St. Lucia's Beaches
Anse is the French word for beach, which is why many of the beaches have the word “anse” in their name. All of St Lucia’s beaches are public, forming part of the Queen’s Chain, even if they are located in front of a hotel. Some hotels do make access to their beach difficult, but there has to be a public path by law. Alternatively you can access the beach you want to visit by boat. The beaches of St Lucia have white, golden or black volcanic sand. Many beaches are used by turtles as a nesting site. The best St Lucia beaches are to be found to the north of Castries, which is the principal resort area. At certain times of the year the sea can be choppy in the North, particularly around Christmas time. Some bays do have currents, so always be aware when swimming and pay heed to any warning flags.
Reduit is a lovely St Lucia beach with clear blue waters, dominated by three hotels. It can get crowded here as it is popular with the locals. It connects with Pigeon Point, although you can only walk as far as the marina. The beach is nearly a mile long.
Anse de Sables beach is great for windsurfing and kitesurfing.
The Atlantic east coast beaches tend to be difficult to get to and are not generally suitable for swimming. They are however, the best place for wildlife spotting.
Donkey Beach is wild and windy and worth the hours trek from Gros Islet.
Dauphin Beach has some Indian stone carvings, but is only accessible by jeep.
Anse Loubet is only accessible on foot. There is a spectacular blowhole and waterfall here.
Jalousie did have black volcanic sand, but the Hilton imported white sand to cover it up!
Anse des Pitons, is a crescent shaped St Lucia beach at the foot of the Pitons and well worth a visit for the spectacular backdrop of scenery alone.
Running parallel to the airport runway is Vigie beach. This is a lovely stretch of sand with plenty of shade. Popular with locals, there are a few hotels here too.
Labrelotte Bay is a lovely sandy beach which you can find between Windjammer Landing and the East Winds Inn.
Marigot Bay is a haven for yachts, but further in you will find a very secluded St Lucia beach. Only accessible by boat.
Choc Bay is a long stretch of golden sand with calm waters and coconut palms. Popular with families, it is close to some large hotels and the Gablewood Shopping Centre. There is a bar and there are watersports available here.
Take care if you visit St Lucia beaches south of Castries as they are not generally used by tourists and can therefore suffer from a lack of sanitation.
Pigeon island is one of the main tourist attractions and also has several beaches to enjoy, with a beach bar and watersports available.
A 20 minute walk south of Soufriere will lead you to Malgretout. This quiet undeveloped St Lucia beach is fantastic for snorkeling and also offers the opportunity to shower in the warm volcanic waters of the Pitons Waterfall.
Some of the beaches on the southwest coast of St Lucia are only accessible by boat.
Anse Cochon on the South coast of St Lucia has black volcanic sands and calm waters with shallow reefs good for snorkeling. It is best accessed by boat, although those staying at Ti Kaye Village can get to it by road.
The marine reserve off of Anse Chastanet makes this a great beach for diving and snorkeling. The dark sand makes this a very attractive St Lucia beach.
The beach just north of Soufriere offers wonderful views of the Pitons. Mostly frequented by locals.
Cas En Bas – is one of the best St Lucia beaches for windsurfing. Protected by a reef, it is popular with locals at the weekends.
