st. lucia

Saint Lucia is an island country in the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. The geography of Saint Lucia is volcanic and mountainous.

The island was previously called Iyonola, the name given to the island by the native Arawaks, and later Hewanorra, the name given by the native Caribs, two separate Amerindian peoples.

Total Area: 617 km2 (238 sq mi)

Capital: Castries

Country Code: +1 758

Country Population: 184,402

Credit Cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa

Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Departure Tax:  Departure tax is included in the price of the ticket for all passengers over 12 years leaving the island via air travel. For passengers leaving via sea travel, the departure tax is EC$33 or US$13 to be paid at the time of the departure.

Drives on the: Left

Electricity: The standard voltage is 240 V and the frequency is 50 Hz.

Ethnic Groups: 85.3% Black (African), 10.9% Mixed, 2.2% Indian, 1.6% Other/Unspecified

Location: Part of the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique.

Official Language(s): English 

Religion:  90.4% Christianity, 5.9% No religion, 1.9% Rastafari, 1.8% Other/Unspecified

Time Zone: GMT -4

Tipping: Tipping in Saint Lucia is discretionary and should reflect the service you have received, however, a service charge of between 10 to 12% is recommended. In some restaurants, a service charge of 10% may be automatically added to your bill.