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ST. LUCIA CARNIVAL 2020: A PLANNING GUIDE

Sandra Manjie

If you’re looking for an amazing summer carnival to go to, look no further than St. Lucia Carnival. After living my best life this past summer, celebrating my birthday feting and playing mas with Xuvo, I vowed an imminent return.

To be honest, it may be my new go-to! The island is gorgeous, the food is delicious, the music is entrancing and the vibe is sexy.

2019 is almost over and St. Lucia band launches will start soon, so let’s get to planning! Unlike some other carnivals, you do not have to sell an arm and a leg for this experience. However the word has spread. Get in before it prices out!

If you HATE planning, how about you take advantage of the Soca, Sex & Alcohol Pumpcation package for an all-inclusive carnival Trip! Click HERE to make your deposit and get started. Don’t stick!

ABOUT ST. LUCIA CARNIVAL

St. Lucia Carnival is an annual 3.5 month long affair with events taking place on a weekly basis starting in April and culminating in the main 2-day Parade of the Bands in Castries on the third Monday and Tuesday of July. Other towns like Canaries and Anse La Raye have their own carnivals later on in July and even into August as well.

CARNIVAL: July 20 & 21, 2020

PRIME DATES: JULY 16, 2020 - JULY 23, 2020

WHERE TO FLY

St. Lucia has two airports — George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU) and Hewanorra International Airport (UVF).

SLU is on the outskirts of Castries in the north and services regional airlines — Caribbean Airlines, Liat Airlines and Inter-Caribbean Airways.

UVF is in Vieux Fort, 40 miles south of Castries and is the main international airport that services international flights coming in from North America and Europe. You are more likely to find the cheaper flights landing at this airport, but please note that this airport is located approximately 1.5 hours away from Castries.

Currently, round trip flights are ranging from as low as $500 to as high as $1,500 depending on your departure city.

Airport transfers vary and range from $40 - $100 per vehicle (sometimes per person) each way. I recommend shared rides to and from the airports to minimize the cost.

WHERE TO STAY

The main events take place in Rodney Bay and Gros Islet. Therefore, that would be the most convenient area to stay. St. Lucia has plenty of hotels to choose from, including all-inclusive resorts. There are also plenty of great Airbnb, HomeAway and VRBO options.

Some hotels in the Castries/Rodney Bay/Gros Islet area include:

Nightly rates for 2-person occupancy range from $120 to $400. 

HOW TO GET AROUND

Finding a private driver in St. Lucia can be a little challenging if you have no ground connections. However, there are reliable taxi services that can aid in that search. These include:

  • Fabian Taxi Tour Services

  • St. Lucia Taxis & Tours

  • Sun Tours Caribbean

  • FRAM Tours & Taxi Services St Lucia

  • St. Lucia Tours & Shuttle

One recommendation would be to connect with the taxi driver responsible for your airport transfer and see if they are available to take you to your events and around St. Lucia during your trip. Remember to always confirm a price up front!

Another option is to rent a car. Economy cars are going  for approximately $300 for the week. If you are going with a group, this might be a worthwhile option but make sure you plan to remain sober and are comfortable driving in foreign countries, especially in the Caribbean. I personally do not recommend it for American drivers, because St. Lucia has many narrow and windy roads.

Money, Money, Money

The Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD) is the currency used in St. Lucia and several other countries in the Caribbean. The conversion rate is approximately EC$2.70 to US$1. I was able to change my money easily at the airport when I landed, however I got better rates when withdrawing money from the Scotiabank ATM. Bank of America has an international partnership with Scotiabank in which the ATM withdrawal fee is waived. Check whether your bank has a similar perk. US dollars are also widely accepted.

LEARN THE MUSIC

One of the reasons St. Lucia Carnival is so special is because the music is unique and infectious, particularly the soca sub-genre, “Dennery Segment”. This style of music hails from Dennery, a town on the east coast of the island. Known for its fast-paced beats, pulsating rhythms, provocative Kwéyòl lyrics and contagious basslines, it has undoubtedly helped propel St. Lucia carnival to the mainstream.

Make sure you listen to some of my favorite SLU Carnival mixes: Close Connections, Ultra Simmo, DeejBlaze, Sir Lancealot, Shaker HD and more to get familiar before arriving on the island.

Take a look at my St. Lucia 2019 playlist on Spotify and subscribe!

HOW TO FETE

The party list during St. Lucia carnival is extensive and varied. You have your fill of all inclusive fetes, cooler fetes, boat rides, concert events, j’ouvert-style parties, wet fetes, beach fetes etc. Pricing for fete tickets are pretty reasonable, when compared to other carnivals like Trinidad and Jamaica. Expect to find prices as low as $30 and as high as $140.

A St. Lucia Carnival fete list is forthcoming! Make sure you take a look at my 2019 fete reviews; they may help as you put together your own list! Get your coins ready because fete tickets start to drop as early as March and you don’t want to miss out.

NASTY UP

No carnival is complete without J’ouvert. In St. Lucia, there are multiple ways to experience paint, powder, mud, oil and all the duttiness it entails. You could attend a “jouvert fete” such as Mess, which takes place in the early morning hours of Carnival Saturday. OR. You could do a more traditional j’ouvert chipping behind the music trucks in the streets of Castries. Just 4 Fun Carnival offers just that on Carnival Monday.

Make sure you wear clothes you don’t mind throwing out. And get your sunglasses/goggles ready! You will get dirty!

OTHER CARNIVAL EVENTS

In addition to fetes, there are many other events in the lead up to the parade including:

  • National Schools Calypso Competitions

  • National Calypso Monarch

  • National Groovy and Power Soca Monarch

  • National Carnival Queen Pageant

  • National Junior Carnival

  • National King & Queen of the Bands Competition

  • National Panorama Competition

Most take place in early July, so if you happen to be arriving in St. Lucia early, try to check some of these out!

HOW TO PLAY MAS

St. Lucia Carnival is a two day carnival that occurs annually on the 3rd Monday and Tuesday of July. Masqueraders wear their costumes on Carnival Monday, while you can wear whatever you like on Carnival Tuesday. Many women wear decorated swimwear, monokinis and wire bras, while others re-wear their costumes. Men typically wear shorts and a t-shirt.

St. Lucia has several carnivals bands to choose from:

✨ = SM Approved!

I will post launch and registration details as soon as they become available, however traditionally, the band launches start in late December. I played with Xuvo Carnival in 2019 and had a good experience, so I am partial to them, however make sure to research all the bands to be comfortable with your choice.

Female costumes typically range from $450 to $1,000. Men's costume prices average between $350 - $600.

Have your deposit ready and lock in your favorite costume before it sells out!

What does registration typically include?

  • Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks

  • Music truck(s)

  • Lunch and Dinner

  • Mobile Restrooms

  • Security

  • On-Site Paramedics

  • Your costume of course!

THE COOL DOWN

St. Lucia is such a beautiful island and there is so much to do apart from parties and carnival activities. After carnival, take some time to decompress and explore the island before you head home. St. Lucia deserves a separate blog post of the myriad activities to do on the island, but here are a few:

  • Beaches — Reduit Beach, Vigie Beach are some beaches that are very accessible from Gros Islet and Castries.

  • Spend a few hours in the gorgeous Marigot Bay.

  • Explore Soufriere — take in the Pitons & Sulphur Springs, bathe in a mud bath and explore nearby waterfalls.

GET IN SHAPE

You have 229 days to get your fitness level up. Carnival requires endurance; you will be on your feet for hours under the hot sun, dancing in the streets for miles and miles. The St. Lucia road is long with some inclines, so you want to be able to last for two days.

TENTATIVE BUDGET

(BASED ON A 2-PERSON, 7 DAY TRIP; COSTS ARE PER PERSON)

  • Accommodations: $300 - $1,200

  • Flight: $500 - $1,500

  • Transportation: $150 - $300

  • Fetes: $350 - $700

  • Costume: $450 - $950

TOTAL: $1,750 - $4,650

Are you overwhelmed?? So am I to be honest. But I can’t wait to pump with the SSA Pumpcation crew!

I hope this guide is helpful to you. Comment below with any questions you have! Happy planning and see you on the road!