The Southeast Peninsula Beaches

The southeast peninsula of Saint Kitts, reached by a scenic road winding over the hills from the capital, holds the island's finest and most beautiful beaches, a dramatic finger of land where the calm Caribbean Sea meets the wilder Atlantic. Beaches like the popular Cockleshell Bay and South Friars Bay offer golden sands, calm turquoise water for swimming and snorkelling, and lively beach bars, all framed by the sweeping view across the narrow strait to the perfect volcanic cone of neighbouring Nevis rising from the sea. Roamed by wild vervet monkeys and edged by salt ponds, the peninsula is the scenic beach heart of the island.

What you actually see

• Cockleshell Bay - the golden beach with views of Nevis.
• South Friars Bay - the popular beach and beach bars.
• The views to Nevis - the vistas across the narrows to the cone.
• The vervet monkeys - the wild monkeys of the peninsula.

When to go

December to April, the dry season, for the sunniest weather and calmest seas; the beaches are lovely year-round, with the summer hotter and wetter and a hurricane risk from June to November. The scenic drive over to the peninsula, with its viewpoints across to Nevis, is a highlight in itself, best in clear weather.

Honest expectations

Saint Kitts's best beaches are concentrated on the southeast peninsula rather than spread around the island, and some, like South Friars, can get busy with cruise-day crowds and beach bars, while the Atlantic-facing sides have rougher water; the island is developing its tourism and has some resort development. For golden beaches, calm turquoise swimming, lively beach bars and the gorgeous view across to Nevis, though, the southeast peninsula is a lovely and scenic Caribbean highlight.

Nearby

The capital Basseterre, Brimstone Hill and the island of Nevis are within reach.