Yello’s Guide to Getting Around St Lucia
by Karen Rollins Feb 26, 2024
St Lucia is only 27 miles long and 14 miles wide so it’s easy to navigate your way around most of the island.
The road network is reasonably good with the main route going cross-land from the capital Castries in the south to Vieux Fort in the north.
A day trip to nearby islands, such as Martinique, is also quick and convenient due to regular ferry services.
Buses, minibuses / minivans:
St Lucia’s main road forms a large loop around the island and privately-owned and operated minibuses (also known as minivans) stop at all towns along the way. Fares range from $2.50 (EC) to $8.00 (EC) so they are suited to budget travellers but they can get overcrowded.
On most routes, minibuses run until around 7pm, except on the popular Castries–Gros Islet corridor, where they usually go until after 10pm. Route numbers and destinations are displayed on the buses. All minibuses have a green number plate with an M prefix.
Public buses run frequently on standard routes in northern St Lucia from Castries to Gros Islet or Rodney Bay.
Getting around by taxi is generally easy and cheap. Fares depend on the destination and nature of your trip, so make sure you confirm the cost before you get in, and check whether the driver is quoting US or EC dollars.
Most drivers have also had special training which allows them to act as guides.
Authorised taxis have a light blue number plate with a TX prefix. Search FindYello to find a taxi in St Lucia.
Water taxis can be hired to travel to virtually anywhere on the west side of the island, with the most popular routes running between Rodney Bay in the north and Marigot Bay or Soufrière in the south.
Cars, four-wheel drive vehicles, or scooters can be booked in advance through a travel agent or locally at the airports, hotels, or car rental offices.
A temporary driving licence is required for visitors. It costs $21 (US), is valid for three months, and can be obtained when you present a valid national driving license or international driving permit at the airport, the police station in Castries or car rental offices. The cheapest cars rent for about $60 (US) a day.
Scooters can be rented for about $45 (US) a day and are best taken for a spin around the Rodney Bay area which is mainly flat.
Driving in St Lucia is on the left side.
Bicycles:
St Lucia’s roads are not recommended for bicycles because most of them are narrow, steep, and poorly lit but you can join a few organised tours which exist on the island. Mountain bike rentals usually cost about $49 (US) for a half-day and $69 (US) for a full day of biking.
Ferries:
Island hopping is easy from St Lucia as the country is well serviced by ferries and most other island destinations are between one and a half to two hours away.
Various ferry lines connect St Lucia with Martinique and then on to Dominica and Guadeloupe, including Express Des Iles, which translates as ‘the express of the islands’. Ferry schedules vary according to the time of year so make sure you check with the operator before you travel.
