucia
Vacationers should be aware that there can be a great deal of variation in weather between the different regions of St. Lucia. If you are visiting one of the beaches around Castries or Rodney Bay, expect temperatures to be high but not unbearable due to the cool breeze off the water. Visitors exploring one of the trails through the rain forest in the center of the island need to be prepared for some very hot and humid weather without any relief from the winds. Adventurous travelers can cool off on a hike to one of the Piton mountains, the distinguishing landscape feature of St. Lucia. Temperatures will drop significantly as the altitude increases and travelers may even want to bring along a light jacket to stay comfortable in the cool weather. St. Lucia
Airport you will fly into
Castries As the capital of St. Lucia, Castries is one of the more developed parts of the island. The town of Castries has twice been destroyed by fires that have consumed much of the original architecture. The rebuilding efforts have created an interesting mix of surviving historical architecture and modern concrete buildings. Visitors will find a variety of things to do in and around Castries ranging from shopping to sightseeing. At Pointe Seraphine , located on the north side of the Castries harbor, you will find fantastic duty free shopping in a modern mall setting for tourists and cruise ship passengers. In the heart of Castries you will find shopping at street markets where local vendors sell their produce and crafts. The Castries Central Market is the largest of these street markets and offers the best deals in fruit and other produce. Across from the Central Market you can find the Vendor's Arcade which offers a set of craft stalls offering souvenirs and hand made crafts to visitors. There are certain landmarks in Castries that would be a shame to miss if you are planning a trip to the city, one such landmark is the 400 year old saman tree that defines the center square of the town. St. Lucia
Option One
Sandals Regency La Toc 4.5 Star Resort All-Inclusive Couples Only The stately palms that grace the mile-long entrance into the legendary La Toc Estate and golf resort are the awe-inspiring prelude to your St. Lucia vacation at the Caribbean's Most Glamorous of St. Lucia Resorts, Sandals Regency La Toc. Recognized as the most sparkling jewel in the islands, the "Emerald of the Caribbean" glitters invitingly along the half-mile crescent shaped beach, cradling exotic coral bluffs, lush hillsides, and rolling fairway
Sandals Regency La Toc Four pools Four whirlpools Canoes/kayaks Snorkeling Windsurfing 9 hole golf course Poolside entertainment Nightly shows/live music
Sandals Regency La Toc Pavilion Restaurant - This restaurant features International cuisine, served buffet style for Breakfast and Lunch with a breath taking view of the ocean . Pitons Restaurant - This popular West Indian restaurant serves a dreamy selection of favorite Caribbean dishes and desserts . La Toc Restaurant - Gourmet French restaurant in an intimate, elegant setting . Kimonos Restaurant - This distinct restaurant features exotic Teppanyaki -style dishes prepared at the table. It is air-conditioned and non-smoking.
Sandals Regency La Toc Armando's Restaurant - Savor traditional Italian cuisine whether indoors or Patio dining. À La Carte breakfast, lunch and dinner. Cricketer’s Pub - Enjoy a scrumptious meal in an atmosphere of pure English bliss. Neptune’s Restaurant - Set overlooking the beach with no walls to muffle the crescendo of the crashing waves, Neptune's offers classic Mediterranean cuisine. Diners will delight in Neptune‘s casual European elegance, served à la carte. Pizzeria Del Campo - Made to order, Italian brick oven thin crust pizzas, serving different varieties of hand tossed pizzas.
Sandals Regency La Toc Pavilion Swim Up Bar Pavilion Main Bar Zodiac Bar Sunset Swim Up Bar Neptune‘s Bar Herbie‘s Piano Bar Kimono‘ s Bar Armando‘s Bar The Cricketer‘s Pub Theme Nights - with contests and prizes - Lovers Night, Reggae Night, Casino Night, Karaoke Night, Talent Night, Formal Night
Suites
Sandals Regency La Toc Butler Services Make all dinner reservations, tour bookings, on property activities and spa treatments for you. Serve you your favorite drinks while you lounge on the beach or pool. Serve you lunch on the beach or on the pool. Liaise with housekeeping regarding the servicing of your suite. Ensure that your suite is kept in perfect condition and arranged the way you like during your stay. Expedite all room service orders. Ensure your table is arranged in the restaurant of your choice for dinner. Arrange a perfect romantic dinner for two in the privacy of your suite or your patio. Unlike our competitors, our butler elite guests can order from any resort restaurant menu for dining in their room or suite. Shine/clean your shoes for dinner. Tend to your wardrobe. Collect and return all laundry for you . His and hers plush robes with bed slippers. 24hr Room Service . In-suite bar stocked daily with Mondavi® Wines, spirits, sodas, juices and water . Provide you with a cell phone to contact your butler anytime.
Sandals Regency La Toc Piton Oceanview Two Story Butler Veranda Suite Capturing the beauty and essence of the perfect island retreat, these vivid blue, two-story Love Nest Suites welcome you and the one you love with exceptional ocean views from an expansive private verandah. Enter into a spacious great room with natural stone floors, mahogany furnishings, an HD Smart television, fully stocked bar, comfortable sofa, and sliding glass doors that open to the terrace. Upstairs, you'll escape to a master bedroom featuring a king-size bed and a picture window framing garden views; as well as an elegant bathroom with a single vanity and bathtub with shower. As a guest in this luxurious suite, you'll also enjoy the attentive services of a personal butler, VIP check-in and more. Butler Elite and 24-hour room service are included. Room View: Oceanview Includes min-bar and full size bottle of liquor
The resort is located on a hillside. There are shuttle sto take you throughout the resort.
Sandals Regency La Toc Sunset Bluff Oceanview One Bedroom Butler Suite w/ Balcony Tranquility Soaking Tub Situated along the Sunset Oceanview Bluff, these newly renovated Love Nest Suites® grant stunning views of the sea and hillside. Relax in the comfort of a spacious, modern living room appointed with custom crafted furnishings, an HD Smart television, fully stocked bar, and plush seating. The master bedroom features a king-size bed, additional HD Smart television, and large windows framing unforgettable views of the sea. The en -suite spa style bathroom features modern finishes, a backlit mirror with long vessel sink, shower, and free standing soaking tub. Just outside the living room is a furnished private balcony including a bistro set and Tranquility Soaking Tub for two, where you can enjoy al fresco dining with the ocean as your backdrop. Butler Elite and 24-hour room service are included. Room View: Oceanview Includes min-bar and full size bottle of liquor
The resort is located on a hillside. There are shuttle sto take you throughout the resort.
Pictures from Around the Resort
Honeymoon Inclusions A BUBBLY WELCOME: A bottle of chilled sparkling wine elegantly arranged in your room upon arrival to toast your future. A ROMANTIC GESTURE: A special turndown service that includes flower petals on your bed on the first evening of your honeymoon. Wake up to Wedded Bliss: Delight in a delivery of fresh flowers and a decadent breakfast in bed one morning of your choice. Sandals Regency La Toc
Notes on Sandals: Sandals Resorts are designed for couples. I f you want to be social and meet other couples there are many opportunities to do so, if you would like it to be just the two of you the resorts are large enough and have many hidden spots for couples. For example hammocks in the gardens, fire pits, quiet pools, beach loungers for two and more. The food is really good! Especially the brick oven pizza. In St. Lucia you have exchange privileges between all three Sandals Resorts. For example if you want to stay at La Toc because the rooms have an awesome view you can go over the Grande to waterski. A shuttle runs every hour. Sandals Grande St. L ucia has more of a party atmosphere, more activities around the pool and late night fun. The property has the Caribbean Ocean on one side and the Atlantic on the other. Sandals Regency La Toc is located partly on a hill side and offers incredible views. It requires lots of walking and stairs, a jitney shuttle is offered to transport you. It has a nine hole golf course. The Sandals Resorts are about an 1.5 hour from the airport Any offers on the Sandals website are also available through Change Your Latitude Travel. We will price match if you find a lower price.
Available Tours in St. Lucia *Additional fees apply for excursions
Best Of St Lucia Cultural & Heritage Tour Tour the undiscovered and unspoiled island of St. Lucia in air conditioned comfort while experiencing the truly Saint Lucian way of life, with a tour that takes you to Fond Assau . There you will practice traditions such as preparation of cassava bread, cooking on macambou leaves, catching crayfish in the river, collecting honey from a beehive and the very authentic display of wood-sawing while in Chak Chak where a band plays traditional music in the background. The historic buildings of Castries comes alive as well-informed tour guides take you on a walk through the architectural history of an old colonial island city, make a stop to do some well-needed shopping, whilst at the same time enjoying the spirit and life of the modern Caribbean.
Soufriere Jeep Discovery & Waterfall Revelation A scenic journey through Saint Lucia’s banana plantations, fishing villages, rainforest and lush tropical vegetation. Your guides will share the local history and stories about significant sites along the way to Soufriere, home to the majestic Pitons. The first stop is Morne Coubaril , a 250-acre working plantation where you’ll learn about 18th century plantation life. As you travel along an original mule carriage pathway and through reconstructed slave quarters there are demonstrations of plantation farming practices including copra, cocoa and manioc production. From there we continue on to visit the sparkling Diamond Waterfall and the Sulphur Springs "drive-in-volcano" where you can immerse in the rich mineral water of the mud baths heated by the volcano itself and feel rejuvenated. Our final stop before the return trip is for a delicious buffet lunch prepared with fresh local ingredients at a restaurant nestled in island greenery and colorful flowers in Soufriere.
Island Routes ATV Adventure Experience the island's incredible beauty up close and personal, as you maneuver your all terrain vehicle past panoramic views of the dramatic coastline, through the hills and plantations. So go off-road, get dirty, and revel in an adventure you'll never forget. St . Lucia Treetop Zipline Adventure See the world from the treetops and feel like one with nature, gliding from platform to platform, hovering over an abundant, tropical landscape. Adventurers will receive the thrill of their lives with an aerial view of Saint Lucia's lush rainforest - an unforgettable experience of nature at its best.
Island Routes Hike The Pitions Towering nearly 3,000 feet above sea level, the majestic peak of Gros Piton, along with its twin peak Petit Piton, dominates the western coast of St. Lucia. The lush green slopes of these pyramid shaped icons rise from the sapphire blue waters of the Caribbean, filling the adventurous traveler with wanderlust. The view itself is a classic, the Pitons of Saint Lucia, soaring straight up from the sea's edge, this is definitely one of the things you must do in your lifetime, a visit to the Pitons should be number one. Snaking up the misty, jungle-covered, boulder-strewn mountainsides for the huge views from the top is an experience well worth the hike. Afterwards head to a rest stop for a sumptuous lunch and refreshing swim.
Horseback Ride 'n' Swim Imagine exploring the incredibly gorgeous island of St. Lucia on horseback! Amble through a tropical rainforest atop a sleek, gentle mare or serene stallion. Ride along a cliff and feast your eyes on panoramic vistas of the St. Lucia coastline with the aquamarine ocean sparkling in the island sunshine. Then, prepare yourself for a totally unique experience, as you and your mount cross the white sand of a pristine beach and enter the warm waters of the Caribbean. Trot through the crystal seas together and enjoy the ride of your life!
Tropical Jeep Safari A must-do for the adventure-seeker! You'll have a blast on this outdoor excursion that will unveil the simply beautiful St. Lucia landscape all aboard an open-top, safari jeep! Enjoy the trek through historic Castries up the Morne (Hill of Good Luck), where the most breathtaking, panoramic view of the city and harbor awaits, then leave "modern civilization," as you commence your jungle journey through the rural countryside until you reach the quaint fishing village of Anse La Raye . Enjoy a 20-minute hike through the rainforest, passing an abundant waterscape of rivers and cascading waterfalls. Sample local seasonal fruit and relax in a refreshing river pool before returning to the jeep .
Island Routes Waterfall Cycling Adventure An adventure seekers' delight. Enjoy a thrilling mountain bike ride through the rainforest to Errard Waterfall where you can take a dip in its refreshing waters. Then, cycle through the forest where you'll learn about local crops grown on the island. End your tour with a relaxing drive through the quaint fishing village of Dennery . Island Routes Helicopter Island Tour Quite simply, there is nothing like flying over a tropical island with a glass of champagne in hand to enjoy the journey even more. The feel. The adrenaline. It's a whole new way to experience the island. Sights: Castries, Marigot Bay, St. Lucian Fishing Villages, Lush Rainforest, Interior Mountains, Pitons, Soufriere Volcano, Coral Reefs, Dive Sites, Remote Waterfalls, Rivers and Valleys; Major Beaches & Hotels, Plantations, Cap Estate Homes, Rugged Atlantic Coast, Pigeon Point, Fort Rodney, Rodney Bay Marina and Rat Island.
Details
Quote Prices shown include flights, transfers between airport and resort, all-inclusive amenities, tips and taxes. Prices shown are quotes only and subject to change until deposit is paid. Travel protection is not included but is highly recommended, especially when travelling during hurricane season (May-October).
Flights American Airlines 7/4 Depart DFW, 1 hour 40 minute layover in Miami, arrive St. Lucia (UVF) 2:47 pm 7/11 Depart St. Lucia (UVF) 3:39 pm 2 hour layover in Charlotte, arrive DFW 11:44 pm
Quote Piton Oceanview Two Story Butler Veranda Suite $6,896.26 Sunset Bluff Oceanview One Bedroom Butler Suite w/ Balcony Tranquility Soaking Tub $7,099.45 Total due at time of booking Optional travel protection is $259.98