The Best Beaches in St Barts: A Local's Guide

St Barth has around fourteen beaches, and the first thing to know is that every one of them is public and free. There is no such thing as a private beach here, not even the strip of sand in front of the grandest hotel.

What changes from beach to beach is the mood. Some are lively, lined with restaurants and easy to reach. Others are wild and empty, and take a bit of effort to find. Here is how to match the beach to the day you have in mind.

Anse de Grande Saline

Saline is the beach people picture when they picture St Barth. It is a wide curve of pale sand behind a dune, with no buildings, no facilities and no shade. You park in the large car park, then walk about five minutes over the dune before the sea opens up in front of you.

Bring water and an umbrella, and take everything home with you again. Parts of the beach are relaxed about swimwear. Best for: the classic St Barth beach day.

Anse du Gouverneur

Gouverneur matches Saline for beauty and beats it for drama. You reach it down a steep road with a wide view over the bay. As at Saline, there are no facilities and no shade.

Best for: seclusion, photographs and a swim away from the crowds.

Shell Beach

Its real name is Anse de Grand Galet, but everyone calls it Shell Beach for the shells worked through the sand. It sits right in Gustavia, so you can walk there from town, drop into a beach bar and stay for one of the best sunsets on the island.

Best for: easy access, a drink by the water, and the end of the day.

St Jean

St Jean is the island’s social beach. The water is calm and shallow, split by the rock that holds the Eden Rock hotel, with restaurants and shops a few steps back from the sand. It also sits under the approach to the airport, and watching small planes drop over the hill is a show in itself.

Best for: families, easy swimming, lunch close by, and plane-spotting.

Flamands

Flamands is the widest and longest beach on St Barth, backed by a few hotels and a scatter of houses. The water can pick up some swell, which makes it feel grander, and a little wilder, than St Jean.

Best for: a long walk along the sand, and a proper swim when the sea is calm.

Colombier

Colombier has no road. You reach it on foot, a scenic walk of roughly twenty to thirty minutes, or you arrive by boat. The reward is clear, calm water, some of the best snorkeling on the island, and a good chance of seeing turtles.

Wear proper shoes for the trail and bring everything you need, because there are no facilities. Best for: snorkeling, and the quiet of a beach you had to earn.

Grand Cul-de-Sac

Grand Cul-de-Sac is a shallow lagoon protected by a reef. The water is calm and warm, and safe for small children. Those same conditions make it the island’s spot for kitesurfing and other watersports.

Best for: families with young children, and anyone who wants to get out on the water.

Lorient

Lorient is where a lot of residents go. It is a calmer beach with a little natural shade, gentle for families, and a respected surf spot when there is swell.

Best for: a quieter, more local feel.

Corossol

Corossol is a traditional fishing village with a small, sheltered beach, and it stays quiet while the famous beaches fill up. No beach clubs here, just pulled-up boats and local life. On a calm day the water is clear enough for an easy snorkel. Most visitors never make the short drive, which is the whole reason to do it.

Best for: quiet, local character, and an easy snorkel away from the crowds.

A few practical notes

• The wild beaches have no shade and nothing for sale. Saline, Gouverneur and Colombier all need an umbrella and a full water bottle.
• Reef shoes help on the rockier entries and for snorkeling.
• Seaweed happens. Sargassum washes up on some beaches at certain times of year. Marigot, Grand Cul-de-Sac, Flamands, Toiny and Gouverneur are the usual ones, and Shell Beach catches it occasionally. The calmer, sheltered beaches stay clearer, so check conditions before a long drive.
• Take your rubbish with you. Most beaches have no bins, and that is part of why they stay beautiful.

So, which beach?

Want the icon? Saline. Sunset and a drink? Shell Beach. Traveling with young kids? St Jean or Grand Cul-de-Sac. After the best snorkeling? Walk in to Colombier. The island is small enough to see several in one day, and most visitors settle on a favorite they go back to every morning.