St. Lucia’s motto is “you are so beautiful.” This island is for travelers seeking pleasure and enrichment through the wonder of the undiscovered, the adventure of the unfamiliar, the freshness of the unspoiled and the stimulation of the exotic.

Although modest in size when compared to some of the Caribbean’s large destinations, St. Lucia gives a big impression all her own with a diverse landscape and countless tourist offerings. On the southwestern side lies the most famous of St. Lucia’s features, the soaring Piton Mountains. With their steep, lush banks, warm waterfalls and volcanic hot springs, the Pitons offer fantastic beauty and serenity.

The mountains continue their drop below the water creating deep indigo seas that provide fantastic diving; and it is here that you find many of the island’s more unique and luxurious hotel offerings, many with open walls and amazing views. Yet, in spite of the resort developments which have made this place one of the Caribbean’s fashionable destinations, it is still a long way from being sanitized and overdeveloped. Banana production is still a bigger business than tourism in this island paradise.

St. Lucia has a rich, tension-free racial mix of descendants of Africans, Carib Indians and European settlers. Despite relaxed attitudes, family life is still important to most St. Lucians, many of whom are practicing Roman Catholics.

If you’re thinking about planning a family getaway, St. Lucia is an ideal destination where all can have the time of their life. St. Lucia provides, rest, relaxation and rejuvenation for the adults and lots of outdoor fun and excitement for the children. Several hotels on the island welcome families and offer special facilities including kids clubs, special kids’ meals and comforting sleeping arrangements such as extra beds and cots and often adjoining rooms.

Both land and water sports abound. A tour that the entire family will enjoy, for example, is through the Rain Forest or a biking tour, but there are many other things of interest to see such as Marigot Bay, a lovely sequestered natural harbor that once provided a hideout for pirate ships. It also served as the setting for the film Dr. Doolittle.

The tiny Maria Islands Nature Reserve in southern St. Lucia is home to rare wildlife and birds. Several species there exist nowhere else in the world.

Pigeon Island Museum and Interpretive Center is a museum housed in the former British officers' mess building, which has been restored to its 1808 plans. A modern "hands-on" display brings Pigeon Island's fascinating history to life.

St. Lucia is also recognized as one of the leading whale-watching sites in the area. Over twenty species are regularly spotted throughout the year, including humpbacks, pilot whales, sperm whales and spinning and spotted dolphins. Turtles are another fascinating thrill for nature-lovers. The abundance of these majestic reptiles on St. Lucia is due to the protection provided by local environmental activists, who have ensured that there is a permanent suspension of turtle hunting.

St. Lucia was the proud recipient of the Caribbean islands’ 2000 Ecotourism Award for its Heritage Tourism Program. So, whatever your mood, St. Lucia can offer a tour which will enchant you. Wherever you go colors will mesmerize you, vistas will astound you and the tropical air will caress you. You’ll find all your senses working overtime on St. Lucia.