LA VERSION COMPLETE DE VOTRE GUIDE BEST OF SAINTE-LUCIE / GRENADINE en numérique ou en papier en 3 clics. à partir de 3.99.

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2 LA VERSION COMPLETE DE VOTRE GUIDE BEST OF SAINTE-LUCIE / GRENADINE 2017 en numérique ou en papier en 3 clics à partir de 3.99 Disponible sur

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6 3 Soufrière. JOHNNYMAD ISTOCKPHOTO

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13 10 Marigot Bay. JC DUSANTER

14 PLAN YOUR TRIP 11 witinerary 1: West coast to Soufrière Leave the hotel at 9 am to drive through Castries, the capital. Visit the market, the cathedral and Derek Walcott square. Then head to the south and stop at Marigot bay view point to admire the billionaire bay. Stop at the distillery and visit the factory of the rhum process. Free rhum tasting. Continue to the lovely fishing village of Anse-La-Raye for a 30 minutes stop. You will enjoy the waterfront market with souvenirs and watch the fishermen cleaning fresh fish on the dock. Then continue to Soufrière passing the village of Canaries. You can stop in Canaries to try the local bread in the island famous bakery. Arrived in Soufrière after 20 minutes driving from Canaries, you will be stunned by the beauty of the majestic Pitons. Visit the Caribbean only drive-in volcano, swim in the mud bath, visit the museum. Then explore the diamond botanical garden. For lunch, you will find affordable restaurants at the waterfront of Soufrière. Yet still, you need to see Morne Coubaril estate, very interesting former plantation with the cacao house, the carib village, the copra oven. Each attraction will charge you a small fee. witinerary 2: East coast to Vieux Fort Leave the hotel for 9 am and head to Castries. Visit the market, the cathedral and the Derek Walcott square. Continue on the millenium highway to Dennery. Drive through the Mabouya valley and stop at the historic park of Fond d or bay. Continue to the main road, stop by Praslin bay and ask a fisherman to take you to Praslin island where lives the endemic species of whiptail lizard. In the same area on the inland part, you have the beautiful Mamiku gardens. Continue to micoud and to Latille waterfalls to take a cool bath then continue to Vieux Fort and drive up to Moule a Chique to enjoy the panoramic view of the South of Saint Lucia and if the sky is clear you will see Saint Vincent island. 7 days trip is a good idea to deal with the jet lag if you come from Europe. indeed there are 6 hours difference with the European continent. You could split your time between the North and the South of the island. Three days to discover the North and the remaining time for the South. Do not forget to include at least one night at Gros Islet, Anse-La-Raye or Dennery to take part in the street party or fish fry, it is a must! wday 1: Arrival at your hotel, take your marks and relax, you are on vacation! wday 2: Begin with the village of Rodney Bay where you find the most famous beach on island, Reduit beach! shop in the duty-free mall and sample local dish. wday 3: Visit the national park of Pigeon island, you eat at the famous Jambe de bois restaurant named after a French pirate who was established at Pigeon island in the 17th century. Swim on the sandy beach and hike to the Fort Rodney for an unforgettable view of the island of Martinique as well as the view of the Northern tip of Saint Lucia. wday 4: On route for the South, it is advised to leave your hotel for 9 am and head to Soufrière. Stop at Marigot Bay, drive through the fishing village of Anse-La-Raye and enjoy the waterfront market with local souvenirs. Continue driving through Canaries heading to Soufrière with amazing views of the Caribbean sea, the road seems winding but the scenery definitely worths it! Arriving in the town of Soufrière, visit the Sulphur Springs, the botanical garden, Eat at restaurant Belle view opposite the jetty. If you have time, bathe in Jerusalem waterfalls or ask a fisherman to take you to Sugar beach, a fascinating beach located just between the two Pitons. wday 5: Get ready to experience the East coast to Vieux Fort. Cross Castries and the Barre de l isle forest, amazing drive through the rainforest. Stop at the Dennery viewing point, taste some barbecue chicken and drink a chilled Piton beer. Follow the road to Vieux Fort but stop to Latille waterfalls before at Monrepos. After bathing in the natural waterfall, go to Vieux fort, pass the international airport and stop at Sandy beach, you can have lunch in a relax hangout spot or just enjoy the Atlantic ocean. It a spot for kitesurfers. Before you leave Vieux Fort, you must go to Moule-A-Chique, a lighthouse with panoramic views of the island of Saint Vincent and the flat Southern tip of Saint Lucia. wday 6: I think you deserve a break and sometimes to spend at the central market in Castries. Discover the colorful fruits and vegetables, the fish market, chat with the vendors. Walk around the capital, visit the cathedral, the Derek Walcott square, sample local bread and pastries from the central bakery, eat a local ice cream from the ice cream man trolley. w Day 7: All good things come to an end, it is time to check out and arrange transfers with your local agent or hotel. INVITATION TO TRAVEL

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18 15 Row boat Gros Islet. TOURIST OFFICE BOARD

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22 The whiptail lizard. BRADLEY YOULTON 19

23 20 Diamond Fall. BRADLEY YOULTON

24 Fauna and flora - OVERVIEW OF THE ISLAND 21 The soil profile in the forest shows a thin layer that is not well aerated. Forest soils are not fertile when deforestation is practised, because of the lack of nutrients to be recycled. Saint Lucia tends to be reddish brown soil, which are clayey soils of volcanic origin. The soils are young soils rich in iron. Heavy rainfall causes a high rate of decomposition and thus a high rate of nutrient recycling in the leaf litter. The soils of the interios tend to be acidic, leached and deficient in minerals, especially those on the central ridge and on the Pitons. The topsoil layer tends to be shallow and vulnerable to erosion. In the drier areas of Saint Lucia, lattice clay soils are common. Soils along the coast except near the river mouths stend to be stony, shallow and infertile. Although Saint Lucia is a small island, wildlife is rich with various animal species and especially endemic species of 6 reptiles, 6 birds and one mammal. The island is a delight for birdwatchers where avifauna is very active with 165 species of birds nesting in Saint Lucia. The forestry department along with the Saint Lucia National Trust which is a quasi-governmental organisation are responsible for the conservation of the biodiversity. The island is divided into five birds watching areas as which 70 % is protected: wnorth East: home to the white-breasted thrasher (100 individuals). -Location: From Dennery to Marquis estate, it is an unprotected area privately-owned covered with dryforest, scrub forest and low canopy where three endangered birds nest. Coral reefs are a vital ecosystem for marine wildlife because they provide food and protection for adults and juveniles of numerous marine plants and animal species. It is also an important natural barrier against heavy waves to protect sandy beaches and allow snorkelers and divers to enjoy a beautiful and unique scenery. We all play a part in the protection of the coral reef, so let us all be mindful of what we do. Here is a list of what we should not do: ww Do not touch or remove any plant or animal. ww Do not stand or touch the coral reef. ww Do not harass or intimidate coral reef inhabitants. ww Do not set pots on or near the coral reef. ww Do not anchor on or close by a coral reef. -Birds: White-breasted thrasher, black-finch, nightjar, flycatcher, house wren, red-billed tropicbird, masked duck (only pond in Grande Anse) and 15 restricted-range birds. -Other biodiversity: Endemic boa constrictor, Saint Lucia viper (fer-de-lance), green iguana. *Grande anse beach main nesting site for three threatened turtles species *Louvet beach main nesting ground for iguanas and Saint Lucia muskrat (rat). DISCOVERY OF SAINT LUCIA ATAMU RAHI ICONOTEC Hibiscus brightening an old colonial wooden house.

25 22 OVERVIEW OF THE ISLAND - Fauna and flora There are 13 species of animals endemic to Saint Lucia. Of which, 6 species are birds, 6 are reptiles and 1 is a mammal. ww Birds: 1-Amazona Versicolor/ Saint Lucia parrot. 2-St Lucia blackfinch. 3-Saint Lucia oriole. 4-Semper s warbler. 5-Saint Lucia pewee. 6-Saint Lucia white breasted thrasher. ww Reptiles: 1-Saint Lucia tree lizard/zandoli. 2-Saint Lucia whiptail/sandoli terre. 3-Fer de lance/serpent. 4-Saint Lucia racer/couresse snake. 5-Saint Lucia pygmy gecko/lizard 6-Boa constrictor/snake. ww Mammals: Saint Lucia muskrat/pilowee. wcenter of the island: home to Saint Lucia parrot, the Amazona versicolor (between 800 and 1200 individuals). -Location: from Babonneau to Canaries, Governement forest reserve with no human settlements covers one third of the island with four endangered birds. Tropical rainforest with exotic vegetation. -Birds: Amazona versicolor, Black finch, vulnerable forest thrush, Semper s warbler, 22 restriced-range birds. -Other biodiversity: boa, viper, Saint Lucia anole (lizard), pygmy gecko (lizard). wthe two Pitons: home to the Blackfinch (200 individuals). -Location: the two iconic Pitons protected by Pitons Management Area and Soufrière Marine Management are state-owned. Two resorts, Ladera and Sugar Beach, and two communities Fond gens libre and Chateau belair are within this area. -Birds: Blackfinch, Saint Lucia Oriole, Flycatcher, House wren, Royal tern and 14 restricted-range birds. -Other biodiversity: boa, viper, Saint Lucia anole, pygmy gecko. wmiddle-east coast: home to endangered white-breasted thrasher (1200 individuals, 90%). -Location: Praslin island and Frigate island in Dennery are managed by the Saint Lucia National Trust. Flat coastal area with dry forest, shrubland, mangrove and foothills rising towards the Dennery range. -Birds: white breasted thrasher, Black finch, seasonal Saint Lucia parrot, flycatcher, royal tern, 15 restricted-range birds. -Other biodiversity: boa, viper, Saint Lucia whiptail successfully translocated in 1997 to Praslin island for endemic species conservation. wsouthern tip: home to Sooty tern ( individuals). -Location: Vieux Fort and the coastal line from Savanna bay to Moule-a-chique, dry tropical forest, scrubland, mangroves, wetland, sea. -Birds: seabirds, sooty tern as which bridled tern, roseate tern, royal tern, red-billed tropicbird, waterbirds, neotropical migrants. -Other biodiversity: five reptiles which two are endemics and endangered, living and protecting on Maria islands. The Saint Lucia racer and whiptail lizard. wconservation Species conservation is a real challenge in a touristic destination like Saint Lucia where animals live in harmony in a favourable environment attracting tourism industry. Many other factors threaten Saint Lucia wildlife and its ecosystem. -Weather: dry season is a threat due to fires lit by farmers and others. Hurricanes like Allen in 1980 badly hit Saint Lucia and destroy 80% of the island s forest. Consequences are deforestation, loss and change of habitats.

26 23 Saint Lucia sunset. BRADLEY YOULTON

27 LA VERSION COMPLETE DE VOTRE GUIDE BEST OF SAINTE-LUCIE / GRENADINE 2017 en numérique ou en papier en 3 clics à partir de 3.99 Disponible sur