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North America Saint Barthélemy Saint Barthélemy Do & See Gouverneur Beach

Overview

Gouverneur Beach

The guide was updated: 2025-04-28

Gouverneur Beach unfolds like a pirate’s treasure map come to life — a broad U-shaped bay framed by high cliffs, where the only footprints in the white sand might be your own. Reach it via a steep, turtle-crossed road (watch your step!) that spills onto one of St Barts’ most undisturbed shores. The southwest-facing cove offers great snorkelling, while the eastern end sees naturists embracing the solitude. The lack of amenities means you have to pack some essentials, but reward comes in spades: picnic-perfect sands, cliffside views from nearby Santa Fe restaurant (try their grilled lobster), and whispers of buried pirate gold beneath your beach towel.

Useful Information

Address: Plage de Gouverneur, Saint-Barthélemy

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

St Jean Beach

St Jean Beach

St Jean Beach stretches nearly a mile along St Barts' northern coast. It is both the island's longest and most popular beach. Its crescent shape splits naturally at the Eden Rock peninsula, creating two distinct zones. The eastern side is favoured by families and snorkellers, who take advantage of the calm waters of the eponymous bay. The western stretch attracts windsurfers, zooming around carried by the open swells. It’s also where you’ll find Nikki Beach — St Barts’ hottest party spot. St Jean is located right next to the island’s airport, where small planes fly low overhead, adding a dynamic element to the scenery without disrupting the beach’s appeal. Luxury hotels, including the iconic Eden Rock, line the shore, providing upscale amenities just steps from the sand.

Nikki Beach

Nikki Beach

Nikki Beach Saint Barth occupies a prime oceanfront position on St Jean Beach, only a few minutes east of Eden Rock. The venue combines beachside dining with relaxed luxury: think white sunbeds and a restaurant with uninterrupted views of St Jean Bay. Nikki regularly draws celebrity guests, making it one of St Barts' prime spots for star sightings. The open-air restaurant creates an ideal setting for people-watching between courses. Dining highlights include exceptionally fresh seafood, with tuna tacos and sushi receiving consistent praise. Well-crafted cocktails, particularly the margaritas, complement the menu.

Plane Spotting

Plane Spotting

St Barts Airport (SBH) thrills aviation enthusiasts with its dramatic 650-metre runway with one of the world's most challenging approaches. Landing aircraft must dive steeply right after clearing the hillside, then immediately pull up just a few seconds before touching down. The distance between the edge of the hill and the plane can be less than two meters! Prime viewing spots include St Jean Beach (where planes appear to skim sunbathers), the western runway perimeter, and the airport terminal cafeteria with its panoramic windows. For a grand perspective, the hills east of St Jean Bay frame the runway against turquoise waters. Note: never linger directly beneath flight paths — these low-flying aircraft leave no margin for error.

Grand Cul-De-Sac

Grand Cul-De-Sac

Grand Cul-de-Sac offers a shallow, protected lagoon with crystal-clear turquoise waters, ideal for families and watersports enthusiasts. The bay's knee-deep waters extend nearly to the reef, creating a safe environment for swimming and snorkelling, with frequent sea turtle sightings near Le Sereno Hotel. Three luxury hotels — Rosewood Le Guanahani, Le Sereno, and Le Barthélemy — line the shore, with waterfront dining and chaise lounge rentals. Two watersports operators offer equipment for windsurfing, kiteboarding and jet skiing.

Petit Cul-De-Sac

Petit Cul-De-Sac

Petit Cul-de-Sac offers a secluded coastal experience along St Barts' northeastern shore, protected between two peninsulas. Unlike more developed beaches, this spot maintains an undeveloped shoreline with calm waters suitable for swimming and snorkelling, where sea turtle sightings are common. The beach's location — west of Grand Cul-de-Sac and southwest of Petit Étang lagoon — remains deliberately unmarked, contributing to its “hidden gem” status. Visitors typically arrive via a left turn past the salt pond when approaching from Toiny. This wild beach offers no commercial facilities, so make sure to pack some water and a picnic basket.

Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing

Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing

Surfing on St Barts offers diverse conditions for all skill levels, with winter swells (November through March) delivering ideal waves up to 3.5 metres at spots like Lorient Beach. CaribWaterplay, operating since 1983 on St Jean Beach, provides lessons, gear rentals, and guided excursions — perfect for beginners learning basics or advanced surfers chasing reef breaks. Windsurfers thrive on consistent trade winds, from Grand Cul de Sac’s calm flats to Toiny’s challenging "Washing Machine" chop. Kitesurfers favor Grand Cul de Sac’s shallow, reef-protected bay for practicing tricks in steady breezes. Whether you’re renting gear or booking a pro instructor, St Barts’ varied coastline ensures an adrenaline-packed session.

Saline Beach

Saline Beach

Saline Beach is St Barts’ untamed coastal masterpiece — a crescent of powdery sand where turquoise waves meet rugged hills in perfect harmony. The journey begins with a 200-metre trek through scrubland and over a low dune, rewarding visitors with a vista of undeveloped shoreline where the only distractions are seabirds and the rhythmic crash of surf. On a clear day, direct your gaze past the green dot of Île Coco and you'll just be able to spot St Kitts on the horizon. Come prepared: shade is scarce and facilities nonexistent. What you’ll find instead is raw beauty; the kind that draws naturists and photographers, all chasing that rare blend of wildness and tropical splendor. Time your visit for late afternoon when the light gilds the salt pond’s edges (the same salty pound that gave the beach its name), and you’ll understand why this beach remains the island’s best-kept escape.

Gouverneur Beach

Gouverneur Beach

Gouverneur Beach unfolds like a pirate’s treasure map come to life — a broad U-shaped bay framed by high cliffs, where the only footprints in the white sand might be your own. Reach it via a steep, turtle-crossed road (watch your step!) that spills onto one of St Barts’ most undisturbed shores. The southwest-facing cove offers great snorkelling, while the eastern end sees naturists embracing the solitude. The lack of amenities means you have to pack some essentials, but reward comes in spades: picnic-perfect sands, cliffside views from nearby Santa Fe restaurant (try their grilled lobster), and whispers of buried pirate gold beneath your beach towel.

Gustavia

Gustavia

Gustavia blends St Barts’ Swedish heritage with Caribbean flair, its pastel harbourfront lined with designer boutiques and cafés. For history and panoramas, hike Rue des Dinzey to Fort Karl, where 18th-century Swedish cannons and the ruins of a bottle-shaped lighthouse overlook Shell Beach and the marina. History lingers in every detail: from the ruins of the fort to the Wall House Museum’s island artefacts, Gustavia rewards slow exploration. Across the bay, the Gustavia Lighthouse offers a quieter escape. Locals and visitors often bring sunset picnics here, watching yachts navigate the harbour mouth. Time your visit for the monthly open-air market on Rue du Général de Gaulle, where straw hats and spices spill onto cobblestones.

Flamands

Flamands

Flamands Beach stretches across St Barts’ northwestern coast as the island’s widest crescent of sand, where gentle slopes meet the Caribbean’s playful surf. Unlike more secluded shores, this beach balances public access (via a signed coastal road pathway) with pockets of exclusivity — think billionaire-owned villas and hotels renting loungers at the eastern end. The north-facing bay delivers consistent waves for bodyboarding, framed by hilly headlands and views of offshore islets like Île Chevreau. Come hungry: La Langouste’s grilled lobster and Chez Roland’s Creole dishes are both a short stroll away. Just don’t expect shade — the beach’s pearly expanse promises uninterrupted sunshine, with the occasional celebrity sighting as a bonus.

Colombier Beach

Colombier Beach

Colombier Beach is St Barts’ crowning escape — a crescent of white sand accessible only by boat or two scenic hiking trails, ensuring its pristine seclusion. The Flamands Trail (20-30 minutes) starts past Petite Anse, winding along cactus-dotted cliffs with glimpses of rocky shores. For panoramic vistas, take the Colombier Lookout Trail (30-45 minutes) from the viewpoint parking lot, descending past iguanas sunning on volcanic boulders to reach the shore. Protected by a hilly peninsula, the bay’s calm waters reveal sea turtles and coral. Don’t forget to pack your snorkel! History lingers at the western edge, where hurricane-topped ruins of Laurence Rockefeller’s 1950s villa stand guard. No facilities mean packing sun shelter and water; early mornings reward hikers with empty sands and gentler heat.

Toiny

Toiny

Toiny Beach reveals St Barts’ untamed edge along its wind-lashed southeastern coast, where Atlantic swells crash onto a reef break too the endless delight of surfers. Marked as "Côte Sauvage" on old maps, this rugged crescent trades swimming safety for adrenaline-pumping waves — come prepared for rocky shallows and strong currents. The Toiny Beach Club provides creature comforts: a freshwater pool, restrooms, and seaside dining. It’s a fantastic destination after mornings spent beachcombing or watching the sunrise in solitude. Those headland views? Best enjoyed with toes in the sand and a cocktail in hand, far from the island’s busier shores.

Grand Fond Beach & Trail

Grand Fond Beach & Trail

Grand Fond reveals St Barts’ untamed Atlantic coast — a pebble-strewn beach where surfers challenge the crashing waves, and swimming is wisely avoided amid the rocky shallows. This wild counterpart to nearby Toiny offers raw drama: wind-sculpted vistas stretch to offshore islets, while the relentless surf soundtrack drowns out all traces of the island’s glamour. A 15-minute hike west along slippery coastal trails leads to the Piscines Naturelles Grand Fond, where volcanic rocks cradle seawater pools. Time it right (avoid midday sun and check tides) for safe dips between sea urchin colonies. The full 3-kilometre out-and-back trail offers panoramic ocean views. Just be sure to pack sturdy shoes and water for the scramble over jagged terrain. Shellfish hunters take note: collecting is prohibited, but the beach makes a spectacular picnic spot for those craving salt-sprayed solitude.

Corossol Beach

Corossol Beach

Corossol Beach offers a window into St Barts' authentic soul. It’s a caramel-hued crescent where blue-and-orange fishing dories bob beside lobster traps, preserving the island's maritime heritage. This working harbour feels worlds away from the island's glamorous hotspots, with local artisans still weaving traditional palm-leaf baskets and hats outside their pastel cottages. The village behind the beach hums with unpolished charm: fishermen mend nets, volleyball games erupt spontaneously, and annual Saint Louis Day celebrations fill the air with Creole music. When hunger strikes, Le Régal serves up French-Caribbean flavours just steps from the salt-weathered docks. Come for the quiet rhythm of island life, stay for the sunset over the fishing fleet's silhouettes.

Sailing

Sailing

Sailing in St Barts unlocks the island’s coastline from a fresh perspective, with catamaran and motorboat charters available for half-day excursions or week-long adventures. Anchor off secluded Colombier Beach, picnic on Pinel Island, or enjoy chef-prepared meals aboard as the sun dips below the horizon. The island’s competitive sailing calendar peaks with spring regattas like the St Barth Bucket (March) and Les Voiles de St Barth (April), while November’s Cata Cup draws kitesurfing catamaran racers. Whether piloting your own yacht or chartering a crewed vessel, St Barts’ sheltered bays and trade winds cater to every nautical ambition.

Wall House Museum

Wall House Museum

Wall House Museum stands as Gustavia’s enigmatic Swedish-era relic, its thick stone walls harboring more questions than answers. Built between 1788-1790, this imposing structure’s original purpose remains debated — was it a theater, political hub, or rental property? Today, its ground floor displays a modest collection of island artifacts (fishing boats, oil lamps), while upstairs houses Gustavia’s historical library. The museum also organises several art exhibitions every year, with topics like contemporary art from Haiti and the Surrealist movement in France. Don’t miss the courtyard’s surviving brick bread oven, a quiet testament to daily life centuries ago. Though the exhibits won’t rewrite history books, the building itself offers a tangible connection to St Barts’ layered past. Pair a visit with sunset drinks at the nearby lighthouse for full time-travel effect.

Shell Beach

Shell Beach

Shell Beach offers St Barts' most unusual shoreline — a sun-drenched crescent where countless tiny shells crunch underfoot instead of sand. Just five minutes from Gustavia's boutiques, this "in-town" escape delivers calm waters that deepen quickly, perfect for swimmers and snorkellers (gear not provided). For a taste of yacht-spotting glamour, watch sailboats anchor offshore while local musicians strum at Shellona restaurant during golden hour. Adventurers can test their nerve diving off the nearby cliffs, while tender feet might prefer water shoes for the shell-covered shore.

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