This guide to the best beaches in St Kitts and Nevis will help you discover some of the incredible coastal neighborhoods in this dual-island nation. Located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, these islands are known for having some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. With white sand, crystal-clear water and palm-tree-lined bays, there are plenty of beaches to discover in St Kitts.
While the islands have become popular vacation destinations, you can still find secluded beaches away from the crowds. From watching dolphins on Turtle Beach to snorkeling over shipwrecks and colorful reefs in White House Bay, you’ll find the perfect beach for your next trip to the Caribbean below.
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Frigate Bay South
A popular beach on St Kitts known for its nightlife
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Frigate Bay South is widely considered to be the most popular beach in St Kitts. It’s located east of Basseterre, on a wide, open bay. Frigate Bay South is best known for its nightlife and vibrant atmosphere. The beach is lined with hotels and resorts, beachfront bars and a variety of restaurants. It’s often busy from morning until after midnight, with a buzzing party vibe.
The beautiful white-sand beach is also popular for water sports such as bathing, windsurfing and personal watercraft riding. Over the weekend, the beach becomes the main nightlife hub on the whole island, with a string of bars known locally as The Strip. With plenty of people around, it’s never too difficult to find a taxi cab to and from Frigate Bay and anywhere else in St Kitts.
Location: Saint George, Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis
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Banana Bay Beach
A remote beach on the south coast of St Kitts
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Banana Bay Beach is a secluded beach on the southeast coast of St Kitts. It offers a beautiful stretch of golden sand and crystal-clear water that is popular for those looking for a place to relax. However, it doesn’t quite feel as remote as it once did, with the development of the luxury Park Hyatt Resort and a few restaurants along the peninsula.
On a clear day, you can easily look straight across the Narrows to Nevis Island, with beautiful views along this stretch of sand. While Banana Bay requires a automobile to reach, it’s conveniently located among some other top beaches including Turtle Beach and Cockleshell Beach, if you want to hop from one bay to the next.
Location: Banana Bay, South East Peninsula, Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis
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Cockleshell Bay Beach
One of the most popular beaches on the southeast peninsula
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Cockleshell Bay Beach is the most visited of the beaches strung along the southeast coast of St Kitts. The protected bay is lined with white sand stretching for almost 3 km. It looks straight across the strait known as the Narrows to the sister island of Nevis. Cockleshell Bay is popular among both locals and tourists alike.
The beach is home to some restaurants and bars, including the famous Reggae Beach Bar at the eastern edge. It’s particularly common for locals to head there at weekends to party but is much more serene during the week. The clear water is also a great place to go for a swim on a warm day, with relatively shallow water.
Location: Cockleshell Bay Beach, St. Kitts & Nevis
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South Friars Bay
A peaceful beach not too far from Basseterre
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South Friars Bay is a laidback beach running along the skinniest part of the southeast peninsula in St Kitts. It’s perfect for those looking for a more relaxing alternate to Frigate Bay as it’s just the next bay south and easier to access than the more secluded beaches further afield.
There are plenty of things to do at South Friars, with water activities and dining available. The coast is lined with restaurants and bars from budget shacks to higher-end dining experiences. It’s also a great spot to go for a swim and a snorkel, with calm, clear water. South Friars is not to be confused with North Friars on the Atlantic side of the coast, where the sea is much wilder and unsuitable for bathing.
Location: South Friars Bay, St. Kitts & Nevis
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Turtle Beach
One of the best beaches to go snorkeling
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Turtle Beach is a popular beach on the remote southeast peninsula of St Kitts. Its sandy shoreline stretches along a bay protected from the rough Atlantic Ocean. Similar to other beaches on the south coast, it looks straight across the Narrows to the island of Nevis. Access to Turtle Beach is via a dirt road, but it’s worth the effort to reach this secluded and pristine spot.
While generally ranked among the best beaches in St Kitts and Nevis, Turtle Beach is specifically one of the best beaches for bathing and snorkeling. Underneath the clear water, you’ll find a coral reef and an amazing variety of colorful fish. If you’re lucky, you might even spot dolphins or whales in the bay, especially during winter.
Location: Turtle Beach, St. Kitts & Nevis
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Majors Bay Beach
A popular beach close to the Nevis ferry port
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Majors Bay is a large bay on the southeast peninsula of St Kitts. Located right at the end of the peninsula’s highway, it’s an easier beach to access than some of the others on the same coastline. Majors Bay is best known for being where the Sea Bridge ferry departs for Nevis. However, the beach is also appealing for relaxing and bathing.
Despite the presence of the ferry port, Majors Bay gets less crowded than nearby Banana Bay and Cockleshell Bay, but the long stretch of sand and calm, azur water is equally as good for a swim and sunbake. There are no facilities available on the beach, however, which is often the reason that people find it even more peaceful.
Location: Majors Bay, St. Kitts & Nevis
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Oualie Beach
One of the best beaches for bathing in Nevis
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Oualie Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Nevis. Located toward the northern coast of the island, it faces the Narrows and looks across to the string of popular bays in St Kitts. The sandy beach is lined with palm trees and is great for bathing thanks to its beautiful blue water and a small pier.
You can join in some water sports with windsurfing, kayaking, yacht charters and diving from Oualie Beach. This section of coast is dominated by the Oualie Beach Resort, providing accommodations, food and entertainment for beachgoers. Otherwise, it’s easily accessed by road from other towns on the island.
Location: Oualie Beach, Oualie Bay, Nevis, New Castle, St. Kitts & Nevis
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Pinney’s Beach
The most famous beach in Nevis
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Pinney’s Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean. The long, golden, sandy beach on the west coast of Nevis is located just north of the main town of Charlestown. It appears to stretch endlessly along the Caribbean coast with plenty of room to enjoy bathing, relaxing and walking.
The beach is lined with many bars, restaurants, and resorts, with many visitors to Nevis staying near here. It also has a reputation for attracting high-profile people and celebrities on vacation, with well-known high-end dining and cocktail bars overlooking the sea. Pinney’s is one of the best places to be at sunset, with striking, colorful sunsets and a lively atmosphere throughout the evening.
Location: Pinney's Beach, Charlestown, St. Kitts & Nevis
Mapphoto by David Stanley (CC BY 2.0) modified
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Sand Bank Bay
One of the nicest beaches on the Atlantic side of St Kitts
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Sand Bank Bay is located on the Atlantic side of the southeast peninsula of St Kitts. It’s a lovely, protected, c-shaped cove with warm water and pristine white sand. It’s considered one of the nicest beaches on the Atlantic coast and was completely off the beaten path until a few years ago. While there has been some coastal development, it still retains its quiet, romantic vibe.
Sand Bank Bay is not the most ideal spot for a swim, with the rough Atlantic Ocean quite different to the calm waters of the Caribbean. However, the protective cliffs along the cove protect it from the worst of the towering waves so, if you’re a confident swimmer, it can be a fun place to play in the surf.
Location: Sand Bank Bay, St. Kitts & Nevis
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White House Bay
An excellent location for snorkeling
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White House Bay is a rocky beach on the west coast of the southeast peninsula of St Kitts. While the beach isn’t necessarily popular for bathing or as a place to go baking in the sun, it’s one of the best snorkeling locations on the island. There are several good sections of reef along the bay, offering a great chance of finding some marine life.
You can’t miss the shipwrecks in this part of the ocean. There is a sunken tugboat just off the coast and a more recently discovered 1740s British troopship. They harbor plenty of colorful fish and make for a truly unique beach experience in St Kitts.
Location: Christophe Harbor Marina Southeast Peninsula St. Kitts, St. Kitts & Nevis
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