St Lucia – Getting there and around

St Lucia is the second largest of the Windward Islands, located around 39km south of Martinique and 40km north of St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Getting there
By air, St Lucia's two airports receive nonstop flights daily from New York, Atlanta, and Miami, as well as daily flights from London. Daily flights also operate from several Caribbean islands, including Puerto Rico, Barbados, Jamaica and St Thomas.

From Australia: The most convenient flights are on Qantas to Los Angeles connecting on American Airlines to St Lucia via San Juan, Puerto Rico.

From New Zealand: The most convenient flights are on Air New Zealand to Los Angeles connecting on United to New York then JetBlue to St Lucia; or on Qantas to Los Angeles connecting on American Airlines via Miami.

From the UK: British Airways has daily direct flights from London Gatwick to St Lucia.

From the USA: American Airlines offers direct daily flights from Miami, with connecting flights from New York and Los Angeles. JetBlue flies direct from New York Kennedy to St Lucia.

Flight time to St Lucia
From San Juan to St Lucia is 2 hours, direct flight

From Brisbane to St Lucia is 34 hour 50 minutes, with connecting flight
From Sydney to St Lucia is 30 hours 30 minutes, with connecting flight
From Melbourne to St Lucia is 32 hours 50 minutes, with connecting flight
From Perth to St Lucia is 42 hours 5 minutes, with connecting flight

From Auckland to St Lucia is 31 hours 55 minutes, with connecting flight
From London to St Lucia is 4 hours 40 minutes, direct flight
From New York to St Lucia is 8 hours 35 minutes, direct flight
From Miami to St Lucia is 3 hours 30 minutes, direct flight
From Los Angeles to St Lucia is 10 hours, with connecting flight
(Note: Connecting flights include layover time.)

Flying in – Hewanorra International Airport is located at the southern tip of the island, around 65km south of the main resort area and 72km from Castries, with the transfer by road taking about 1.5 hours. Most hotels arrange transfers to and from the airport. Alternatively, take a short helicopter flight (around AUD135 per person) to your resort.

The smaller airport, George F. L. Charles Airport (formerly known as Vigie), is located in the island’s northeast and affords a shorter and more convenient trip to the capital and northern resorts. For those hotels around Soufrière however, this trip is longer, around 1.5 hours by road.

Entry requirements 
Visitors must have a passport valid for at least six months after entry. All visitors must hold return/onward tickets and proof of sufficient funds. No visa is required for a stay of up to six weeks.

Getting around
Hiring a car offers the best way of exploring St Lucia. Taxis are also available and can be hired for the day. Helicopters offer the island's most dramatic sightseeing trips.