Vigie Beach on St. Lucia. © St. Lucia Tourist Board

The St. Lucia cruse port at Castries has one beach within a long walk of the cruise terminal. Otherwise, cruise passengers will need transportation to get to different beaches.

Vigie Beach is a little more than one mile or about a 20 minute walk from the port for moderately fit people. Just look for airplanes landing and taking off from the nearby airport and go northeast and to the right of the airport.

Shore excursion operators quote $20 for a round-trip transfer and time up to six hours at the beach. Taxi rates aren’t set, so expect to pay anywhere between $5 and $15 one way for a group of up to four people. Ask for rates before getting into the cab. Look for taxis closer to the city instead of right by the ship.

Anyone who wants a little more distance from the crowds and the noisy nearby airport can go to Choc Beach, which is about two miles north of the cruise terminal.

Choc Bay is a typical Caribbean beach, offering a long stretch of sand straddled with coconut palms. Here, the water is tranquil, simply perfect for the hotels located along the stretch.

The calm nature of the beach also attracts swimmers and families with children. Visitors can enjoy their choice of water sports or frequent the shopping centre located nearby.

The best known beach on St. Lucia is Reduit Beach at Rodney Bay, a major beach that is 30 minutes north of the cruise terminal.

Rodney Bay is packed with bars and sporting facilities. Because of the facilities and activities they offer, the beach can get quite crowded, especially during the summer months.

The property is renowned for its long, white sandy beach sheltered with tropical greenery.  Furthermore, the beach features several hotels along its stretch offering a plethora of water sporting activities for the entire family.

Shore excursions charge about $40 for round-trip transportation.

South Coast Beaches

Piton peaks overlook St. Lucia beach. Credit: Depositphotos

Anse Cochon: Anse Cochon is a wonderful stretch of volcanic, black sand that is only accessible by boat. Due to its seclusion, the area is calm and serene, making it a perfect hideaway for couples.

Anse de Sables: Anse de Sables is known as a beautiful beach. It’s easily accessible and offers the best wind surfing spot on St. Lucia. Wind surfing is a such a popular activity here that visitors can rent wind surf boards at the wind surf centre of Club Aquarius.

Notable, there is a restaurant/bar, known as the ‘The Reef’ located nearby. This beach is highly recommended for sun-loving tourists.

Cas En Bas: Cas En Bas is also popular for wind surfing. Here, there is an open bar, the ‘Turtle Reef’ offering refreshments for visitors. During the summer however, the bar may be closed for a few weeks.

Cas En Bas also offers wind surfing lessons as well as wind surf boards and kayaks for rent.

East Coast Beaches

Donkey Beach:  Donkey Beach is a windy area offering the quintessential amenities of St. Lucian beaches. While the winds are high, wind surfing is not as poplar here as Cas En Bas or Ans de Sables.

Dauphin Beach: Dauphin Beach is a secluded area accessible by car/jeep from Monchy A popular attraction at Dauphin is the Indian stone-carvings that often leave visitors in awe.

Other attractions include amazingly shaped landforms, historical ruins and a multiplicity of heritage sites. 

Anse Louvet: Anse Louvet is also a secluded beach. In fact, it’s a 3-hour walk from Desbarra as its impossible to drive here.

Locals advise that you bring your own water with you. One amazing attraction here is the river that flows into the main valley. Following this path leads to a spectacular waterfall.

For animal enthusiasts, the Leatherback and other turtles come ashore to bury their eggs each night during the breeding season

Nature’s impact on St. Lucia’s beaches has made each one more breath-taking than the last. The best part is, all the beaches are public, even if it is in front of a hotel, which means that you can see every beach that St. Lucia has to offer no matter where you stay.

Though St. Lucia has plenty of visitors, both from cruise ships and a steady influx of honeymooners, the island’s beaches has largely remained unspoiled and extremely inviting for anyone wishing to enjoy the amazing offerings.