St. Lucia

Island tours reveal the beauty that earned St. Lucia the nickname the "Helen of the West Indies." The southern portion of the island is a veritable forest of banana trees and the southwest shore offers one of the Caribbean's most famous views: Gros Piton and Petit Piton, twin mountains that soar from the sea.

Nature lovers find plenty of fun with excursions to the rain forest, home of the rare St. Lucian parrot, and tours of the Sulphur Spring volcano. Nearby, the Diamond Waterfalls and Gardens bloom with tropical splendor. A self-guided walk leads visitors to the Diamond Waterfalls, a cascade that creates a spray of "diamond" twinkles in the air.

St. Lucia's beaches and scuba diving are top notch, especially at Anse Chastanet. Divers and snorkelers can enjoy spectacular underwater exploration just yards from the salt-and-pepper beach.

Fast Facts:

Language: English

Population: 155,000

Currency: Eastern Caribbean (EC) dollar; US dollar widely accepted

Recommended for: ecotourism, romance, sailing

Information: St. Lucia Tourist Board, www.stlucia.org

Map courtesy the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and
the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection