Traveling in St. Lucia

St. Lucia itself has a refuge that will definitely get you even hotter. At the town of Soufriere (French word for sulfur) at the southwestern side of the island, located is the only drive-in volcano in the world. Locally known as the Sulphur Springs, it has now become a major tourist attraction in St. Lucia. 

Imagine yourself at the middle of a volcano that has erupted in the late 18th century. This eruption of the Soufriere Volcano of course created intense damage to the immediate area, however, this tragic nature-made calamity pave the way to what is internationally-acclaimed tourist spot now. The Sulphur Springs happen to be at the intersection of two fault lines lying at the center of a volcanic depression named “Qualibou caldera.” Incidentally, this caldera is about thirty to forty thousand years old. 

The Boiling Springs

The Sulphur Springs is the main enticement of the park which features an impressive assembly of boiling springs of about 340 Fahrenheit (170 degrees Celsius). Due to its skin-burning temperature, the springs create large amount of steam and it also has high content of sulfur and iron. The location of the springs stands 305 meters above sea level at the collapsed crater of the volcano. 

Excursion at the Sulphur Springs comprises of a walk behind a wooden fence even up to the edge of the springs. Before, tourists are allowed to walk up to the actual crater covered with a thin crust, but when an accident of a fall of one of the guides happened, the public is restricted behind the fence. 

Therapeutic and Mud Baths at the Sulphur Springs 

At the crater of the Soufriere Volcano is a stream running through and established hot springs a little downward. Due to volcanic minerals present at the water, it is believed that Sulphur Springs can provide therapeutic benefits to tourists. However, many cannot stand submerging themselves for too long, because of the extreme heat reaching approximately 45 degrees Celsius and the foul smell coming from the spring probably that of rotten eggs. 

World famous health-giving waters in the Sulphur Springs Park consist of the ‘Pool of Love’ and the ‘Black Water Pool’. In the West Coast of St. Lucia, the locals and even tourists experience all natural sulfur baths that has great benefits for the skin. Tourists have nothing to worry about possible eruption of the Soufriere Volcano for it is already considered dormant.

Image credits: slu.travel

Imagine the feeling of traveling above forest canopies in St. Lucia. This tourist attraction in the country indeed caught the interest of many who desires to fly, literally. Because in St. Lucia’s aerial tram, you’ll definitely get off walking with your feet and for a snap, you’ll see yourself soaring up above the ground.

Aerial Tram Adventure is considered as a great delight for rainforest adventurers. Considering the breath-taking top view of St. Lucia’s rainforest with a plethora of plants and animals that accentuates the journey. What’s special about this rainforest canopy tour is that you can definitely share the experience with the whole family. This is definitely a new adventure that will show you a newer perspective on rainforests.

Aerial Tram Description

St. Lucia aerial tram consists of an open-air gondola ride with a seating capacity of eight people plus one experienced guide provided by the tour company. The tour will take you approximately about two and a half hours soaring through the rich rainforest. Not to mention the view of the Caribbean Coast and all the treasures of the forest. The gondola joyride will take you as high as 120 feet above the ground; assuring you that this is not just stimulating for the eyes, but for the mind as well. As you get the chance to view the goodness of nature, a narration about St. Lucia’s rainforest and wildlife will be provided by a trained naturalist to feed your mind also. While food for the mind and the eyes are given, you can also enjoy free drinks in the tram’s bar.   

                      

What am I going to expect?

As you plan your tour at St. Lucia, specifically the aerial tram, it is good that you expect for a lot of good things that will accompany your adventure. First, you have to expect that brief orientation and safety rules and guidelines will be given before stepping off the gondola. The trip will take you ascending to the top of the mountain giving you a bird’s eye view of St. Lucia’s rainforest and wildlife including the endangered Jacquot Parrot. Aside from the trees, animals and plants that you will see brace yourself for a spectacular view of flowers in their full bloom among the giant trees. Expect also that this tour will be fully guided by a naturalist that is willing to answer all your questions about the tour and give you new insights.

St. Lucia earned and is still earning good reputation when it comes to spectacular bird life. Several bird watching tours are offered in different bird watching sites. It is assumed that bird spotting is such a relaxing vacation option with the essence of learning a lot about wildlife. Besides, it would be fun if you’ll start developing your love for these flying forms of life which will definitely sustain your hunger for peaceful adventure.

St. Lucia Overview

The country is a relatively small country but the goodness of nature overflows despite such its size. This is an awesome place where the tropical and lush jungle intercedes with the ocean. On its west is the Atlantic Ocean and on the east is the Caribbean. It can be considered as an island with perfect views—consisting of its world-class Pitons that stand about 2,000 feet; the view of the coastlines that wonderfully margin the island; and the inland rainforests composed of flora and fauna at their best.

St. Lucia as a Bird Sanctuary

It is considered that the whole island of St. Lucia is a bird sanctuary. In fact, when we talk of bird watching, the country can never be out of the list. Several endemic birds flew over the skies, and what’s good about bird encounters here is that you’ll not see them on cages, but you yourself will see them on their natural habitat which is the forest.

What ecotourism parks offer bird watching?  I have to make two suggestions. First is the Rainforest Adventures that provide tours starting early in the morning to assure best sightings. One nature interpreter for every eight tourists is provided to be with you all the way that can help you make the most of your tour. There are five endemic species of birds that you might encounter; not to mention the St. Lucia’s national symbol, the Amazona Versicolor and all the others including St. Lucia Oriole, Banana Quit, Pewee, and Hummingbird. Wearing hiking shoes are compulsory and the tour does not allow children below 12 years of age, pregnant women, and those with back and neck injuries.

Second is the Millet Trail which offers a sight for over thirty species of birds. Five endemic species include the St. Lucia Parrot, St. Lucia Pewee, St. Lucia Oriole, St. Lucia Warbler, and the St. Lucia Black Finch. Allotted time for the tour is four hours minimum for you to make the most of your sightings. Again, you will be accompanied with experienced tour guides and booking for your tour is expected to be made 24 hours earlier.

Image credit: capmaison.com

With the exceptional beauty of Rainforest Adventures St. Lucia, there are many great attractions and places to discover in St. Lucia where you can find a topography and ecology matched with the stunning beauty of natural resources and its environment. The Island’s protected coastal sights including the breathtaking, remarkable spires of Les Pitons. Lots of nature hikes, programs and tours have been arranged to showcase these peerless assets, allowing the visitors to enjoy the sites without harming its complex and exquisite environment.

The Pitons. They are usually located near Soufrière, surmounting 2,000 feet.  They are primitive twin peaks and St. Lucia’s famous landmark. Its mounting summit is very challenging and only the fearless climbers have ventured up to the summit.

National Rain Forest. Its rainforest is perfect to nature lovers and bird watchers. With its 19,000 acres of rich mountains and valleys, it’s a home to giant ferns, birds of paradise and various native species of trees, exotic flowers and fruits. The rare and beautiful birds like White Breasted Thrasher, St. Lucia Peewee, St. Lucia Oriole and the brightly colored St. Lucia Parrot locally known as “jacqout” inhabit in this forest.

Sulphur Springs. Currently dormant, an enormous crater where boiling black water sprays hydrogen sulfide into the air of St. Lucia, the world’s only drive-in volcano the Sulphur Springs. It is located in the southwestern side of the island, near Soufriere. The road runs up to the crater of Soufriere Volcano.

Mt. Gimie. Is the tallest mountain on the island of St. Lucia. The mountain’s peak reaches 3,117 feet tall. It is of volcanic origin and is covered by lush tropical rainforest. Its peak offers one of the most breathtaking views.

Diamond Falls. The main attraction in the Botanical Garden because of its invigorating shower under the cascading waters is still a refreshing break. The French King Louis XVI had bathhouses built for his troops at the natural, mineral-rich Diamond Falls.

Latille Gardens.  These lush grounds, filled with blooming flowers, fruit trees, and herb gardens are so tranquil you’ll never want to leave. This is one of St. Lucia’s hidden treasures filled with shading trees and vibrant waterfalls. Latille Garden is situated just off the east coast of St. Lucia. No one can miss a walk on the waterfall trails or a relaxing night under the moon and stars, amidst the scent of healthy vegetation.

Wildlife. The coast of Fort Vieux lies two small islands called the Maria Islands. The two islands are a nature reserve and a home of two species that are not found anywhere else in the world. Marked as the rarest snake- The Kouwes Snake and the Zandoli Te, a ground lizard, where the male carries a brilliant blue tail. The Fregate Island is a paradise for fregate birds during mating season.       

Image credits: nationalparks

Are we talking about this usual topic again? Yes. Before we even forgot it, it is indeed important to remind ourselves of the so many benefits that rainforests give us. 

Natural rainforests sustain all forms of life on earth. May it be plant life, animal life, and most importantly, humans, almost all forms of life in the world are all supported by forests for survival. This might be a very common issue to talk about, but I think it would be very relevant to us to reiterate the selfless contributions that we are getting; especially now that it almost seems that we are taking this all for granted.

High-quality timber. High quality of woods generally found in tropical rainforest because their trees do not contain “tree rings.” The tree rings do not occur because the tropics do not have four seasons. This gives a smoother look to product trees such as the dipterocarps in Kalimantan’s tropical rainforest make high quality timber, which create a lot of money when sold overseas.

Land for plantations. One of the world’s biggest producer of palm oil is Indonesia. Palm oil plantations stretch as far as 31,640 square kilometers in the island, and it has grown 300% since the year 2000. It is a booming industry, and cutting down the rainforest gives more room for even bigger palm oil plantations.

Fuelwood.  Gathering wood and lighting it up for energy is still use this method in more than half of the population in Kalimantan, because they are still uncivilized in the sense that they used fuelwood for their cooking and heating. And they have an easy access to the woods they need because rainforest are within their reach.

Flood control. Rainforest can provide a buffer to its surroundings from natural disasters such as flooding. The roots can store some of the water that reaches the soil while the leaves on the trees can collect rain water to slow its process from reaching the ground.  

Agriculture. The farmers make use of the previously mentioned slash-and-burn technique for subsistence agriculture, and the big companies clear large areas of rainforest to plant palm oil plantations for commercial agriculture.

Land for settlement. The move from rural to urban areas has increased the need to further expand communities into the forests. This creates the need for more cities that need more land.

Tourism. Tourism is a big part of some economy. The rainforest play the role as a beautiful environment for tourists. National parks can be visited, which contains orangutans which roaming around the rainforest freely. It becomes a place that offers a unique experience to get in touch with the Mother Nature.  

Fresh air. With an abundance of trees from the rainforest it’s a perfect place where people can breathe fresh air. There is such a high number of vegetation in the forest that contribute the air to become very clean and even healthy to breathe in.

Image credits: blog.farmusa.org

St. Lucia is blessed with richness of skies due to wide variation of avifauna. It is a good place for St. Lucia bird watching and nature’s lover paradise because of its 117 bird species, 6 being endemic to the island: the St. Lucia Parrot, St. Lucia Pewee, St. Lucia Warbler, St. Lucia Black Finch, St. Lucia Oriole, and St. Lucia Wren.

St. Lucia Parrot. Also known as Jacqout, is found only in the Island of St. Lucia in the Eastern Caribbean. In order to the other members of the parrot family, its feathers are usually green, with rainbow-colored of bright red and blue on the edges of its wing. It has also a touch of dark red on its chest and light blue on the top the head. Although these parrots are over foot long and has multi-colored feathers they are hard to spot in the forest canopy where they live. Perhaps its one of the most colorful of the entire species of the Amazon parrots. And it is one of the largest birds in St. Lucia.

Unfortunately for this beautiful, unique species, a combination of human traits and nature place their long-term survival is in danger. Actually it is the best known St. Lucian endemic bird species. A few years ago, the St. Lucian Parrot is in danger of becoming extinct because of deforestation of St. Lucia rainforest and uncontrolled hunting, which decreases the parrot populations. Now, there are about 800+/-25 living in rainforest.  

St. Lucia Pewee. It is commonly known as Gobe-Mouche or Pin Kaka, with dark-olive brown upperparts and reddish-brown under parts. The adult Pewee grows about 15 cm in length. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. Pewee is a kind of timid bird that is usually seen in openings in the forest understory where they sally for insects. Its calling sound is a rising pree-e-e and a high-pitched peet-peet-peet. The pewee nest is a cup-shaped nest made of leaves and moss placed on a branch. The female pewee lays two dark cream-colored eggs, heavily spotted with brown. The usual breeding season is May and June. St Lucia Pewee is full endemic because they were considered races of Lesser Antillean Pewee. Despite of genetic and morphological differences have caused ornithologists to assign full species status to both pewees.

St. Lucia Warbler. Is a species of bird in the Parulidae Family. Its local names are Chic-chic and Sequia Ba bad. It can be recognized by its bluish-grey upperparts; yellow throat and breast; yellow eyebrow stripe; and black crescent below the eye. Their voice delivers a loud trill, changing in pitch and speed. It is found in all forest types and at all altitudes. They forage energetically, collects insects and spiders from leaves and twigs. The St. Lucia Warbler resides in western and eastern coasts of St. Lucia. And this is one of the two St. Lucian endemic warblers.

St. Lucia Black Finch. Commonly called Moisson Pied-blanc, black or brown finch with heavy, black bill. The female can be recognized because of its grey head above and buffy below. The male black finch does not have a patch of red on its throat like the female one. But both of them have pink legs and they bob their tails vertically. The vocalization is a buzz tick-zwee-swisiwis you with the accents on the second and last notes. It grows from 13-14 cm tall with a breeding season from November to June.

St. Lucia Oriole. Also known as Carouge, which grows about 20-22 cm length. Commonly found in woodlands including dry and moist forest. The adult is black except for the lower back, rump, shoulder and lower belly which are rich orange or yellow orange. The womanly is similar to the male, but orange-yellow is duller; the immature is mostly greenish with a blackish throat. The nest is a well-made basket woven of grass and fiber. Their breeding season is from April to July. And it is endemic because of natural calamities like hurricanes, pest and diseases, aerial application of agricultural pesticides, deforestation and hunting.

St. Lucia Wren. The St. Lucia Wren locally known as Rossignol a small, active brown bird with black bars on its wings and tail, an indistinct pale stripe above the eye with a relatively large head. It is 11.5-13 cm length. The breeding season is May to August. The female lays two to six whitish eggs, heavily speckled brownish-red. It is considered as endemic because the wren is threatened by the loss of its forest habitat.

Image credit:
www.wvbirder.org
ibc.lynxeds.com
birdseen.co.uk
charliesbirdblog.com

The first inhabitants of St. Lucia, or the Arawaks, first named the country as Iouanalao meaning the ‘Land of the Iguana’. Tracing back to that time, we can say that species of the St. Lucian green Iguana is so rampant to the island making it an emblem to represent the area. One important thing about the importance of this Green Iguana on St. Lucia is that this is their largest land mammal and is found on no other island. 

At the present time, sadly, this Iguana is a rare spot to the island and even the local people know little about this animal that once dominate their country. There are several threats including human activities and predation that leads to its dredging condition right now and those will be discussed in the later part of this article.

An Interesting Specie

Scientists classified the St. Lucian Iguana as a species of a Green Iguana having the scientific name Iguana iguana. This is a wild type of green iguana and is locally known as ‘Iyanola’. Scientists concluded that this rare Iguana is unique specie among the family of lizards, and is only found on the island along the North East coast. Adults are light green in color with black stripes. Adult males possess a dewlap—a piece of black skin hanging in their necks that are used to attract females when inflated. Also, the St. Lucian Green Iguanas tackle their opponents using their long, hard tail.

Bearing the title of being the largest land mammal in St. Lucia, the green iguana can grow up to six feet long. What’s interesting is that they are also excellent swimmers! No doubt, they might have been very adapted to the environment for it was studied that they have been here even before we existed; more or less half a million years. 

Threats to St. Lucian Green Iguana

Just like other threatened species in the world, the St. Lucian Green Iguana is on a serious fight for survival. There are animal hunters in St. Lucia that still hunt iguanas for food. Though this activity is not widely practice in the island, still it is considered to be a great threat to their number. Another factor considered to have caused iguanas’ decreasing population is predation. Dogs are the only animal in St. Lucia that kills adult iguanas. Cats are also killing young and newly hatched iguanas. 

Beaches are of great importance to iguanas for they lay and nest their eggs there. Sand mining in St. Lucia also accounts for a great loss in their number; not just for Green Iguanas but for turtles as well. 

Image credit: http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/

Aside from the very famous Panama Canal, Bocas del Toro and all the other tourist attractions you know in Panama, there’s still one needed to be recognized—the Azuero Peninsula. One great thing about the country of Panama is that it has all the stuffs needed to suit everyone’s taste from all walks of life. 

The Cultural Heartland of Panama

Azuero peninsula long holds the name of being the cradle of traditional customs and folklores in Panama, probably due to its historical importance. This region was among the first parts in Panama to be inhabited by settlers about 10,000 years ago. Moreover, the northern part of the region was first cultivated even before the Spaniards came in the area.

Azuero Peninsula has two seasons- wet and dry. But the only difference from the other Panamanian regions, it has a dryer climate very suitable for beach activities which it is known for. The area has endless beach walks and coasts; in fact, the western part of which is among the favorite sunset viewing areas in the world. Surely, you’ll not just love the view and the landscape of Azuero, because it also hosts over 40 of celebrated festivals and folklore events every year. Imagine having that number of celebrations in a year! You’ll definitely love and embrace the traditional customs in Panama through the Azuero Peninsula.

Actually, the area is divided into two regions: the Eastern and Western Azuero. In Eastern Azuero Peninsula, baseball is a very famous activity and is also the center of attraction during their carnival. Here you can also find the town of Pedasi, a Spanish colonial town known for its plazas and creatively painted homes. On the other hand, the Western Azuero Peninsula boasts not only its sunset view, but also farming, cattle ranching and of course, beaches. The Western area is just opening up for development. If you prefer living in a developed area surrounded by meny happy and friendly people, the Eastern side has it all for you. But if you like a quiet area far from the noise of plenty of people, you’re suited for the Western side.

The hospitality of the people of Azuero will definitely keep you coming back. Anyway, the place alone—along with its pristine, long beaches, wonderful landscape, traditional festivals and first class amenities are enough to place Azuero Peninsula on your list for a perfect vacation and retirement refuge.

Image credit: http://www.buyingrealestateinpanama.com/

It is not hidden among us that our natural rainforests all over the world are in to destruction on an alarming rate. Studies showed that if this condition continues up to hundred years from now, there is a great possibility that we will no longer see any natural rainforest existing. Probably that time we have to change all the maps and globes we have, deleting all green parts of the world that are once covered with rainforests.

In America, only just a three percent of their rainforests remain. Statistics showed that about thirty acres of trees are being cut down in just a single minute. Just imagine how miserable the conditions of rainforests are. And, to think that half of animal species in the world live in rainforests, the continual destruction of their habitats is causing them to be critically endangered. 

What accounts to forest degradation?

Probably the first suspect that came to your mind is illegal logging—or the unauthorized cutting down of trees either to be used as a raw material or just to clear the area to be transformed into other purposes. We might also exempt ourselves from being held responsible for deforestation, but one hurting truth is that the primary reason for cutting trees is for human consumption and money matters. To sum it up, we humans, together with our necessities account for great deforestation. We need livelihood to survive, that’s why we clear off rainforests to give way for our agriculture business. We need houses, furniture, paper, gum and palm oil—all these products require cut trees as a raw material.

So what are the impacts of deforestation?

This topic might sound very familiar, but see how it will affect you. Let’s look at the major impacts of deforestation to our present lives:

Climate. Rainforests are considered to be carbon sinks; they are responsible for absorbing carbon into the air that accounts greatly to climate. If more and more trees will be thrown down, it was estimated that by the year 2100, about 87-130 billion tons of carbon will be released into our atmosphere.

Natural Disasters. Trees are held greatly responsible for the balance in our ecosystem. They are the ones to absorb rainwater and turn it back to the atmosphere through evaporation. When trees continue to be cut down, we are into great danger when it rains. There are no more roots to hold the soil in place and absorb impact from rushing waters.

Biodiversity. The most diverse and special species of animals and plants are contained in tropical rainforests. When these are completely gone, what will remain are just the common plants and animals we see in around. What’s more threatening is that, the chance to discover more unnamed species is gone.

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Among the other Caribbean islands, St. Lucia is known for its mountain ranges the most popular of it are probably the Pitons. Actually, mentioning the name St. Lucia will definitely be followed by mentioning the Pitons, being the country’s number one landmark. In fact, these are considered to be the most loved subject of photographers that visited in St. Lucia due to its dramatic, scenic view.

But what does a Piton mean? The Pitons we’re mentioning here are the volcanic twin peaks located in a World Heritage Site in St. Lucia. These are two volcanic spires springing up from the side of the sea. Geologists believe that the Pitons are contained in a volcanic center called the Soufriere Volcanic Center which is a remnant of a collapsed volcano.  The larger of the two is called the Gros Piton and the other one is the Petit Piton.

The twin peaks are not just subjects for photographs but they are also a great place for mountain climbers and hikers in St. Lucia. It is a popular climbing destination and the 786 meter summit (of the Gros Piton) will definitely provide anyone with a breath-taking view of the sea and the coastline.

The Gros Piton

The taller Piton, standing 2619 feet in height is the second highest peak in St. Lucia next to Mount Gimie. Among the two Pitons, this is the most accessible by foot with established tour hikes. Furthermore, the hike through this Piton does not require any professional training and special skills; anyone can actually hike. Hiking up the peak will take you about two hours and several interesting stuffs will be encountered along the way. There are rich vegetations and woodlands, and historical sites composed of caves, tunnels, camps, landing sites and shelters used by freedom fighters in the slave rebellion in 1748. During the hike, expect also some tropical birds that will meet you along the way.

Nothing to worry about your safety for professional hikers will accompany you all throughout. As you approach the peak, you’ll get to view St. Lucia from two viewpoints: one on the Southern part of the island and the Northern end on the other with the view of Petit Piton. 

Petit Piton

The smaller Piton, located north of the Gros Piton stands 2,461 feet. The Petit is steeper and definitely harder to climb than the other. There are also no established hike tours to guide you along the way but there are locals that know the route and will serve the hikers well. The summit is a smaller area, but it offers a better view of St. Lucia and the Piton Bay.

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St. Lucia is just a small island with mountainous landscapes and rainforests in it. But the island activities it has to offer cannot be measured by its size. With its 19, 000 acres of rainforest, you can’t just limit yourself on the box but try to experience every activity it provides. 

St. Lucia’s rainforest is known to be a good spot for finding rare plants and animals. This is one of the few places where you can feel nature’s power everywhere you focus your eye. The trees that cover you from sunlight and the flowering plants that scent the air combined with the different buzz of animals around will definitely attract you from going back over and over. With all the wonders St. Lucia’s rainforest now has, no one can ever think that this was once thought to be inhabited by evil spirits. This folklore started by the Arawak Tribe 2,000 years ago has been the reason why the rainforests have maintained their beauty up to this moment. 

As mentioned, due to large portion of rainforests in St. Lucia, walking and hiking tours have been established. Here are some of the popular trails in St. Lucia:

Barre De L’isle Trail

The name comes from the fact that this trail serves as a ridge that divides St. Lucia into two halves. This is a one mile trail and it takes an hour to walk on this trail. As you walk through this trail, you will be amazed by how it is able to provide you a viewpoint of St. Lucia from four points. At one point you will see the Caribbean Sea, on the other there’s Fond d’Or beach and from the other side you can see Mount Gimie. 

Edmund Forest Reserve Trail

As the name implies, this trail directs you to Edmund Forest Reserve on the Western part of St. Lucia. Walking on this trail will take you three and a half hours but as you approach the heart of the island, you’ll get the chance to enjoy nature at its best with all the bromeliads and ferns on the side. It passes through a place accented by tall and mature trees surrounded by ferns. As you get to approach its West side, there you will see Mount Gimie, the highest mountain on St. Lucia.

Des Cartiers Rainforest

This trail goes through the Quilesse Forest Reserve and will provide you the opportunity to see the rare St. Lucian parrot and all the other species of birds. Trekking throughout the rainforest provides a breath-taking view of a lush rainforest and a glimpse of its endemic wildlife.

Image credit: http://www.geocities.ws

St. Lucia was originally known to its first inhabitants as being the ‘Land of the Iguana’, the island Lounalao. Due to its native largest land mammal, the St. Lucia Iguana, the animal really became an emblem to represent the island. This iguana is found in no other place in the world, except in St. Lucia.

One amazing thing about these large reptiles is that their DNA represents that they lived on the island about one and a half million years ago, even long before humans inhabited the area. This also proves that this specie is different among the other green iguanas native on the island. 

The St. Lucian Iguana cannot be found on all parts of the island, but usually, they inhabit the areas on the North East coast. The name ‘Lounalao’ given to St. Lucia before showed that Iguanas were present almost on all parts of the island with great abundance. But unfortunately, in the present times, the St. Lucian Iguana faces great threat to its survival. A survey made in St. Lucia in 2002 showed that based on the hatchlings found, there can only be a hundred, not more than one thousand still living in the area. This finding is alarming; knowing that several factors done up to this day account for continual decrease of St. Lucian Iguanas. 

 Major Dangers

Not just only human practices account for gradual degradation of Iguanas. But hunting is found to be a relevant factor for such situation. There are practices in the island where hunters have their eye on these lizards. On the other hand, other animal predators also cause this problem. Dogs and cats are known to kill adult and even baby iguanas. Note also that sand beaches are important for breeding grounds for iguanas, but at present, due to sand mining, hatching and breeding becomes nearly impossible. 

Conservation Efforts

The government of St. Lucia, especially the Forestry Department has its eye on protecting the remaining number of Iguanas in the island. They are working on information dissemination to communities telling them how their everyday activities affect the environment and the Iguanas of course. The department also provides alternatives to people on how to lessen the effects on the animal. The last frontier for the Iguanas, the North East coast is still under the protection of the government against habitat destruction and hunting. 

The people of St. Lucia must work hand in hand to preserve their natural treasure – the St. Lucian Iguana to which their first country name ‘Lounalao’ was derived. It is important for future generations to see a proof on themselves the real picture of an Iguana, to which the nation first stands. 

Photo credits to: http://www.yomagazine.net

For the island that defines it all when it comes to white sand beaches and some other attractions; it has never been easy to plan your trip here especially that there are so many spots and activities to try. You might think that time spent visiting the whole place will just take a while, but it’s not. It might have been a small island with just more than 200 square miles, but it takes days to fully enjoy your trip in trying all the stuffs it has to offer.  

For first time excursionists in St. Lucia, it is very important for you guys to know the place personally before visiting it. It will be even more fun if those attractions you see on pictures on the internet will soon be true in front of your eyes. Here we have listed basic facts about St. Lucia for you to be familiarized with.

Weather conditions vary across St. Lucia. There’s nothing to worry about whether you want a hotter or a cooler temperature because you can find them both in varying places in the country at the same time. For example, closer to the island in the rainforests, you can experience hot and humid climate. However, if you want a breeze of the sea to accompany you throughout the day, stay at the coastlines and you will feel very welcomed.

Deciding where to stay will depend on your personal taste. There are different hotel room accommodations in the island that will suit your lifestyle. If you want lying out while drinking cocktails and just enjoying the place, a hotel property in the North will be perfect for you. The Northern side of St. Lucia is larger in population and is a site for the famous duty free shopping. Aside from that, this is where the ports are found. On the other hand, the Southern part offers you a scenic view of its natural attractions like the famous Pitons. This is more rural and typically mountainous perfect for adventurous type of trips.

Try a water taxi for a different perspective in getting around. Isn’t it amazing to try wandering off the island with the rushes of the water and the wind on your hair? Since St. Lucia is bound with many beach resorts, it will be fun if you’ll enjoy this part of the island more while learning from the tour guides.

St. Lucia is not just blessed with white sand beaches; black sand beaches as well. Out of the ordinary, right? Well, believe with your eyes. The stunning black sand beaches are made of volcanic sands combined with white sand, that line the shores. Anse Couchon is one of the places to witness this rare scenery.

Nothing compares than a canopy trip and seeing the world at the topmost view while you are gliding above trees – travelling from each platform to another and being one with all the goodness of nature. St. Lucia offers adventurers a thrilling experience of a lifetime while enjoying the best aerial view of its diverse rainforest.

Before stepping off for a zip line adventure, be reminded of some considerations:

Zip lining is not recommended for pregnant women and physically-challenged individuals. Zip lining facilities are not that appropriate and adapted to people having limited capabilities most especially to pregnant mothers. This activity requires a lot of courage and tension that’s why it is restricted to persons concerned.

Zip lining is not recommended for people with respiratory or heart problems. As mentioned, this kind of rush-driven activity causes great pressure and nervousness to people who are trying it. It is strictly avoided that incidents of heart attack or difficulty with breathing be experienced while the zip line is running.

Aside from the above mentioned reminders, be sure to bring also with you trip necessities. First on the list is a pair of sneakers, because zip lining is preceded with a lot of trail walks and trekking; bring also cash for emergencies (though most zip line tours are paid beforehand); bring a bottle for sunscreen to protect you from sunburn and lastly, bring a camera to keep a record of your adventure.

The Trip Proper

Most of zip line tours and packages in St. Lucia are started with an aerial tram tour around the rainforest before approaching the cable site. Nothing to worry about things that you need to know for you will be accompanied by a local guide provided by your chosen tour company. Often, the guides will not let you experience a single glide only; in fact there are tour packages that offer 10 to 12 series of zip lining. After that, some packages offer gondola ride and a rainforest hike to give you a bird’s eye view of St. Lucia’s wildlife not to mention the sighting of the endangered jacquot parrot. There are also some that offers return trip to the terminal where you came from or to your hotel.

Don’t miss this experience to become a hero and grab the chance to fly even without wings. But no matter how high the surface of the Earth you glide on, always remember to bring your feet to the solid ground. Happiness due to experiences become real only if it is shared.

St. Lucian fer de lance comes in different names though pertains to the same animal only, St. Lucia lancehead or St. Lucia Pit Viper. It is a species of venomous snake found only in the West Indies. Fer de lance is one of the five species of snakes found in the island.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CHARACTERISTICS

Bothrops caribbaeus can grow up to seven feet in total length. They are characterized by a sharp rostrum and an unelevated snout. The color varies from gray to gray-brown, with an irregular stripe on the temporal part of the head. They also have gray and brown markings on the mid-dorsal part that fade towards the sides. Their underside is always very pale yellow. The large triangular head contains poison glands. They live primarily on coastal areas and are rarely seen on places elevated above 600 feet. 

Most of the species are nocturnal, meaning they are commonly seen active during the night, but some are found active during the day on higher altitudes. They are terrestrial, though they are able to climb trees. 

This snake’s population generally showed a relative decline in population over the last fifty years and at present, they can only be found on two portions on the island. Decline in population is primarily due to the attitude of locals in the island to exterminate it due to its dangerous venom. Typical symptoms of this snake’s envenomation include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, bleeding of nose and gums, swelling of the bitten extremity, and burning pain. There can also be discoloration on the bite site and rashes may develop. 

One of the saddling news about the serpents’ (as the locals call it) current situation is that majority of St. Lucia’s wildlife is under the protection of Saint Lucia Wildlife Protection Act of 1980 while fer de lance is not.

Well, it might have been a requirement for tropical islands, St. Lucia for example, to have richly diverse rainforests to boast about. Having a 19, 000 acres of rainforest is more than enough to thank nature for being such a gift of divine providence.

St. Lucia’s rainforest is a protected area as a habitat for exotic birds and array of animals and plants. None may even think that this overpowering forest is once feared of by locals due to folklores that associated the place with evil spirits. Probably this incidence paved the way for St. Lucia’s forest to remain well-preserved up to this moment.

As mentioned earlier, St. Lucia seemed to be well-gifted when it comes to forestry; in addition to this, the island also offers 29 miles of trails that travelers can enjoy upon visit. Speaking of trails, there are a variety of trails that nature adventurers can try:

JACQUOT TRAIL HIKE

Named after St. Lucia’s symbol, the Jacquot or Amazona Versicolor Parrot, this trail will definitely give hikers a deeper way of perceiving nature. An experienced Nature Interpreter will guide you along the way as you acquire new learning about St. Lucia’s wildlife. Learn also how forests are considered as essential part of St. Lucian life.

EDMUND FOREST RESERVE

Hike on this trail will take you about three to four hours. Take a tour on the western side and you’ll approach the Edmund Forest Reserve and get into an experience of nature at its best. Not only that, you’ll also get a long time view of the Caribbean Sea and emerging from a distance is Mt. Gimie, highest mountain of St. Lucia that will surely fill your eyes with wonder.

BARRE DE L’ISLE TRAIL

This trail is a ridge that divides St. Lucia into Eastern and Western side. This is about one mile and will take you about an hour to hike and an hour to climb a bridge. Once on top, you’ll get a panoramic view of St. Lucia from four points: one is the view of Mt. Gimie, blu green rainforest,  Cul-de-Sac valley and the Caribbean Sea on the west,  and the Mabouya Valley on the east.

DES CARTIERS RAINFOREST

This is 2.5 mile trail that will provide you a great possibility of spotting rare birds and the St. Lucian parrot. Hiking will take you six to seven hours of strenuous but exciting experience. Take a tour and get the chance of seeing the verdant wonderful St. Lucian rainforest.

Friday night is definitely the best time to bring yourself out for a party. St. Lucia offers one of the best night parties and events. The Friday night “jump up” in the Gros Islet village has subsequently become a legend. It was a local event, but foreigners are invited to join and dance with the locals. All with the high-volume sound systems, the night out party continues ‘til the morning. Feel and smell the smoke of barbeque while dancing your hearts out on a night party.

History provides no clear record on how St. Lucia was discovered; even the presumed view about Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the country has long been disapproved. Despite this, it has been believed by many that St. Lucia was discovered on December 13, 1502. As a proof, the country celebrates its “National Day” every December 13. This belief roots from an old French tradition that the island was first landed upon by a shipwrecked French seamen on December 13 then named it in honor to the Virgin Martyr of Syracuse. However, Spain claims that they are the ones to discover the island but refuse to give an exact date of their landing.

Probably one of the most supported theories on the history of St. Lucia is the settlement of the Arawaks between 1000 to 500 B.C. Archeological remains proved this claim. There was this time when St. Lucia belongs to the list of the grant territories to Earl of Carlisle, but made effortless commands to colonize this island. It was in 1638 that Captain Judlee settled on St. Lucia with 300 men. From then, the relationship between his troop and the natives grew and there was no dispute at all. But after some time of peace came the moment of trial when the Caribs returned and took a revenge on Judlee. This caused the British to take over the island for two decades.

For the next decades, the claim on St. Lucia was fought over by two opposing countries – Britain and France. Until 1814, with the provisions on the Treaty of Paris, possession was given to the British. This 150-year dispute on the ownership of St. Lucia is the reason why the country changed its national flag fourteen times.

On January 1, 1960, a Constitution was established and the island was being administered as an in dependent unit with its Administrator, Chief Minister, four other Ministers and an Attorney General.

St. Lucia has long been colonized alternately by two nations, that’s why it’s been real hard for them to establish their own customs. It was in 1842 when English became the national language of St. Lucia in place of French. Finally, full independence was reached by St. Lucia on February 2, 1979 being a member of the Commonwealth. Until now, the island is striving hard to attain political stability and economic prosperity.