Best Beaches in St. George’s

Grand Anse seems too pretty to be true, but somehow it manages to exist with two miles of talc-white sand, water so turquoise it almost glows and the lushest palms, sea grapes and almond trees around. Naturally, most of the island’s hotels, activity companies and bars have set up shop here, but none of them steal the scene (all built shorter than the trees) and there’s enough space to stop it feeling busy (the south end tends to be the quietest). Wander up to the market for tasty street food, take a boat trip, spend happy hour at Umbrellas and at least once, stick around to see the sun set.

Maybe named because it’s just the kind of thing you see in aspirational magazines, this 450m beach has one hotel and a restaurant (Aquarium, who usually hire out loungers) but the rest is undeveloped, wild and beautiful. Think: soft, pale sand, towering trees and bright blue water… The Caribbean dream. We like to come here for beach walks and kayaking, and when the waves lull to nearly nothing, the snorkelling’s incredible.

Shelter from Quarantine point makes the sea insanely calm in this neck of the woods – swimmers and SUP-ers rejoice! The big blue washes up lethargically on a banana shaped, 365m stretch of white sand, where almond trees and sea grapes play backdrop. Drinks and nibbles are provided by Sur La Mer – your typical relaxed Caribbean beach bar. Things are far quieter than Grand Anse, but that doesn’t mean this beach isn’t just as pretty.

Portici might be just 5 minutes from the airport (a big bonus if you want to spend every last second of your trip by the sea), but it feels very secluded. Swim out to coral reefs, spread out on white sand, scramble over rocky outcrops or gaze up at the steep hills behind you. To lunch in style, the Beach House restaurant does fine dining on the shore.

Petit Bacaye (sometimes called Bamboo Beach) has a very tropical feel: silvery sand, coconut trees overhead, sounds of waves and birdsong and colourful fishing boats anchored in the water. Getting here takes a half hour jungle hike from the Grenada Marina or St David’s Point, which makes the whole experience even better.

There’s a lot of worthy competition for the title of Grenada’s prettiest beach, but La Sagesse often takes the crown. With sands of grey-white, clear water, rugged rocks and wraparound hills and mangroves, it’s more than deserving. A beachfront restaurant with tropical gardens serves up freshly caught fish and other goodies if all the views leave you hungry, and palms and sea grapes provide shade to snooze under.

We like a beach with a bit of adventure and the 20-minute trek here (through jungle and ruined sugar mills), plus the chance of visiting the Concord falls while you’re in the area provides just that. We’re also suckers for a good view, so it helps that the sand comes in a silky volcanic black, dotted with driftwood and backed by thick, wild greenery. The beach has history, with Arawak on the Black Bay cave harking back to hundreds of years ago. And is almost always empty – handy, since it’s far too good to share.

Belonging to the Levera National Park, this mile-long beach has a couple of shops and a bar with the rest left to Mother Nature: who’s kindly sprinkled the shore with yellow-white sand and hidden a coral reef under the sea. The winds can whip up the water here, which is more suited to strong swimmers. Come at the right time of year and you might be able to see turtles nesting and frigate birds flying overhead.

Up on the northern edge of the island, Duquesne’s a little more effort to get to if you’re staying in the southwest, but it’s a corker. Looking out to desert islets and colourful fishing boats is a curve of dark volcanic sand, dozens of coconut palms and thick, hilly forest. Evidence of the Carib Indians who lived here long, long ago comes in the form of rock carvings at the west end. Come here to play beach cricket or dominoes with locals, wander along the shore or just sit and soak up the sights.

Gold sand, palms and sea grapes come together in this uber secluded area, where you can often have the beach to yourself (and perhaps a few turtles). One of the most protected beaches on the island, Levera is closed in the evenings between March and August so that leatherback turtles can nest – you can usually join a guided tour with SPECTO to access it. The hike from Sauteurs takes about an hour and a half, and there are some good routes around the mangroves nearby.

Wowza, the word paradise is thrown around a LOT in the Caribbean but whoever christened this beach got the name spot on. In L’Esterre bay, Paradise Beach is probably exactly what you’d imagine it to be: white sand, shallow turquoise sea, brightly painted fishing boats bobbing on the water and a teeny-weeny islet just offshore. The beach is popular by Carriacau standards - in that you might actually see a couple of other people there. By Caribbean standards it’s gloriously quiet. Changing facilities and a cool beach shop are at hand, and boats will whisk you over to Sandy Island if you fancy exploring.

Hidden away La Roche can be reached by a half mile hike along a forest trail or a boat ride. Trust us when we say it’s worth the journey, with very soft sand, very turquoise sea and very likely no one else there. The North Range stretches overhead giving you sights to ogle every which way. Don’t forget the views beneath the water – bring your snorkel to can explore the technicolour reef just offshore.

The deliciously deserted Sandy Island is reachable by water taxi (which takes about five minutes from Carriacou) and surrounded by colourful coral reefs. Pack a picnic and your snorkel and you’ll have a whale of a time.