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Getting from St. Lucia Airport to Castries

Located in the Eastern Caribbean, St. Lucia is a beautiful island nation known for its breathtaking natural scenery and rich cultural heritage. Upon landing at St. Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport, a couple of convenient transportation options are available to reach the island’s capital, Castries. The road distance from St. Lucia Airport to Castries is about 53 km.

For your St. Lucia Airport to Castries transfer, one of the quickest and most convenient options is to take a taxi. A taxi from Hewanorra Airport to Castries costs around €75 (XCD 216) and takes around 1 hour and 10 minutes, depending on traffic conditions. If you are on a budget and have more flexibility with your schedule, there are also public bus services available, at a cost of around €9 (XCD 25), but the drivers operate different routes, make stops in different locations and only leave when their vehicle has filled up, thus they are not as reliable.

Regardless of the mode of transportation chosen, the journey from St. Lucia Airport to Castries is a scenic one, offering travellers stunning views of the island’s lush green landscapes and crystal-clear waters. Whether you choose to take a taxi or a public minibus, the transportation from St. Lucia Airport to your hotel in Castries will be easy and hassle-free, ensuring that your island vacation starts off properly!

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Saint Lucia at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Welcome Pickups €30 70min 24/7
Taxi €75 70min 24/7
Bus €18 120min 08:00–14:00

Taxi from Hewanorra Airport to Castries City Centre

If you’re heading to Castries, the capital of St. Lucia, and prefer comfort and convenience, taking a taxi from Hewanorra Airport to Castries city centre is the best option for you. While it may be more expensive than taking a public bus, the benefits of using a taxi in St. Lucia are always appreciated by travellers.

Taxi services are readily available at the airport, and a private transfer can be pre-booked, giving you more flexibility to discover the island. Using a taxi for your St. Lucia transfer from the airport to your hotel is faster and more convenient compared to the bus, providing you with a door-to-door ride, with 24/7 availability.

Prices for a taxi from St. Lucia Airport to Castries

Taxis in St. Lucia use different methods to calculate their fares but usually consider both the distance travelled and the time spent on the road. The government sets the rates that taxi companies should use, and some taxis have meters that show the fare, while others may have a fixed price for specific destinations and negotiate fares with passengers. Don’t be afraid to ask the driver how the fare is being calculated and to confirm the price before getting into the taxi.

As a general guideline, a taxi from Hewanorra Airport to Castries costs around €75 (XCD 216) for a distance of 53 km and a 1 hour and 10 minutes ride depending on traffic conditions. For the peace of mind a set-rate fee offers, we recommend booking your taxi in advance. That way, you get an on-time pickup guarantee, a personalised door-to-door ride and assurance of the absence of hidden fees seeing as your trip is pre-paid!

Cost

€75

Trip Duration

70 Min.

*Prices may vary unless booked in advance.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Hewanorra International Airport (UVF)

Where do I get a taxi from?

In order to get a taxi from St. Lucia Airport to Castries, you can easily find the taxi rank just outside the main terminal hall. Taxi services at the airport are readily available and operate 24/7. Depending on the season you arrive it might get a bit crowded, and to ensure hassle-free transportation from St. Lucia Airport to your hotel, it is recommended to pre-book your airport taxi service online. This way you can be sure that there will be a local driver waiting when you arrive.

Convenience

Although more expensive than taking the public bus from St. Lucia Airport to Castries city centre, taxis are by far the most convenient option for anyone wishing to travel to their accommodation in a comfortable, spacious, private vehicle.

In comparison with the public transportation options, using a taxi will save you time and effort and also provide you with flexibility if you land or depart at unusual hours. Unlike buses which are crowded, make multiple stops, and don’t always leave on time, a taxi ride from St. Lucia Airport to Castries provides a comfortable, direct and stress-free travel experience.

Editor’s Note

It's always a good idea to ask about the price before you go and make sure to clarify in which currency they're quoting. Keep in mind that cash payments in either USD or XCD are the only accepted forms of payment, so it's best to be prepared!

Useful Tips

Always negotiate the price with the taxi driver before getting into the taxi, especially if you're travelling a long distance.
Unless you pre-book your trip, for safety and security reasons, it's best to use only licensed taxis in St Lucia. All authorised taxis have a light blue number plate with a TX prefix.
Discuss the route with the taxi driver before your journey starts, especially if you're unfamiliar with the area. This will help you avoid getting lost or taken on a longer route than necessary.

Bus from St. Lucia Airport to Castries City Centre

The primary mode of transportation for the locals in St. Lucia is a public minibus. These buses operate on different schedules depending on the route. You can recognise them by their green number plate with an M prefix. As public bus services run on demand, the transportation from St. Lucia Airport to your hotel will entirely depend on the driver’s disposition. Bus routes are usually displayed in the front window, and tourist information desks or hotels can provide more information on the next scheduled departures and exact routes as timetables are not provided.

How much is a bus ticket from St. Lucia Airport to Castries city centre?

Public buses are definitely the cheapest option for those travelling on a tight budget, with a one-way ticket costing around €9 (XCD 25). You can purchase tickets from the driver directly using cash when boarding the bus.

Cost

€9

Trip Duration

120 Min.

There is not a fixed schedule for the buses online.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

*Minibuses run in both directions - to and from St. Lucia to Castries, everyday on demand.

Where do I get the bus from?

To catch a bus from St. Lucia Airport to Castries, you can wait at one of the marked bus stops in Vieux Fort and flag one down when it approaches. The buses operate on various routes, including Castries, Cas en Bas, Dennery, and Soufriere. The bus stops usually have a white banner with the different popular destinations written on them.

Convenience

In terms of convenience, using the bus for your transportation from St. Lucia Airport to your hotel is not the best option; buses usually fill up very quickly and can be a rather stressful transportation option if you carry heavy luggage or have children – especially if we take into consideration the uncertainty due to the lack of a fixed schedule. However, if you travel alone and are not bound to a tight schedule, using the bus will definitely be a great option to immerse yourself in the local culture and way of living, and travel in the most cost-effective manner.

Editor’s Note

Don't be afraid to ask the locals for some help, people in St. Lucia are very friendly and helpful.

Useful Tips

When purchasing your ticket, only cash is accepted, in Eastern Caribbean dollars or US dollars.
You need to have the exact change and avoid large notes.
You can pay the driver directly, so no need to get a ticket in advance.

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

Read More

Frequently asked questions

What’s the distance from Hewanorra Airport to Castries?

The distance from Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) in Vieux Fort to Castries is approximately 54 kilometres if you take the East Coast road via Micoud and Dennery. The travel time can vary depending on traffic and other factors, but it usually takes between 1 and 2 hours to ride from St. Lucia Airport to Castries by road.

What’s the cost of a taxi from Hewanorra Airport to Castries?

The price for a taxi from Hewanorra Airport to Castries will depend on the taxi company you pick, the number of people you travel with and if you have luggage. As a general guideline, the government fixes the rates per destination and the route from St. Lucia Airport to Castries costs on average €75 (XCD 216).

Is there a direct bus from St. Lucia Airport to Castries?

There are plenty of minibuses running from St. Lucia Airport to Castries, making stops on demand and not having a fixed timetable. For a more comfortable and reliable option, you could pre-book your private St. Lucia transfer from airport to hotel with Welcome!

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