Key Facts

  • Saint Lucia gained independence from the United Kingdom on February 22, 1979.

  • The island changed hands 14 times between the British and French, earning it the nickname "Helen of the West Indies."

  • The official language is English, though Saint Lucian Creole French (Kwéyòl) is widely spoken.

  • The iconic Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), two volcanic spires, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

  • Saint Lucia is the only country in the world named after a woman - Saint Lucy of Syracuse.

  • The island was never settled by the Spanish, unlike most Caribbean islands.

  • The Saint Lucia parrot (Amazona versicolor), locally known as "Jacquot," is the national bird.

  • The island's first inhabitants were the Arawak Indians, followed by the Caribs.

  • Houses the Caribbean's only remaining native iguana species - the Saint Lucia Iguana (Iguana iguana sanctaluciae).

  • Maintains a traditional pottery making industry in the village of Choiseul, using techniques passed down through generations.

  • Is one of the few places in the world where you can see both sunrise and sunset over the ocean from the same location (at certain points).

  • Has a unique Christmas tradition called "Festival of Lights" celebrating Saint Lucy, the patron saint of light.

Did You Know That.......

  • Has a drive-in volcano at Sulphur Springs, the world's only such attraction where you can drive into a volcano crater.

  • Produces unique "Traffic Light" bananas that are exported to the UK - they start red, turn yellow, and finally become green.

  • Is home to the world's only petroglyphs that can be viewed underwater, located at Dalfeau.

  • Has the highest ratio of Nobel Prize winners per capita, with two laureates: Sir Arthur Lewis (Economics, 1979) and Derek Walcott (Literature, 1992).

  • Features the Pigeon Island National Park, where you can still see ruins from the 18th-century naval battles between the British and French.

  • Hosts the world's leading Jazz festival (Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival) in the Caribbean, running since 1992.

  • Is home to the Dennery Segment, a popular music genre that has influenced Caribbean music in recent years.

  • Has the largest concentration of whales and dolphins in the Caribbean Sea due to its deep surrounding waters.

  • Features the Edmund Forest Reserve, home to some of the Caribbean's rarest birds, including the Saint Lucia Parrot.

  • Has a unique "Fish Fry" tradition in the village of Gros Islet every Friday night, known locally as the "Jump Up."

  • Features the Fond Latisab Creole Park, where traditional practices like cassava making and wood cutting are preserved.