Hewanorra International Airport

Hewanorra International Airport sits on the southern coast of St. Lucia, roughly 1.5 kilometres from the town of Vieux Fort. It is the larger of the country's two commercial airports, handling flights from North America, Europe, and the Caribbean. Unlike the smaller George F. L. Charles Airport in Castries, which deals mainly with regional turboprop traffic, Hewanorra receives widebody aircraft on long-haul routes. The terminal is compact but modern, with a single runway that runs parallel to the coast. For most visitors, this is the first point of contact with St. Lucia — a place where the warm trade wind hits you as you step onto the tarmac, and the pace immediately shifts to island time.

Getting There

Vieux Fort is about a 90-minute drive from Castries, the capital, depending on traffic. The most direct route is via the Trans-Local Highway and the Sir John Compton Highway, which cross the island’s mountainous interior. A taxi from Castries costs around $80–100 USD. Shared minibuses (known as “buses” locally) run between Castries and Vieux Fort for a few dollars, but they make frequent stops and can be crowded — not ideal if you have checked luggage. From the airport to Vieux Fort town, a short taxi ride takes about 5 minutes and costs roughly $15 USD. There is no public bus that stops directly at the terminal, but you can catch one on the main road about a ten-minute walk from the arrivals area. Rental car desks are inside the terminal, and driving is on the left. For those staying in the southern part of the island — Soufrière, Laborie, or Choiseul — the airport is a convenient gateway, often less than 30 minutes away.

Inside the Terminal

The terminal at Hewanorra is a single-story building divided into arrivals and departures. On arrival, passengers pass through immigration, collect luggage from one of two carousels, then proceed through customs. The process is generally efficient, though during peak hours — especially Monday through Thursday around 2 pm — lines can build up. The departure area has a check-in hall, security screening, and a small duty-free shop. There is a cafeteria-style restaurant serving hot and cold meals, plus a bar. The departure lounge has seating with views of the tarmac. Confirmed facilities include wheelchair-accessible entrance and car park, accessible toilets, a changing table, and baggage storage. The airport is not open 24 hours; it opens for flight schedules, typically from early morning until the last flight departs in the evening. There is no hotel inside the terminal, but Vieux Fort has several guesthouses and hotels within a short drive.

Hewanorra International Airport and Vieux Fort

Vieux Fort, meaning “Old Fort” in French, is the second-largest town in St. Lucia but feels much smaller — more like a fishing village. The airport is named Hewanorra, an indigenous Caribbean word for St. Lucia, reflecting the island’s original inhabitants. The town itself is often passed over by tourists heading to the resorts in the north, but it has a distinct charm. Sandy Beach, located just south of the airport, is a long stretch of golden sand with rolling waves, popular with locals and surfers. The adjacent Maria Islands Nature Reserve is a protected area home to rare species like the St. Lucia whiptail lizard and the Koubey snake; guided tours are available. For panoramic views, hike up Moule à Chique, a hill at the southern tip of St. Lucia that offers a 360-degree vista of the coast, including the airport runway. Vieux Fort also has a lively market where fresh fish, fruits, and vegetables are sold. The town's history includes a 19th-century sugar mill and a fort (now gone) that gave it its name. St. Lucia's southern region is less developed for mass tourism, so you get a more authentic Caribbean experience — quieter beaches, friendly locals, and a slower pace than the resort strip in the north.

Practical Information

The airport (UVF) opens and closes according to flight schedules — typically from about 6:00 AM until the last evening departure. Hours vary, so check with your airline. Contact: +1 758-457-6100; website: stlucia-airport.com. Official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$), but US dollars are widely accepted; change may be given in EC$. Taxis from the airport have fixed rates posted at the taxi stand. Wi-Fi is available in the terminal, but the connection can be slow. One concrete tip: if you arrive during the busiest time (weekday afternoons), expect a queue at immigration — have your customs and immigration card filled out before you reach the counter to save time. Also, bring a pen because the flight attendants sometimes run out.