With its abundance of picturesque coastline, Saint Lucia is perfect for beach lovers. White, gold, and even black beaches contrast with azure seas, creating picture-perfect places to kick back, relax, and enjoy the sun.
Much of Saint Lucia is mountainous and covered in a blanket of thick rainforest, while in the southwest corner, you’ll find one of the most remarkable sights in the entire Caribbean region – the peaks of the volcanic Petit and Gros Piton mountains soaring out of the sea.
Set against this stunning backdrop are Saint Lucia’s many and varied beaches. Each has its own individual appeal, but all offer the same laid-back Caribbean vibe. In some areas, you’ll find black sand which was formed when volcanic rocks mixed with light-colored coral sand. However, many are interspersed with white sand adding to their exotic allure.
When looking to check-in to paradise, our luxury Saint Lucia villas provide an exclusive vacation base for enjoying the ultimate relaxation and island exploration. With private pools, ocean views and private in-house amenities and staff, our most luxurious homes also offer direct access to some of the best beaches in St Lucia.
Here’s a rundown of which Saint Lucia beaches you should visit and why…
So, what are the best Saint Lucia beaches?
Reduit Beach
Saint Lucia beaches for a lively vibe
Many describe Reduit as the best Saint Lucia beach for a lively vibe, and it’s certainly one of the busiest. There are lots of activities to enjoy here, including watersports like snorkeling, scuba diving, and sailing.
Reduit Beach is located in the Rodney Bay area close to a large yachting marina, so you can easily hire a boat and head out for a day of sailing and exploring. Some areas of the beach are shaded by lush island greenery, so you can take refuge from the hot midday sun if you wish.
A good variety of restaurants and bars are located along Reduit Beach. There are both casual and fine dining restaurants, as well as laid-back beach bars and more upmarket places for a drink. What’s more, Rodney Bay is just a short walk away and is home to restaurants, cafes, a shopping mall, nightclubs, and a casino.
See our Saint Lucia villasMarigot Bay
Voted as the best beach in Saint Lucia
Marigot Bay is located southwest of St. Lucia’s capital, Castries. Often voted as the best beach in St Lucia, Marigot is itself an oasis of calm with a wide range of sophisticated accommodations, bars, restaurants, and both water and land-based vacation activities. These include fishing, diving, boat trips, and beach tours.
St. Lucia and the Piton mountains were famously featured in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie. The natural arch at Marigot Bay is the same site in which Jack Sparrow sees the hanging skeletons of captured pirates in the very first film!
Marigot Bay lies equidistant from the spectacular scenery of the Soufriere region to the south with Piton mountains (a World Heritage site), a drive-in volcano, and hot springs. The more touristy Rodney Bay area is to the north and has big hotels, restaurants, a casino, nightlife, and great duty-free shopping. Either can be reached in a 45-minute to 1-hour drive, or less by water taxi.
See our Marigot Bay villasSugar Beach
The best beach in Saint Lucia for views
Located next to a lush rainforest, this striking white-sand beach is the perfect place to relax and unwind. It offers dramatic views of the soaring Pitons mountains and is gently lapped by the warm Caribbean Sea. Here you can relax and appreciate the beauty of the island, whether you want to splash in the shallows, snorkel off the beach, or scuba-dive past tropical fish and colorful coral reefs.
The beach is in the region of Soufriere in the south of St Lucia and is actually nestled between Petit Piton and Gros Piton. Part of the National Marine Park, it’s surrounded by more than 100 acres of lush tropical gardens brimming with mango, coconut, and papaya trees.
It should be no surprise to discover the abundance of hot springs and mineral baths nearby, especially considering Soufriere is French for ‘sulfur’. Other great places to visit nearby include the Diamond Botanical Gardens and the bike trails that wind through the splendid Anse Mamin Sugar Plantation.
See our Saint Lucia villasVigie Beach
The most peaceful Saint Lucia beaches
Located in North Castries and running parallel to the airport, Vigie Beach is one of the most peaceful Saint Lucia beaches. There aren’t many hotels and resorts surrounding the beach so visitors are mainly day trippers from the nearby cruise ship port or travellers en-route to their flight home.
Having the airport nearby doesn’t spoil the beach at all. The golden shores of Vigie Beach slope gently into the clear waters of the Caribbean and the beach is well sheltered providing relief from noise and unruly trade winds.
Those searching for a somewhat serene, but sometimes social beach on St. Lucia should head to Vigie Beach. Situated on the island’s northern tip, it’s ever so slightly removed from the heart of it all, but also not completely undisturbed. Being close to Castries puts you in an ideal location for shopping, dining, and other activities when your day at the beach has come to end.
There’s also a restaurant right on the beach, plus several nearby where you can sample St. Lucia’s local delicacies.
Pigeon Island Beach
The best beach in St Lucia for wildlife spotting
Situated on the southern side of Pigeon Island, just by the entrance to the Pigeon Island National Park, are two picturesque little bays. Pigeon Island is connected to the mainland, plus there’s a large car park right outside the park’s entrance. Once inside the park, just turn left and you’ll reach the beaches.
Perfect for families or anyone looking for a peaceful alternative to some of St Lucia’s other beaches, Pigeon Island is the best beach in St Lucia for wildlife spotting. You can bring your own picnic and sit down at one of the many shaded, grassy areas, or head to the quaint Jambe de Bois cafe that serves inexpensive drinks and snacks.
The Pigeon Island National Landmark is both a historical park and a nature center. After lounging in the sun and swimming you can look in on the museum or climb to the historic Fort Rodney for distant views of neighbouring island, Martinique.
Pigeon Island used to be only accessible via boat, but today there is a path and road that’s open to the public. As well as this, the island is located fairly close to accommodation in the Rodney Bay area and The Landings but is in an otherwise fairly secluded location.
Anse Chastanet
The best beach in Saint Lucia for black sand!
Located on the southwest coast this is the best beach in St Lucia for volcanic black sand. Public access to Anse Chastanet is difficult, but not impossible, as it’s surrounded by the Jade Mountain Resort. The best option to travel to this beach is by water taxi.
The beach is bounded by palm tree-lined bays, which provide cool shady spots for visitors to flee the scorching afternoon sun. Some of the best snorkeling on the island is on offer just off-shore at the natural reefs of a local marine reserve.
Anse Chastanet is home to lots of restaurants, bars, and cafes, so you’ll find plenty of places serving up delicious local cuisine.
