You have probably seen some amazing resorts that line Saint Lucia’s Caribbean Coast, and now you are wondering how to get to St. Lucia. Surprisingly, there are a few different ways to get to the island. The easiest and best way to get to St. Lucia is by airplane. But if you are already visiting a nearby island or want a more scenic route, then you have a few more options.
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Airplane Travel To St. Lucia
Airplane travel is probably the fastest and easiest way to get to St. Lucia. There are 2 airports on the island of St. Lucia.
In the south, you will find Hewanorra International Airport (UVF), located in Vieux Fort, St. Lucia. George FL Charles Airport (SLU) is located in Castries on the northwest part of the island.
Where To Fly Into:
Most tourists will fly into Hewanorra International Airport unless they are coming from a nearby Caribbean island.
Many east coast states in the US will offer a non-stop flight to the island of St. Lucia. But if you are coming from the west or midwest, you will likely have a connecting flight.
Direct flights into Hewanorra from the United States depart from Boston, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Chicago, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Miami. There are also direct flights from Canada to Saint Lucia which depart from Montreal and Toronto.
If you are coming from Europe, there is only one direct flight to Saint Lucia departing from London Gatwick Airport.
If traveling to St. Lucia from a nearby island, then you will likely fly into George F L Charles Airport. The nearby islands that fly to Saint Lucia are Antigua, Barbados, Curacao, Fort-de-France, Pointe-a-Pitre, Port of Spain, Saint Kitts, Sint Maarten, and Saint Vincent.
Which Airlines Fly into Hewanorra International Airport:
- American Airlines
- Delta Airlines
- JetBlue
- United Airlines
- Air Canada
- Sunwing Airlines
- Transat
- WestJet
- British Airways
- Touristik Union International (TUI)
- Virgin Atlantic
What Airlines Fly into George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU):
- Air Antilles
- Air Caraibes
- LIAT
- Caribbean Airlines
- Intercarribean Airways
- Corsair
Find cheap flights to St. Lucia on Kayak
Getting To St. Lucia Via Cruise Ship
Many cruise lines will stop at the Castries port in St. Lucia. But cruise ships are often not allowed to dock overnight, so tourists will only get 4-10 hours to explore the beautiful wonders of St. Lucia.
List of All Cruise Lines That Stop in Saint Lucia
- Norwegian Cruise
- Celebrity Cruises
- Carnival
- Princess Cruises
- Royal Caribbean International
- Seabourn Cruise Line
- Regent Seven Seas Cruises
- MSC Cruises
- Disney Cruise Line
- Costa Cruises
- Silversea Cruises
- Oceania Cruises
- Holland America Line
- Windstar Cruises
- Sea Dream Yacht Club
- Ponant
- Sea Cloud Cruises
- Star Clippers
- Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
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What To Do in Saint Lucia If Coming By Cruise Ship
Like listed above, many of the cruise ships only port for half to a full day, often departing in the evening. Luckily, St. Lucia has tons of action-packed tours to the top-rated attractions on the island.
Some must-visit activities on the island of St. Lucia are viewing the Twin Piton’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, soaking in the Sulphur Spring Mud Baths, driving thru the world’s only drive-in volcano, standing under Toraille Falls, and snorkeling at Sugar Beach.
And no tour is complete without a glass of Saint Lucia’s famous rum punch! Or a refreshing Piton Beer.
Many tours will include land and sea combined activities so you can explore it all. Also, most tours will include creole local food for lunch and non-alcoholic drinks such as soda and water.
Tours will pick up guests from the Castries Cruise Port unless otherwise specified.
Tourists the prefer a more relaxing stay on the island might choose to head to Rodney Bay to view Pigeon Island National Park or venture through the famous Marigot Bay.
Getting To St. Lucia Via Private Charter Boat
If you like the idea of cruising around the Caribbean, but would rather stick to a smaller boat or more personalized tour, you can private charter around St Lucia. But do note, it will be far more expensive than a large cruise ship.
From sailing yachts to motorized catamarans and mega yachts, there are many different private charter boats to choose from. The one catch is you will probably have to use one of the other modes of transportation listed above to get to the private charter boat.
Inquire within to see if any of these private charter companies can leave from your desired start location.
List of Private Charter Companies Around St. Lucia
- Independent Yacht Charter
- Hackshaws Boats
- The Moorings
- Boat Crowd
- Cosmos Yachting
- Sailing Yacht Eros
- Boat Bookings
- Charter World
- First4Sail
- Sea Spray Cruises
Do You Need A Visa For St. Lucia
The answer to whether or not you need a visa for Saint Lucia depends on your citizenship.
Once you land in St. Lucia, all international flights will need to go through customs.
Citizens coming from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom don’t need a visa if they plan to stay for less than 6 weeks. (But there are other countries that qualify too).
Upon arrival, a customs agent will often ask for your return flight and/or proof of accommodation.
If you plan to stay for longer than 6 weeks or travel from a country that requires a permit to St. Lucia, you can apply for a visa online.
Be sure to check for any current Travel Restrictions before flying to St. Lucia.
How Do You Get Around The Island Of St. Lucia
Now that you have made it to Saint Lucia, how do you even get around the island? These modes of transportation in St. Lucia are the best ways to get around.
Many all-inclusive resorts will offer a shuttle service to their location. But in the case where your hotel doesn’t offer this or you are staying at a vacation rental home, then you might need to get a taxi.
But which transportation works best for you might depend on what part of St. Lucia you decide to stay.
Taxi drivers will stand outside the arrivals door at the airport. The price will differ depending on how far your accommodation is. Just be sure to agree on a price before hopping in. Do note, they don’t accept credit cards, so be sure to have USD or pick up some Eastern Caribbean Dollars (St. Lucia’s Local Currency) in the airport.
Just to give you an upper benchmark, a 1.5-hour ride from Hewanorra International Airport to Rodney Bay (nearly the entire length of the island) is about US$75 to $100. Shorter local rides will probably be between $15-$50.
There are rental car companies at the airport. But first, read our detailed review for getting a rental car in St. Lucia. The roads can be quite intimidating. First, St. Lucian’s drive on the left (which was difficult for us US citizens). But they also have large drainage gaps on each side of the road. If one tire goes off track, the vehicle is deep in a ditch.
But overall, we were happy we rented a car to get to some more of the off-the-beaten-path attractions on our own schedule.
Save money by booking a rental car on Kayak.
The benefit of using taxis is that you can rely on the experience of local professional drivers to take you to your destination safely and efficiently.
Takeaway For How To Get To St. Lucia
Now that you know how to get to St. Lucia, it’s time to go explore the main attractions of St. Lucia. From epic hiking trails, breathtaking beaches, and the famous mud bath and hot springs.
While the North is overall busier and has the biggest population of people and tourists, definitely don’t miss the southern town of Soufriere. This is where Petit Piton and Gros Piton tower over the beautiful town and Carribbean sea. There are tons of great things to do in Soufriere and many delicious restaurants.