Beaches
It really is a day at the beach being waited on hand and foot while lounging under an umbrella or uncovering stretches of empty beaches. St. Kitts has a little of everything. Everything but the crowds that is. The island’s best beaches are in Frigate Bay and along the seven-mile South East Peninsula.
Renting a car or scooter or taking a taxi to get down the peninsula gives you the freedom to find the perfect beach on your own time. Another option is to hire a taxi to drive you to a beautiful white sandy beach and then come back for you at a prearranged time after you’ve had a few cold drinks at one of the island’s many great beach bars.
North Frigate Bay Beach
The Marriott Resort takes up most of this beach. The umbrellas and chairs are reserved for guests but anyone can enjoy this broad white-sand beach. The reefs that protect the beach break the Atlantic waves down to size and offer great snorkeling. Fun watersports, including kayaks, pedal boats and water trampolines are for rent.
South Frigate Bay Beach
This long stretch of beach has mellow waves, warm water and plenty of bars and restaurants. Timothy’s Beach Hotel, Mr. X’s Shiggidy Shack and Monkey Bar are at one end and Inon’s and Oasis Sports Bar are at the other. You can hire beach chairs all along the beach during the day, and have dinner and drinks at night. Friday night is a particularly fun night for "limin" and mixing with the locals.
North Friars Beach
This is the first beach you see looking down the South East Peninsula from atop Timothy Hill. It’s on the Atlantic side (on the left as you look down the peninsula) and the constant waves are good for body surfing. There are no facilities or beach chairs here so it’s not uncommon to find this beach completely deserted. To access the beach, drive to its far end and look for a dirt road on the left.
South Friars Bay Beach
To reach this beach, go to the far end and turn right onto a dirt road before the hill starts. Then turn left at the small wooden signs for Shipwreck’s Bar and Grill or right to Godfather’s Beach Bar or Sunset Cafe. Shipwreck’s has sheltered seating and all the bars have beach chairs.
White House Bay
This is a great beach for snorkeling, but there are no facilities and the shore is too rocky for sunbathing on a towel. Look for two white buoys. The one on the right marks an 18th century British troop ship, complete with timbers and scattered cannons, while on the left is a sunken tugboat. Depths range from five to 20 feet. To get here take a right off Simmond’s Highway, about two miles after Friars. The road is unmarked and if you hit the Great Salt Pond you’ve gone too far.
Sandy Bank Bay
Also known as Gong Beach, this Atlantic beach sits in a well-sheltered shallow cove. It’s a great family beach, but pack a lunch and bring your own towels because there are no facilities. This beach is a bit tricky to get to, so keep an eye out for a dirt road on the left just as the road bends right about three miles after coming down Timothy Hill at the base of the peninsula.
Turtle Beach
For years Turtle Beach Bar and Restaurant was the only outpost of civilization on the peninsula. Their beach is well equipped with an outdoor shower, snorkel gear rentals, beach chairs and a great souvenir shop. Come on Fridays for the buffet and Sundays to join in a game of volleyball with students from the local universities, while families eat fresh lobster and a steel band plays. A troop of monkeys has discovered the bar and may happily steal your drink if you’re not looking. Water taxis to Oualie Beach, Nevis, an eight minute ride, drop off and pick up at Turtle Beach Dock.
Cockle Shell Bay
This beach is off the beaten path, literally. The inimitable Lion’s Beach Bar has some sheltered seating if you want to enjoy home-cooked local food. Lion’s has a handful of beach chairs and a whole stretch of beach with great views of Nevis. To get here turn right at the second sign for Turtle Beach. The next beach over is Banana Bay, home of the Banana Bay Hotel that was washed out by a hurricane and abandoned. This beach is a wonderful undiscovered slice of heaven.
Major’s Bay
This is another great, easy to find undeveloped beach. Just follow Simmond’s Highway to the end. An abandoned barge marks the spot. There are no facilities here so pack a lunch and plenty of beverages.
Dieppe Bay
This volcanic black sand beach is just a short walk from the Golden Lemon Resort. A grove of coconut trees grants shade, while a nearby reef keeps the water calm and provides a perfect place for snorkeling and even windsurfing. Though the beach is small, the views make up for it. Facing the water, you’ll see the Caribbean Sea on your left and the Atlantic Ocean to your right.
