St. Lucia

Saint Lucia is an island republic in the West Indies located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, near the Atlantic Ocean. The island was once known as Iyonola, a name given to it by the local Arawaks, and then Hewanorra, a name given to it by the native Caribs, two distinct Amerindian peoples. It is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados, and south of Martinique, and is part of the Windward Islands in the Lesser Antilles. It has a surface area of 617 km2 (238 square miles) and a population of 165,595 according to the 2010 census. Castries, the present capital of St. Lucia, is the largest city, and Soufrière, the first French colonial capital on the island, is the second largest.

Unspoiled, lush St. Lucia's fan base is expanding. Some of its visitors are music fans who enjoy the springtime St. Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, while others are adrenaline-seekers who push their boundaries by climbing The Pitons or zip-lining through the Chassin region's rain forest. Others are honeymooners relaxing on one of the island's chalky beaches or hunkering down in one of the island's remote resorts.

But what if you're not in any of these categories? Don't worry: St. Lucia refuses to be classified as a certain style of Caribbean holiday. Furthermore, you do not need to invest a lot of money (its reputation as a luxurious hideout is only somewhat warranted). You'll have to visit experience some of the island's ineffable beauties. Begin your mornings with an orange-tinted Soufrière sunrise, and end your evenings with a "jump-up" (or dance party) along Gros Islet.