St. Lucia Travel Information & Planning Guide

St Lucia has an area of 619 Sq Km (239 Sq Mi) and a population of 153,100 people. The largest city, and also the nation’s capital, is Castries.

The official language of St Lucia is English, however a lot of people also speak French-based patois.  

Within St Lucia, the primary ethnic groups are African, mixed descent, European and East Indian.

 The primary religions in St Lucia are Roman Catholic and Protestant. Roman Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination practiced in St Lucia, followed by Protestantism. 

Airport
There are two ways to get to St.Lucia: 

1. St Lucia’s Hewanorra International airport (UVF); take a taxi to the base; distance is approximately 1½ hours by taxi. See taxi costs below.
2. Fly to St.Lucia’s George Charles airport (SLU); take a taxi to the base; distance is approximately 30 min by taxi. See Taxi costs below. 

We can arrange transfers from the airport to the base and hotel. Please reach out to the Pre-Travel team to complete the Transfer Request Form. With the information provided in the form, the base will arrange your taxi. Below are the costs for pre-arranged taxis:

From Hewanorra International airport – (85 minutes)
A Taxi code will be sent to the client’s email address who have requested transfer from the airport to the base. The code will be scanned upon arrival at the airport, so you need all flight details to get the code sent. The designated taxi driver will be allocated to meet and greet and to take them to the base or hotel after the code is scanned. Approximate cost: 1-3 pax $100: extra passengers $25 per person, each way.

From George Charles (Vigie) airport – (30 minutes)
Collins Taxi Service will ‘meet and greet’ you and take you directly to your yacht. On arrival, look for your driver holding a sign with your name on it. Approximate cost: 1-3 pax $40: extra passengers $15 per person, each way.

Should your flight arrive after office hours, the taxi driver will take you directly to your yacht. If you need to contact the base after hours, please contact Lene Pierre, the base manager. 

Taxis
For customers who have NOT booked a transfer with us, you are welcome to take a taxi directly from the airport.
From Hewanorra Airport: 1-3 people is US$100. More than 3 is US$25 per person.
Bengy Taxi Service – Tel: 7587214803

From George Charles Airport:1-3 persons – US$40. More than 3 is US$15 per person.
Vigie Airport Taxi Service – Tel:758 452 1599

Most major car rental agencies are located at both airports and at the major hotels.

Available are Avis, Budget, Cool Breeze Jeep-Car Rental, Courtesy Rent-A-Car, CTL Rent-A-Car, Hertz Rent-A-Car, Inter Island Car Rental, National Car Rental, St. Lucia Yacht Car Rental, Wayne’s Motorcycle Centre.

• Driving is on the left, British style.
• Seat belts should be worn.
• Drinking and driving is against the law.
• Observe the speed limits, especially a 30 mph limit within Castries.
• Parking tickets are issued for vehicles parked in “no parking” zones, and the penalties start at around EC$500.

In case of a breakdown or accident, make sure to have the telephone number of the car rental company. If a breakdown occurs during business hours, the company will send a mechanic to fix or exchange the car. If it is after business hours, leave the vehicle and report the breakdown first thing the next morning.

Charter Boarding Time: 12:00 PM
Sleep Aboard Time: 6:00 PM

All skippers must attend a Chart Briefing which covers all you need to know about the cruising area, use of the VHF radio, how to call for assistance, and more. A Boat Briefing will also be provided onboard your yacht.

If arriving after hours, we will leave your name and your boat name with security at the gate, and they will direct you to your vessel. If you book the taxi with us the taxi driver will take you to your boat. The Chart Briefing and Boat Briefing will be held the following morning prior to departure.

Charter End Time: 11:00 AM for Sailing Charters & 10:00 AM for Power Charters

A debriefing and final walkthrough will be done upon return so please allow enough time to complete this before the charter end time.

Mobile phones 
Check with your service provider for information about cell coverage in this region.

Wi-Fi is available on all Exclusive and Exclusive Plus yachts in St Lucia. For an additional fee, Wi-Fi can be added as an optional extra to Club yachts. Please visit our extras page for more information.

Music/iPods
While most of our newer boats have Bluetooth capability, we cannot guarantee all boats are outfitted with this equipment. For your convenience, we highly recommend you bring an AUX cord so you can listen to music from your mobile devices.

Electricity
Electric current is 220 volts, 50 cycles AC. (A few hotels are 110 volts, 60 cycles.) Most sockets take 3-pin square plugs (UK standard) but some take 2-pin round plugs or flat American plugs, which are rarer. Adapters are generally available at the hotels. 

Yachts – The standard voltage on all yachts is 12 volts. In order to use electronic equipment that is 110v, you will need an inverter suitable for use in a cigarette lighter unless your boat has a generator. You can rent an inverter at the base while available.

For more information on what’s included on your yacht, please view the full list here for Bareboat Charters or here for Crewed Charters.

Entry, exit, and visa requirements depend on the locations you are departing from and traveling to. You are responsible for having the correct documents so make sure to check with the consulate of the countries you plan to visit before you travel. Visit travel.state.gov for the latest information.

A formal sailing license is not mandatory to charter here. A completed Sailing or Power resume is required to ensure you have the necessary experience required to charter yourself.

Soft-sided luggage or duffel bags are best, as luggage storage space on your yacht may be limited. We have no facilities for holding luggage at the base. Pack lightly and review our suggested packing list for required and necessary items to bring.

• Pack essential prescription medicine and change of clothing in a carry-on bag*
• Passport and other travel documentation
• Tickets and paper confirmations for pre-planned activities
• Light-colored, light-weight clothing
• Formal wear for upscale dining establishments
• Swimwear and cover up
• Hats and sunglasses
• Sandals and flip-flops
• Athletic shoes and hiking boots
• Travel-sized toiletries and hygiene products
• Insect repellent and OTC pain relievers/ointments
• AUX cable for playing music through your device
• 12V DC to 110V AC power inverter (for boats without generators**)
• 12V to USB power adapter for charging mobile devices

*We would highly recommend packing prescription medicine and essential clothing (swimsuit, t-shirt and shorts) in your hand luggage as occasionally your luggage may arrive at the base after you do.

**All boats include a 12V DC outlet (a “car” outlet). Boats with generators have 110V outlets in the Caribbean and 220V in the Mediterranean and Exotic locations.

The use of flying drones may be restricted in some areas. Find out more about the  current drone regulations in St Lucia.

The local currency in St Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar. 

US Dollars and travelers cheques are also used throughout the Windwards. Visa and MasterCard are also accepted in most places.

A gratuity is expected and is typically given to the skipper at the end of the charter. The amount is entirely at your discretion.

You might incur some costs while on charter such as mooring and docking fees or cruising taxes. We highly recommend bringing enough of the local currency to cover these costs as they are not always payable by USD, debit, and/or credit cards. Please see our Base Notes for additional information.

A security deposit must be paid at the base by Visa or Master Card and is refundable at the end of your charter subject to there being no loss or damage. To significantly decrease your security deposit, purchase our Yacht Damage Waiver insurance ahead of time.

This destination is generally risk-free of contagious disease. Visit cdc.gov for the latest information.

Your health and safety are important to us. For advice on how to stay safe while on charter, please review our Travel Advice Information. Current travel and safety information can be obtained by visiting travel.state.gov.

Swimming is often a fun and important part of a vacation. However local rules, flag systems, currents and where swimming may be permitted, can be different and vary from country to country. Snorkel vests, Life Jackets and Diver Down flags are all available on board.

Children:

• Talk to children about water safety at the start of a vacation, making them aware of the potential dangers.
• Accidents can happen at any time on vacation, but often they happen on the first and last day, so keep watch and do not get distracted when your children are playing by, or in the water.
• Children in or near water should always be supervised by an adult and never left unattended. 
• Get in the water with them, it is easier to keep an eye on them as well as good fun. Floatation devices are highly recommended for children but are not a substitute for supervision.
  

Be aware of your surroundings

• Check warning flags and signage on the beach and only swim where it is permitted. 
• Beware of dangerous currents, these can be very powerful. Not all beaches have lifeguards and/or warning flags.
• Beware of underwater hazards, such as reefs, rocks, sudden changes in depth and marine life.
• Never swim where a sign says not to e.g. in zoned areas for jet boats or jet skis.
• Never swim at night or after drinking alcohol.
  

Look out for others

• Never swim alone, ‘buddy up’ with others in your party and use the snorkel vests provided.
• Know how and where to get help. If you see someone in difficulty; raise the alarm, preferably the emergency services. Ensure you know the correct number for the country you are in.
  

Do not overestimate your ability

• Even if you regularly swim in a pool, remember that open water swimming can be very different.
• Consider swimming lessons before you go if you think it would be useful to learn proper swimming technique.

All yachts are equipped with adult life jackets, harnesses, snorkel vests & diver down flags. You can see all this equipment demonstrated in our online safety briefing, and we strongly recommend that you make use of this equipment during your vacation. This safety equipment will be displayed in the saloon of your boat on boarding – If you have any questions feel free to ask our base staff during your briefing. 

We have a very limited supply of children’s life jackets on base so highly recommend that if you are travelling with children, you bring their own. This ensures that children have correctly fitting jackets that are comfortable for them.  

Children should not be allowed in the dinghy without a life jacket or buoyancy aid and should wear a buoyancy aid or harness whilst on deck. 

Children under the age of 16 should not operate an outboard engine and should be supervised at all times when in the dinghy.

The Moorings offers comprehensive travel insurance for your peace of mind. If you have your own travel insurance, verify that it covers the destinations and activities of your Moorings holiday.