Car Hire in Vieux Fort

About Vieux Fort

Vieux Fort is one of 10 districts of the Caribbean island nation of Saint Lucia. Vieux Fort is also the name of the district's main town. It is home to Saint Lucia's second-largest city and Saint Lucia's international airport, Hewanorra International Airport. In the latter half of the 18th century, Vieux Fort was the centre of Saint Lucia's sugar industry; today it is more industrial. In recent years, a new, modern part of Vieux Fort has been built to reflect the modern world, but if you walk down Clark Street and the surrounding streets, you will still see what is known as the old town. You will see historic colonial houses that give Vieux Fort a touch of old England and France.

A notable tourist attraction is the Maria Islands Nature Reserve, which is managed by the Saint Lucia National Trust. It is a nesting site for leatherback turtles and is home to a species of iguana native to Saint Lucia. Every Friday and Saturday is market day where you can buy local goods such as spices, ground foods and fruits. This is also home to St Lucia's largest fish market.

Basic info and car hire in Vieux Fort

• Location: Saint Lucia
• Population: 14,754 (2010)
• Official language: English
• Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
• Weather: Vieux Fort has a tropical climate that is hot all year round, with a relatively cool, dry season from January to mid-April and a hot, humid and rainy season from mid-June to November. November is the hottest month in Vieux Fort, with an average temperature of 28.5°C. The coldest month is January at 26°C and the most daily sunshine hours are in March with 10 hours. The wettest month is September with an average of 10 mm of rain. The best month for swimming in the sea is August with an average water temperature of 29°C.
• Holidays in Vieux Fort: Vieux Fort is a wonderful place to explore with its beautiful scenery, great food, year-round tropical climate and good accommodation options.
• Internet coverage: Hotels, bars, restaurants and cafes offer Wi-Fi.
• Road conditions: The roads are in good condition, well-paved, but poorly marked in places, with steep inclines and declines throughout the island.
• Car hire in Vieux Fort: Hiring a car at Saint Lucia Hewanorra International Airport with Orbit Car Hire gives you plenty of freedom to get around Vieux Fort. With a wide range of vehicles to choose from, you can be sure to find the one that suits your needs and gives you the most benefit on your trip.

Driving in Vieux Fort

Hiring a car is the best option to explore Vieux Fort and the surrounding area. In Vieux Fort, they drive on the left side. Overall, the roads are in good condition, well paved and the landscape in Vieux Fort has many hills and hairpin turns. It's fun to drive through and explore the area. Take it slow and admire the scenery.

• Age limits: The age limit is between 21 and 25, depending on the car rental agency. Many agencies will either charge a young driver fee if you are under this age or not allow you to rent the car at all.
• International Driving Permit: Yes, if your driver's license is not identifiable as Driving License, for example, if it is written in a non-Latin alphabet (e.g. Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Japanese).
• Additional papers: Identification (passport), a valid driver's license, and valid proof of insurance. (It is advisable to take out insurance with the car rental company in case your policy does not cover you when driving in Saint Lucia).
• Additional requirements: Warning triangles, spare wheels and a hands-free kit with hearing aids are required if you are talking on the phone while driving. 
• Children in the car: All vehicle occupants must wear a seat belt. Children under twelve years of age or over 5 feet tall may ride in the front passenger seat. 
• Driving side of the road: Left.
• Lights: Headlights must be on at all times (day and night). 
• General speed limits: 80 mph / 130 km/h on motorways, 49 mph / 80 km/h on main roads outside built-up areas and 31 mph/50 km/h inside built-up areas.
• Parking suggestions: Almost all car parks are metered, with the average price per hour being around GBP 1.90/ € 2.20.

Popular day trips in Vieux Fort

Land and Sea Tour in St. Lucia. This tour allows you to discover and enjoy all the major highlights of this beautiful island. You will explore all the major tourist attractions of St. Lucia Island including the drive-in volcano/sulfur springs/mineral mud bath, popular waterfalls, the beautiful white sand sugar beaches for swimming and snorkelling. You will have numerous opportunities to photograph the major sights, including the magnificent Pitons! On the tour, you will be able to view the Pitons up close from a fleet of speedboats. Small fishing villages - you will learn about the local culture and architecture. Not to forget that a typical St. Lucian lunch awaits you. The duration of the tour is 7 hours.

Majestic Gros Piton Hike. It's just a 4-mile hike up and down the tree-covered symbol of Saint Lucia - that is, up a winding path that climbs the steep, rainforest-covered slopes of a 2,619-foot volcanic mountain. From time to time, the trees give way to breathtaking views of the emerald island and the all-too-blue waters of the Caribbean. Guides are mandatory but full of knowledge. The caves that once served as shelters for the freedom fighters of the Brigand War, colourful tropical birds, and lush vegetation that includes giant gummies (from which canoes were built), the smaller swizzle stick tree (from which swizzle sticks were made), and "peeling tourists" - trees with scaly brown bark that look painfully familiar to anyone who has ever fallen asleep on the beach without sunscreen. The duration of the tour is 5 hours.

Treetop Adventure Park Canopy Tour. Nature lovers who are thrill seekers will not want to miss the fun at Treetop Adventure Park. Get a bird's eye view of the rainforest as you zipline through the treetops, hike marked trails and cross a net bridge. The entire course takes an hour, during which you'll enjoy beautiful views, heart-pounding thrills, and quality time in nature.

Horseback Riding at Atlantic Shores Beach. Atlantic Shores Riding Stables promises an unforgettable riding adventure for beginners and experienced riders alike. This popular beach ride takes you along beautiful trails and breathtaking views before riding to the beach where you can enjoy the freedom of walking or cantering on your beautiful horse. The duration of the tour is 2 hours.

ATV Adventure in St Lucia. Amazing route with beautiful scenery and farmland, including an option to hike to a quiet river. Visit old sugar plantations and see the remains of the old sugar mill. The duration of the tour is 2 hours.

What to see in Vieux Fort

The Barre de l'Isle Forest Reserve is well worth a visit. St. Lucia is divided into eastern and western halves by the Barre de l'Isle ridge. A mile-long hiking trail runs through the reserve, and four lookouts offer panoramic views. Mount Gimie, wide green valleys, the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and coastal communities can be seen in the distance. The trailhead is a half-hour drive from Castries. It takes about an hour to walk the trail - an easy hike - and another hour to climb Mt. LaCombe Ridge. A permit from the Saint Lucia Forestry Department is required to access the trail at Barre de l'Isle; a naturalist or forestry officer will accompany you.

One of the largest and most beautiful botanical gardens in St. Lucia, Mamiku Gardens, surrounds the hilltop ruins of the Micoud Estate. Baron Micoud, an 18th-century colonel in the French army and governor-general of St. Lucia, bequeathed the land to his wife, Madame de Micoud, to avoid confiscation by the British when St. Lucia changed hands several times. The locals shortened her name to "Ma Micoud," which over time became Mamiku. The estate became a British military outpost in 1796 but was burned by slaves shortly thereafter during the Brigand War. The estate is now primarily a banana plantation, but the gardens themselves - including some secluded or "secret" gardens - are full of tropical flowers and plants, delicate orchids and fragrant herbs.

Two tiny islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the southeast coast of St. Lucia make up the Maria Islands Nature Reserve, which has its information centre. The 25-acre Maria Major and 4-acre Maria Minor are inhabited by two rare reptile species: the colourful Zandoli Terre ground lizard and the harmless Kouwes grass snake. They share their home with frigate birds, terns, pigeons and other wildlife. There is a small beach for swimming and snorkelling as well as an undisturbed forest, a vertical cliff covered in cacti and a coral reef for snorkelling or diving. The St Lucia National Trust offers guided tours, including a boat trip to the islands, by appointment only; bring your picnic as there are no facilities.

Anse de Sables Saint Lucia is one of the most pristine and longest stretches of beach in the country. Nearly two kilometres long, the beach opens into a shallow bay enclosed by a reef and is one of the most picturesque spots on Saint Lucia. From amateurs to seasoned adrenaline junkies, there's plenty of room for some serious water action here. If it all seems a little too strenuous, you can get comfortable on your beach towel and watch wide-eyed as kiters and windsurfers bounce across the water, performing daring jumps and flips. With the two uninhabited Maria Islands in the distance and surrounded by the verdant Pointe Sable Nature Reserve, Anse de Sables Saint Lucia is one of the most beautiful and tranquil spots in the Caribbean.

The Vieux-For Lighthouse is an excellent place for exploration. It is located on a steep, narrow and winding road. Access to the place is free, as is exploring - walk across the bridge to the lighthouse and explore down to the water. Check out the cool artwork on the building itself, climb down behind it to see the crabs clinging to the rocks, and the crystal clear water. Examine the rocks behind the lighthouse for the wire leading from the lightning rod - a great find. Back on the hill, you'll find cannons on the right that are used to protect the fort and a large grassy area. On the left, a path leads to a picnic area. There may also be chickens and roosters running around here that belong to residents. There is a restaurant because offers its services to visitors. Vieux Fort Lighthouse is a nice place to spend an hour exploring the area or enjoying a picnic in interesting surroundings before continuing your adventure.