The Caribbean island of Saint Lucia (St. Lucia) is home to a wealth of natural beauty including white-sand beaches, exotic animals, lush rainforests, mountains, and even a volcano. Along with its natural beauty, the island offers amazing weather year-round, luxury resorts, and a variety of outdoor activities. It’s understandable why St. Lucia is such a popular destination to visit, but I bet there’s a lot about the island, and its history, that you don’t know!
Ready to explore St. Lucia? Here are some 10 fun facts about the island…
St. Lucia is the only country named after a woman!
Its first settlers were the Arawak Indians in 200 AD, and referred to St. Lucia as “Louanalao”, meaning “Island of the Iguanas”.
It is home to more than 180 species of bird, making it one of the best Caribbean destinations for bird-watching.
Water pistols are sometimes provided at restaurants to keep the birds away from your table!
If you’re visiting between March and July, spend a day at Grand Anse Beach. You’ll likely find the Leatherback turtles laying their eggs (the largest turtles in the world!).
St. Lucia has become one of the top honeymoon destinations in the Caribbean, along with destination weddings. Many of the resorts now specialize in romance.
The island has become a popular filming site for TV shows and movies such as The Bachelor, Doctor Doolittle, and Superman.
The native St Lucia parrot (Amazona versicolor), had a vulnerable population and was near extinction. Over the past decades, and thanks to the captive breeding program, the population has increased from around 100 to more than 1,000!
Approximately 19,000 acres, or 35% of the island, is rainforest.
Despite its lush landscape and fertile lands, St. Lucia relies on external sources for food, importing many products such as beef and pork. The import bill costs the islands millions of dollars each year, but they are working hard to solve these issues.
Ready to experience the fun of St. Lucia? Schedule your FREE Travel Consultation today and start planning your trip with ELx Travel.
