January is an ideal time to visit Saint Lucia. Visitors can expect an average of eight hours of sunshine during the day and cooler temperatures at night.

The island of Santa Lucia is a lush and mountainous volcanic island located very close to the equator. To give you an idea of ​​how close, the equator is at zero degrees latitude and Saint Lucia is at 20 degrees latitude.

The average temperature in January will be in the 70s in the morning, rising to 80 degrees in the early afternoon, and then dropping to around 75 degrees at night. Although this is not the rainy season, you may experience light showers that generally do not last long. The northeast trade winds off the coast of Africa also increase during this month, providing cooling breezes on the beaches and across the island.

Saint Lucia is one of the Windward Islands and the closest neighboring islands are Martinique, Saint Vincent and Barbados. In fact, both Martinique and Saint Vincent are visible on a clear day. Saint Lucia is located on the eastern side of the Caribbean Sea, but it also borders the Atlantic Ocean.

The island falls at a perpendicular angle to the Caribbean Sea, which makes the water much darker than other Caribbean islands. As a volcanic island, the beaches are particularly unique, ranging from black sand to soft white sand, and all color variations from gold, beige and brown. Travelers are advised to use plenty of sunscreen, even on days when it seems cloudy. Being so close to the equator, along with the cooling breezes from the trade winds, the sun can burn out very quickly. Black sand beaches keep you warm during daylight hours, and wearing beach shoes will make it easier to walk and protect your feet.

There is a definite climatic variation in different regions of the island. Coastal areas will normally be very pleasant during the day with cooling breezes from the trade winds. However, the rainforest area in the interior of the island will be very hot and humid. Saint Lucia is one of the most mountainous islands in the region, and travelers looking to hike the Piton Mountains should be aware that temperatures can drop quickly; definitely bring a light jacket or sweater.

In general, January in Saint Lucia will be quite pleasant with lots of sun, little rain and always a breeze.