Getting around · Saint Lucia
Getting around Saint Lucia
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mjr74, Public domain
Quick answer
Saint Lucia's roads are steep and winding, so short distances take time: Rodney Bay to Soufrière is about 1.5 hours by road. Most visitors use taxis, tours or a rental car, while minibuses serve locals and water taxis are popular around Soufrière. Not essential.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Taxi
- Airports
- UVF, SLU
- Need a car?
- Sometimes
Ways to get around
Taxi
Taxis are widely available at airports, hotels and ports, with standard rates set for common routes; agree the fare and currency before you set off.
Taxi drivers often double as tour guides for a full-day island tour.
Bus
Privately run minibuses run fixed routes between towns, such as Castries to Gros Islet or Vieux Fort, departing when full. They are inexpensive but can be fast and crowded.
Car
Rental cars allow freedom to explore, but roads are narrow, steep and twisting, and driving is on the left.
Rental companies can arrange the temporary local driving permit you need.
Boat
Water taxis connect Soufrière with Sugar Beach and Anse Chastanet, and boat tours from Rodney Bay and Marigot Bay sail down the coast to the Pitons.
Ferry
A high-speed ferry links Castries with Martinique and other neighbouring islands on scheduled days.
From the airport
Hewanorra International Airport (UVF), near Vieux Fort in the south, handles most long-haul flights; it is about 1 hour by road to Soufrière and 1.5 hours to Rodney Bay. George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU) in Castries handles regional flights and is about 20 minutes from Rodney Bay.
Do you need a car?
Not essential. Taxis, tours and water taxis cover most sights, and roads are challenging. A car is useful if you want to explore independently over several days.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Soufrière and the Pitons by boat | About 1–1.5 hours by boat from Rodney Bay | Boat tour from Rodney Bay or Marigot Bay |
| Martinique | About 1.5 hours by ferry | High-speed ferry from Castries to Fort-de-France |
| Des Cartiers Rainforest Trail | About 1 hour by car from Castries | Car, taxi or guided tour |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Saint Lucia?
Not essential. Taxis, tours and water taxis cover most sights, and roads are challenging. A car is useful if you want to explore independently over several days.
+How do you get from the airport to Saint Lucia?
Hewanorra International Airport (UVF), near Vieux Fort in the south, handles most long-haul flights; it is about 1 hour by road to Soufrière and 1.5 hours to Rodney Bay. George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU) in Castries handles regional flights and is about 20 minutes from Rodney Bay.
+What is the best way to get around Saint Lucia?
Taxi: Taxis are widely available at airports, hotels and ports, with standard rates set for common routes; agree the fare and currency before you set off.