Saint Lucia in December

When to go

December comes just after the Atlantic hurricane season, which the National Hurricane Center dates to the end of November, though it notes that storms sometimes form outside those dates. The Saint Lucia Meteorological Services counts December as the start of the dry season, and the World Meteorological Organization lists the December highs, lows, rainfall and rain days at Vieux-Fort, though its older averages put December's rainfall above the range the Met Services gives for the dry season. The tourism authority lists National Day on the thirteenth, with the Festival of Lights in Castries the evening before: a lantern parade, music and fireworks over the city.

Trip facts

• The World Meteorological Organization's World Weather Information Service lists Vieux-Fort's December climate (monthly averages for the 32-year period 1973-2004, from the Saint Lucia Meteorological Services) as a mean daily maximum temperature of 29.4 °C (84.9 °F), a mean daily minimum temperature of 23.9 °C (75 °F), and mean total precipitation of 109.0 mm over a mean of 17 precipitation days (days with at least 1 mm of precipitation). (worldweather.wmo.int, checked 2026-10-16)
• The Saint Lucia Meteorological Services says the average monthly total rainfall at Hewanorra station, Vieux-Fort, in the south of the island, is about 50 to 99 millimeters during the dry season (December to May) and about 136 to 191 millimeters during the wet season (June to November). (met.gov.lc, checked 2026-10-16)
• The National Hurricane Center says the official hurricane season for the Atlantic basin is from June 1 to November 30, but tropical cyclone activity sometimes occurs before and after these dates, respectively. (www.nhc.noaa.gov, checked 2026-10-16)
• The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority's festivals page lists National Day - Festival of Lights & Renewal on December 13, 2026, and says that on the eve of National Day Castries lights up, with handmade lanterns parading through the streets, Christmas songs and dance, the lights coming on in Derek Walcott Square and fireworks over the city. (stlucia.org, checked 2026-10-16)
• Saint Lucia's Online Customs and Immigration Portal says travelers may access the form no more than 72 hours before travel, should submit one form per family or group, and will receive a receipt by email after submission, which they need to present on arrival. (travelslu.govt.lc, checked 2026-10-16)
• The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority's entry page says visitors must travel with a valid passport, that passport validity requirements may vary by nationality, and that many travelers from the United States do not require a visa for short visits, while advising travelers to confirm current visa requirements through official government sources. (stlucia.org, checked 2026-10-16)
• The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority says Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) in Vieux Fort is located 40 miles south of Castries, the capital city, and that George F.L. Charles Airport is an inter-island airport just outside Castries. (stlucia.org, checked 2026-10-16)
• The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority's North Saint Lucia page says the north is home to Rodney Bay, Reduit Beach and the capital, Castries, with restaurants, duty-free shopping, marinas and nightlife including the Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party. (stlucia.org, checked 2026-10-16)
• The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority says all authorized taxis have a light blue number plate with a TX prefix and that fares vary, so travelers should confirm the fare before hiring a taxi, and that minibuses, the main means of transportation for local residents, have a green number plate with an M prefix and fares ranging from EC$2.50 to EC$8.00. (stlucia.org, checked 2026-10-16)
• The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority says a temporary driving license is required for visitors and may be obtained with a valid driving license on arrival at the airport, at the police station in Castries or at car rental offices, and reminds drivers to drive on the left side of the road. (stlucia.org, checked 2026-10-16)