Best beaches in Gros Islet & Rodney Bay

Choc beach’s calm water is perfect for paddling and swimming, and yellowy-white sand speckled with palm trees completes the scene. Though it’s backed by some big hotels (like St James Club Morgan Bay) and near the cruise terminal, this is one of the quieter beaches on the island. Let’s hope it stays that way as nothing beats having the whole beach to yourself!

Lined with the hotels (including Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa and Mystique St. Lucia by Royalton) of Rodney Bay, Reduit’s a mile long stretch of soft, golden sand that makes up the busiest beach on the island. St Lucia’s beaches don’t get more popular than this one, which has calm water to swim in and all manner of watersports (waterskiing, kayaking, banana boats, an inflatable water park...) as well as oodles of bars serving fresh, fruity cocktails. Not that you have to sign up for non-stop action – there’s always the option to lie back and enjoy the view over pretty Pigeon Island.

Unless you’re staying nearby in Sandals Grande, you’ll need to travel by car or water taxi to get here and pay for access to the National Park. These beaches are well worth the extra effort to get to. On the south, Pigeon Island’s coves have a sheltered, natural feel and make a quieter alternative if you don’t want the crowds and buzz of Reduit. Swim in water that’s bluer than blue, relax on soft sand and head off to explore the island’s hiking trails and historic sites before you leave. Other nearby hotels include The Landings Resort & Spa and further up the coast is Cap Maison Resort & Spa and Royalton Saint Lucia.

The west coast beaches have undeniable charm, but there’s something special about the east coast beaches too. Grand Anse, in Dauphin, is the favoured nesting site of Leatherback turtles each year, and some tour providers run overnight camps where you can watch hatchlings scuttle to the sea. Though too rough for swimming, the bright blue ocean has to be seen to be believed, perfectly paired with a mile of golden-brown sand and windswept palms. And other than the turtles, you could well have it to yourself…

Not to be confused with the next beach down (which is home to a resort called ‘Smuggler’s Cove’) this beach is a proper little cove, overlooked by the Cap Maison estate and accessed by a flight of about a hundred steps. Cliffs jut up in the background, the sand is beautifully light and water wonderfully clear for snorkelling. Food and drink are provided by the Naked Fisherman Restaurant, where local produce and the catch of the day come together in fine-dining style.

On the Atlantic coast, Plantation’s reef-protected water is one of the best spots for swimming in north St Lucia, and the long stretch of soft golden sand is brilliant for beach walks - or horseback rides from the stables nearby. Consistent trade winds make this a hotspot for kitesurfers and windsurfers too, with local companies providing kiting equipment and lessons.

Vigie’s often surprisingly quiet considering how pretty it is: clear Caribbean Sea laps up against a gentle curve of gold-coloured sand that must’ve been made for beach walks, while palms and sea grapes provide shade if you want to put your feet up for a bit. Altogether it’s a less busy, less developed alternative to Rodney Bay, but still within walking distance of the cruise port and Castries airport.