UVF Airport to Castries Private Transfer

Castries is the capital, the cruise port and the busiest part of the island, and it sits roughly 60 km north of Hewanorra International Airport (UVF). Allow 60 to 75 minutes for the drive. The fare is $110, which is the price of the vehicle rather than a price per person, and it covers up to three passengers. Each additional passenger is $25, up to a maximum of eight.

Your driver waits inside the arrivals hall with a sign showing your name, takes the luggage and has you moving within a few minutes of clearing customs. There is no taxi queue to join and no fare to agree on the pavement, because the rate is fixed when you book.

Nothing is charged online and there is no deposit. You pay the driver in cash at the end of the ride.

The drive from Hewanorra to Castries

This route runs up the east side of the island rather than the west. From Vieux Fort the road follows the Micoud Highway north through Micoud and Dennery, with the Atlantic on your right for most of the first half hour. It is open, fast by St Lucian standards, and the least twisting of the main airport routes.

The character changes at Barre de l'Isle, the ridge that divides the island. The road climbs into rainforest, crosses the spine and drops down through the Cul de Sac valley towards Castries. It is a steady descent with a few tight bends and a lot of green on both sides. On a clear day there is a view back across the interior near the top.

Traffic is the variable on this route, not the road. The last few kilometres into Castries slow down at predictable times: weekday mornings roughly 7am to 9am inbound, weekday afternoons roughly 4pm to 6pm outbound, and Saturday mornings around the Castries market, which is busy from early. Cruise ship days add to it near the port. We build this into the pickup planning rather than pretending it does not happen.

Around Castries

Castries is a working city, not a resort strip. The cruise terminals at Pointe Seraphine and La Place Carenage sit on either side of the harbour, the Central Market and Derek Walcott Square are in the centre, and George F. L. Charles Airport at Vigie is a few minutes north of town, which is worth knowing if your onward flight is a domestic hop.

Above the city, Morne Fortune gives you the view over the harbour and Vigie peninsula, and the road up passes the old barracks and Fort Charlotte. Vigie Beach is the closest stretch of sand to the centre. La Toc sits just south of town, Choc Bay a short run north, and Rodney Bay and Gros Islet are another 20 to 30 minutes up the coast.

Guests ask most often about two things: where to change money or shop, and whether it is worth staying in Castries itself. The city is good for a market morning, the cathedral and the view from the Morne. Most people base themselves outside it and come in for a day.

What first-timers get wrong is the airport. Castries has one nearby, at Vigie, and travellers occasionally book a transfer for the wrong end of the island. If your international flight lands at UVF, this is the page you want, and the drive is an hour or more, not fifteen minutes.

What is included in your transfer

• Private air-conditioned vehicle for your party only
• Licensed local driver who knows the highway and the city approach
• Meet and greet inside arrivals with a name sign and luggage help
• Flight tracking on the day you travel
• Complimentary bottled water
• All taxes and fees
• Child seats free on request, give us the ages when you book

Not included: an optional gratuity for your driver.

How booking works

1. Pick this transfer, choose the pay-in-cash option, register and submit your details. The flight number field is optional at this stage.
2. You get a confirmation email straight away letting you know we have received the booking.
3. Someone goes through your details and confirms the booking, usually in under 30 minutes, and you get a confirmation email.
4. We assign your driver and follow up about 24 hours before travel if we do not have your flight number. On the day we track your flight, update the driver, and you pay him in cash on arrival.

Frequently asked questions

I am flying into SLU George Charles Airport. Can you collect me?

Yes. SLU sits just outside Castries, and the fare from there is $35 for the whole vehicle, covering up to three passengers. Families of up to 5 (up to 3 adults and 2 children) add $25 per extra person, while groups of 4 or more adults, 3 or more children, or 6 or more people are charged our group rate, shown when you choose your passengers. Select SLU under "Your airport" to see the price and book. Your driver tracks your flight and waits for you, with the same fixed price on the return trip.

How far is Castries from the airport?

About 60 km by road, or 60 to 75 minutes. The distance looks short on a map, but the route crosses the island's central ridge, so the driving time is longer than the mileage suggests.

Can you drop me at the cruise terminal?

Yes. Tell us whether you need Pointe Seraphine or La Place Carenage when you book, since they are on opposite sides of the harbour and the approach is different for each.

When is the traffic worst?

Weekday mornings into the city and weekday late afternoons out of it, plus Saturday mornings near the market. If your flight lands in one of those windows we allow for it rather than quoting you an optimistic time.

Is Castries near George F. L. Charles Airport?

Yes, Vigie is a few minutes from the centre. It handles regional flights only, so if you are connecting to another island we can drop you there instead of at your hotel. Just say so when you book.

What happens if my flight is delayed?

We track it and update your driver. He waits, there is no extra charge and the booking stands.

How do I pay?

Cash to the driver on the day. Nothing is taken online and there is no deposit.

Can you book my return to the airport?

Yes, as a separate transfer so the pickup time and address are recorded properly. For a morning departure from Castries we usually suggest leaving earlier than you think, for the reasons above.

Book your UVF to Castries transfer now and we will confirm it by email once someone has checked your details.