The Rough Guide to St Lucia [Paperback]

Rough Guides (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 2003 | Series: Rough Guide Mini Guides

Providing information on all the island's attractions, from the bustling capital, Castries, to stylish yachting resorts such as Rodney Bay, this mini-guide also includes coverage of the creole architecture and the world-class Jazz festival. There is full coverage of the unspoilt beaches, forest and marine nature reserves, the mountain peaks of the Pitons and the volcanic mineral baths at Sulphur Springs. Containing similar information to the larger "Rough Guides", the pocket-sized guide is written in the irreverent style characteristic of the series.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Karl Luntta is the author of guides to Jamaica, the Virgin Islands and the Lesser Antilles, and writes on St Lucia for numerous publications. He is also a newspaper columnist and has published fiction in International Quarterly, Baltimore Review, North Atlantic Review, and others.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

ELEVEN THINGS NOT TO MISS

CENTRAL MARKET, CASTRIES: All manner of excellent produce, worthy crafts and tacky souvenirs are on display at this bustling hangout; the restaurant stalls are the prime place in town for a cheap, delicious meal.

"JUMP-UP" ON FRIDAY NIGHT:This booze-and-music fuelled celebration is St Lucia’s weekly street party, when crowds gather on Gros Islet to eat, dance and drink and be merry.

CAS EN BAS BEACHES: Reduit Beach, not far away, is spectacular but crowded; head further on to these usually deserted spots to claim your own patch of sand.

ANSE LA RAYE’S FISH FRY: A tiny fishing village between Castries and Soufrière, Anse La Raye is quiet until Friday evenings, when everyone flocks to the streets to sample that day’s freshest fish, barbecued and served alongside helpings of hot cakes and booze.

LA SOUFRIÈRE SULPHUR SPRINGS: Visit St Lucia’s most famous attraction, La Soufrière Sulphur Springs – a great, odiferous bubbling crater.

BALENBOUCHE ESTATE: Maybe not the grandest of St Lucia’s plantation houses, but the one here does function as a very atmospheric guesthouse; wandering round the extensive grounds opens up access to petroglyph sites and a nearby secluded beach.

MAMIKU GARDENS: Admire the elegance of these perfectly manicured botanical gardens along any of its low-impact walking trails. See p.129

FRIGATE BIRDS AND LEATHERBACK TURTLES: Be one of the few visitors to explore the much wilder Atlantic Coast, where the Fregate Island Nature Reserve and Grand Anse hold great wildlife-spotting opportunities.

HIKING IN THE RAINFOREST: Choose from one of five forestry department trails, which vary from a forty-minute stroll to a half-day trek, through the thickets of St Lucia’s rainforest reserves.

FOXGROVE INN, PRASLIN BAY: Foxgrove Inn on the eastern side of the island has one of the best locally regarded restaurants, serving super fresh fish and seafood on a balcony overlooking banana plantations and the wild surf around the Fregate Islands.

SNORKELING AROUND THE PITONS: Rather than hiking for the fine views, go underwater near the mountains’ bases, to find reefs, rocks and impossibly coloured fish.

WHEN TO GO

For many visitors, St Lucia’s biggest attraction is its tropical climate. During the mid-December to mid-April high season, the island is pleasantly hot, with little rain and constant northeasterly trade winds keeping the nights cool. Temperatures rise during the summer months, which can also be wet: the rainy season lasts from June to October, and during this time, short, heavy bursts of rain are matched by an increase in humidity; rainfall is nearly three times heavier in the central rainforests than along the coast. The rainy months also coincide with the hurricane season, which runs roughly from late August to October.

As you’d expect, St Lucia is busiest in the first few months of the year; during this time, some beaches, particularly those in the northwest, are likely to be crowded, and hotel prices are at their peak. The rest of the year,

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Rough Guides; 2nd edition (February 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1858289165
• ISBN-13: 978-1858289168
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,423,776 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Average, August 22, 2004

By 

O. Barden "haunt77" (nyc) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Rough Guide to St Lucia (Paperback)

This guide could have used more updated information. In listing

the restaurants in Gros Islet/Rodney Bay some of the restaurants

and clubs were either closed or didn't exist. The other information was accurate like the Sulphur Springs in Soufriere

and downtown Castries. also more pictures and detailed maps should have been included. Overall the guide was mediocre during my visit in St. Lucia.

2.0 out of 5 stars Maps Are Lacking, March 3, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Rough Guide to St Lucia (Paperback)

I found the three or four maps included were not detailed very well. I was hoping to be able get better maps so I would know what to expect and how to get around.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This book is a little too "rough.", March 18, 2004

By 

"cbourgard" (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rough Guide to St Lucia (Paperback)

I was planning a honeymoon to St. Lucia, however, this book actually made me change my mind! It included reports of Dengue Fever, documented poisonous tree sap, stated that the roads and many of the tourist sights are dangerous & rickety, and also boasted polluted rivers and waterfalls. Although I am not entirely sure about the truth of the text, I don't want to risk it and find out that the book was true. I didn't want to give it a 5 for truth telling, however, I didn't want to give it a 1 for scaring me away from the island...so I'll settle for a 3, you decide for yourself!