St. Lucia is known as the Helen of the West Indies as it has always been as captivating to visitors as Helen was to Troy. St. Lucia combines many desirable qualities found on islands throughout the Lesser Antilles: It has majestic volcanic scenery carpeted in lush rainforest; the amazing Pitons rise like giant sentinels from the sea to over 2000 feet; excellent white sand beaches nestle within idyllic natural harbours. The people of St. Lucia are of mixed African, European and, to a lesser extent, Amerindian origin and you will find this delightfully apparent in the faces you will see. Local culture is reflected in the vibrant French Caribbean rhythms of Zouk and Cadence (pronounced 'k'dance'), the widely spoken Patios language and the distinctive Creole cuisine - inventive, spicy and always colourful.

St. Lucia's hotels range from the outstandingly luxurious to the comfortably affordable. St. Lucia is also popular with visiting yachtsmen as it has excellent mooring facilities and the nearby islands beautifully adorn the scenery when out cruising. Last, but not least, is the increasingly popular St. Lucia Jazz Festival which is held in May every year. It attracts top acts from around the world and the venues, especially the one on Pigeon Island National Landmark, is as good as it gets. In terms of sporting activities there is plenty to do from tennis to the adrenalin-inducing Ultimately St. Lucia is stunningly beautiful; nature lovers, sunseekers or those just wishing to unwind will quickly appreciate why the island is affectionately known as the Helen of the West Indies.