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Both St Lucia and Turks and Caicos are gorgeous Caribbean vacation spots.
However these two islands are beautiful but quite different.
In this article, we will discuss how these two Caribbean islands compare to help you decide which island is right for your next vacation.
As a general rule, St Lucia is better for travelers who are interested in exploring a drive in volcano and outdoor activities such as zip lining. Alternatively, Turks and Caicos Islands are ideal for a visitor who loves beaches and interesting in water based activities such as snorkeling.
Read on for further details and explanations on how these two beautiful Caribbean islands compare. Contribution to this article was made by individuals who visited both islands on vacation.
St Lucia Vs Turks & Caicos: Which Island Is Bigger
St Lucia is 238 square miles and the highest point is Mount Gimie which is 3,120 feet.
According to Worldometer, the population of St Lucia at the time of writing was 184,711.
St Lucia is a single island state meaning that it has no dependencies. The head of state of St Lucia is His Majesty King Charles III.
Alternatively, Turks and Caicos is a British overseas territory. The Turks & Caicos Islands consist of 40 different islands and cays.
The island is 366 square miles and only 8 of these islands are inhabited. Despite having a larger land mass that St Lucia, The Turks & Caicos has a smaller population.
At the time of writing, the Turks & Caicos has a population of 39,408 according to Worldometer.
St Lucia Vs Turks & Caicos: How Does The Landscape Differ
The landscape of these two islands is extremely different. St Lucia is much greener and lush with mountainous landscape.
Visitors to the island will find that navigating the roads harder when driving as the country is hilly and the roads are curvy.
The Turks and Caicos landscape is extremely different. The islands are coral based and flat.
It is easier for non-nationals to get used to driving in the Turks & Caicos. The roads are flat and hence easier to navigate as in more advanced countries.
St Lucia Vs Turks & Caicos: Which Island More Expensive
Hands down Turks & Caicos is the more expensive destination. This is mainly due to the fact that a lot of what is consumed on the island is imported.
Additionally, tariffs are levied on imports by the local Government which makes the price of goods and services on the island much more expensive.
Agriculture is one of the main sectors in St Lucia. Therefore, some of the items consumed at resorts are grown locally which makes the prices passed on to the final customer more affordable.
St Lucia Vs Turks & Caicos: How Does The Currency Differ
Despite being a British Overseas Territory, the official currency of the Turks & Caicos Islands is the US dollar.
The official currency of St Lucia is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar which has been pegged to the US (United States) dollar since July 7th, 1976 at a rate of USD $1 to XCD $2.70.
This currency is also shared by seven other Eastern Caribbean islands and is managed through a regional central bank which is based in St Kitts.
Several persons from each of the Caribbean island work at the central bank. The US dollar is generally accepted at most business places in St Lucia.
As with other countries, businesses at times may be skeptical accepting higher denominations. US notes that are torn and worn are usually rejected by businesses.
St Lucia Vs Turks & Caicos: Which Island Is Safer
In general, both St Lucia and Turks & Caicos are safe Caribbean islands. It is safe to visit attractions and wonder around the cities as a tourist.
According to US Department State, Overseas Advisory Council, the number of murders increased from 4 to 10 in 3 years in the Turks & Caicos.
One US citizen was among the victims in 2018 while two US citizens sustained serious injuries from shooting.
Despite being safe to walk around freely as a visitor, due care and safety precautions must be taken as in a medium to high risk country.
Avoid walking around at nights especially in secluded areas.
Take only taxis that are authorized by the relevant local taxi associations. Avoid leaving valuable items such as cell phones, laptops and electronic gadgets unattended.
St Lucia Vs Turks & Caicos: Can You Island Hop To Other Islands
Visitors to St Lucia can easily travel to the Caribbean islands of Martinique, Guadeloupe and Dominica by ferry as there is a service directly from St Lucia.
If you are contemplating traveling to the French Caribbean, do not forget to double check visa requirements.
On the other hand, if you are in Providenciales you can easily find ferries to North, South and Middle Caicos islands.
However, there are no passenger ferries to other islands such as the Bahamas from Turks and Caicos.
St Lucia Vs Turks & Caicos: Which Island Is Better For Beaches
Without any reservation, the clear blue turquoise water in the Turks and Caicos is pristine and therefore is the winner over St Lucia in terms of beaches.
Grace Bay Beach which is situated on the island of Providenciales is an award winning beach both regionally and internationally.
This is the island’s pride and joy. Grace Bay Beach is part of Princess Alexandra National Park has calm waters.
Locals and visitors to the island usually enjoy water activities such as parasailing, kayaking and stand up paddle boarding.
The island of St Lucia does have beautiful beaches with Sugar beach being one of the popular ones on the island.
From there, you can get an awesome view of the famous twin peaks, The Pitons.
St Lucia Vs Turks & Caicos: What Are The Unique Attractions
As a general rule, St Lucia is better suited for travelers who enjoy land based activities such as hiking and ziplining due to its mountainous terrain and rainforest.
On the other hand, Turks & Caicos is more suitable for persons who enjoy water based activities.
Unique Things To Do In St Lucia
Climb The Piton Mountains- the piton is an incredible twin peaks that are designated as UNESCO World Heritage site since 2004 located at the south of the island.
The Gros Piton is 2462 feet while the Petit Piton is 2619 feet. The Gros Piton is the designated hiking trail while the Petit Piton is rarely climbed.
Visit The Drive In Volcano- The sulphur springs is one of the most visited attractions on the island located in Soufriere which is the world’s only drive in volcano.
Visitors are able to enter at certain points and give themselves a mud bath. It is widely believed that these mud baths have medical benefits.
Unique Things To Do In Turks & Caicos
Kite Boarding– the beach waters and wind conditions makes the island an ideal spot for kite boarding.
Long Bay Beach is one of the popular spots on the island for this activity.
There is a kiteboarding school on the island where tutors will provide you with a lessons as well as equipment rental.
Beach Hopping– Only 8 of the 40 islands and cays of Turks and Caicos are inhabited.
The others are private cays where you can go and enjoy a private beach day on your own island.
This makes the destination unique and one of the many reasons why the islands are favored by celebrities.
St Lucia Vs Turks & Caicos: Which Island Gets More Tourists
Based on statistics found on Tourism Analytics, both destinations receive over 1 million visitors each year with cruise visitors being the larger piece of the pie.
Therefore, if you are want to avoid the crowds it may be prudent to schedule your visit during the low seasons.
St Lucia Vs Turks & Caicos: How Does The Cuisine Differ
The cuisine in Turks & Caicos is all about conch (pronounced as konk). The national dish is cracked conch. Conch is also served stewed, as fritters and in chowders.
The island is also known for its fine dining internationally.
Every November, the Turks & Caicos hosts a food and wine festival where top chefs and wine connoisseur come together to showcase many culinary creations.
The national dish of St Lucia is green fig and salt fish. There is a lot more provision and ground provision included in the daily diet of St Lucians.
St Lucia Vs Turks & Caicos: Which Island Is Better For Nightlife
Hands down St Lucia is the clear winner when it comes to nightlife.
The Rodney Bay area is one of the popular night life spots.
There are no nightclubs and discos in Turks & Caicos. The island is more suitable to a visitor who wants to relax and spend time at the beach.
Both islands have a Fish Fry weekly. Every Friday with the exception of during the Holy Weekend (Easter) Gros Islet comes alive with a band and seafood.
Vendors sell barbecues, seafood and a number of different local dishes.
One can also purchase various hand crafted items and souvenirs at this event.
A similar type of event happens in the Turk & Caicos. However, it is on Thursday nights.
Final Thoughts
On a whole, St Lucia is an ideal choice for a traveler who loves beautiful natural scenery such as The Pitons as well as bustling nightlife. Alternatively, Turks & Caicos Islands is a great choice for a traveler whose priority is enjoying the beach, jet skiing, kite boarding and paddle boarding.
Need More Information?
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