St Lucia
St Lucia is a small volcanic island in the Eastern Caribbean. People go for the twin Pitons above Soufrière, rainforest trails and the resort beaches around Rodney Bay.
St Lucia is a small volcanic island country in the Eastern Caribbean, part of the Windward Islands. The interior is steep and forested, and roads wind through it, so short distances take longer than the map suggests. In the south, the twin Pitons rise above the town of Soufrière. The Pitons area is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Around Soufrière you can see volcanic sulfur springs and waterfalls in the rainforest. Castries, the capital, sits on the northwest side of the island, and Rodney Bay in the north has the main resort and beach area.
Couples, families and hikers come for a mix of active days and beach time. English is the official language, and many people also speak Kwéyòl, a French-based Creole. The currency is the East Caribbean dollar, and traffic drives on the left. The dry season, roughly December to May, is the most popular time to visit; June to November is hurricane season.
Five things to know before St Lucia
- Fill in the online entry form
Arrivals by air complete the online immigration form up to 72 hours before travel. One form covers a family or group; show the emailed receipt on arrival. Official form
- Check which airport you land at
Long-haul jets use Hewanorra in the far south; the drive to Rodney Bay in the north takes around 1.5 hours or more. George F. L. Charles near Castries takes regional flights.
- Hike Gros Piton with a guide
The Gros Piton trail starts at Fond Gens Libre and is climbed with a local guide. Start early; it is steep and hot, and allow most of a morning.
- Base yourself by what you want to do
Rodney Bay and the north have beaches, restaurants and nightlife. Soufrière in the southwest has the Pitons, the Sulphur Springs and dive sites, but fewer beaches.
- Book around hurricane season
Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with most storms from August to October. Buy insurance when you book and check how it handles storm cancellations. Travel insurance
St Lucia travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Visa-free stays and the online entry form with QR code.
Read the guideTravel insuranceMedical, evacuation and storm cover to check for St Lucia.
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData plans, roaming charges and coverage between islands.
Read the guideMoney and costsEast Caribbean dollars, US dollars and resort costs.
Read the guideGetting aroundAirport transfers, water taxis and driving on the left.
Read the guide
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- EC$150
- Food
- EC$75
- Transport
- EC$20
- Sights
- Free
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- EC$350
- Food
- EC$180
- Transport
- EC$100
- Sights
- EC$54
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- EC$650
- Food
- EC$350
- Transport
- EC$250
- Sights
- EC$270
When to go
- Rainy days
- Best
- JanuaryRain19 rainy daysHigh27°Low25°Dry, peak seasonJanuaryRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 69 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, peak season
- FebruaryRain16 rainy daysHigh27°Low25°Dry, breezyFebruaryRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, breezy
- MarchRain17 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Dry, sunnyMarchRain
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, sunny
- AprilRain15 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Dry, quieterAprilRain
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 46 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, quieter
- MayRain16 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Warm, quietMayRain
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quiet
- JuneRain22 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Hurricane seasonJuneRain
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hurricane season
- JulyRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Hot, showersJulyRain
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 132 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, showers
- AugustRain24 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°Hurricane riskAugustRain
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 138 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hurricane risk
- SeptemberRain21 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°Hurricane peakSeptemberRain
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 128 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hurricane peak
- OctoberRain22 rainy daysHigh30°Low27°Storm risk, rainOctoberRain
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 27°
- Precipitation
- 132 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Storm risk, rain
- NovemberRain22 rainy daysHigh29°Low26°Season endsNovemberRain
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 126 mm
- Rainy days
- 22
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Season ends
- DecemberRain19 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Busy holidaysDecemberRain
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 71 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busy holidays
Average daily high and low in Castries, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in St Lucia
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
28
- Feels like
- 33°
- Humidity
- 75%
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 98%
St Lucia
04:05 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today29°22°98%Monday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 98%.
- Tue29°24°86%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 86%.
- Wed30°23°69%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 69%.
- Thu31°23°83%Thursday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 83%.
- Fri30°23°71%Friday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 71%.
- Sat31°23°41%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 41%.
- Sun31°24°43%Sunday: Cloudy. High 31°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 43%.
Updated 01:04 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 2.7 XCD
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
St Lucia FAQ
Do I need a visa for St Lucia?
US, UK and Canadian passport holders do not need a visa for a short visit, per the tourism authority, and UK visitors can stay up to 6 weeks. Complete the online immigration form before you fly; check other passports with St Lucian immigration.
Which airport is best for St Lucia?
Hewanorra in the south handles international jets and is closer to Soufrière. George F. L. Charles near Castries is closer to Rodney Bay but mostly takes regional flights.
When is hurricane season in St Lucia?
June 1 to November 30, with the highest risk from August to October. December to April is drier and calmer, and prices are highest then; May and June are a good compromise.
Can you climb the Pitons?
Gros Piton is climbed with a local guide from Fond Gens Libre. Petit Piton is steeper and more dangerous and is not a standard hike.
Do I need a car in St Lucia?
Not if you stay in one area. Roads are winding, so many visitors use taxis or water taxis for day trips. St Lucia drives on the left.