Gros Islet.
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Overview

Gros Islet is a town at the far northern end of Saint Lucia. It is the newest town in Saint Lucia, being the most recent to have been promoted from being a village.

There is a small beach at Gros Islet, but there are larger beaches and several large tourists resorts within walking distance to the north. Heading south, past the marina, the main beach on the west coast is Reduit Beach. The beaches on the east coast are exposed to the Atlantic wind, but are still largely untouched.

Rodney Bay Marina is to the south and becomes a hub of activity when the Atlantic Ralley for Cruisers (ARC) finishes there in December.

Beausejour Cricket Stadium is just outside of Gros Islet and was a venue for the 2007 Cricket World Cup.

Get in

The local bus service 1a runs regularly from Castries.

Get around

Buses are the least expensive method of travelling. The bus route (1A) leaves from Gros Islet to Castries every few minutes. The buses have an 'M' prefix on their registration plates.

Taxis have a TX prefix on their registration plates.

See

Pigeon Island National Park. An old military fort, previously an island but now connected to the rest of Saint Lucia, that has a few hiking trails that leads to a view of Martinique and a beach. Plenty of parking right outside the entrance.

Beaches There are a number of beaches within walking distance of Gros Islet.

Reduit Beach. This is the most popular beach on the west coast, with the best amenities. It's only a few hundred metres from the beaches on the seafront at Gros Islet, but as the marina entrance is between the two, it's a good 30 minutes walk back along the main road and past the marina and then turn right at the shopping mall.

Cas en Bas. On the east coast, this can be reached by following the (occasionally dirt) road that goes past the Cotton Bay Village resort. The beach has a couple of restaurants, but is still largely untouched. It's a popular spot for kite surfing and a kite surfing school operates from here.

Anse Lavoutte. This is an almost completely secluded and untouched beach just around the headland to the south of Cas en Bas. It's popular with kite surfers and locals, who tend to drive there in the 4-wheel drive cars.

Gros Islet Beach. Narrow beach on the seafront of Gros Islet town.

Pigeon Point Beach. About 1 km long, north of Gros Islet town. The first half of the beach is undeveloped. There are usually few people, except on weekends. The second half of the beach is developed with Landings and Sandals Grande resorts.

Do

Gros Islet Street Party, Every Friday evening, the streets of Gros Islet are closed off to cars and a vibrant street party ("The Jump-up") takes place. The bars stay open till late and numerous street vendors set up stalls selling local food.

Rodney Bay Marina. The main yacht marina on Saint Lucia. It has good amenities and a range of overpriced cafes selling European food.

Cricket: Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. This hosts the Windward Islands team, and St Lucia Kings in the Caribbean Premier League; they also play in Castries. With a capacity of 13,000, it was opened in 2002 and renamed for the Windies captain in 2016.

Kite surfing. The windier beaches to the east of Gros Islet are popular with kite surfers. If you don't have your own kite, you can hire one (or arrange lessons) at the Kite Surfing St. Lucia on the Cas en Bas beach.

Snuba Saint Lucia. Snuba is the ultimate happy-medium for those wanting to go beyond snorkeling without the training and concerns associated with a deep dive. The tour begins from a sandy beach and descends to a maximum depth of 20 feet. There is no need to surface for air or to tussle with bulky equipment.

Buy

Rodney Bay Mall. Has a good range of shops and is a well-stocked supermarket.

Eat

Somewhere Special Restaurant and Bar. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Local and international cuisine available. Internet Wifi and reasonable laundry service also available.

Sleep

Almond Morgan Bay. All-inclusive resort covering 22 acres set amongst palms with a beach on a secluded cove.

Almond Smugglers Cove. A spacious, village-style resort located on 60 acres of lush tropical gardens.

Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Spa. 4-star Caribbean beach resort on Reduit Beach.

Bay Gardens Hotel. Medium-sized 3-star property, 5 minutes away from sister property, Bay Gardens Beach Resort.

Bay Gardens Inn. Cosy, intimate 3-star hotel, voted Best Small Hotel in the Caribbean by Virgin Holidays.

Bay Guesthouse. A relaxed atmosphere where each room has a private bathroom, free wifi and communal patio overlooking the sea with hammocks.

Cap Maison. Designed in an elegant Spanish Caribbean style, Cap Maison is a stylish boutique resort.

Hotel Chez Marie Alish. Self-catering apartments.

La Panache Ocean View Guesthouse. Near Gros Islet, Rodney Bay and the marina yacht harbour, on a hill with a nice view. All apartments are equipped with a basic kitchen, bathrooms and ocean view balconies. High speed wireless Internet access is free.

Nelson's Furnished Apartments. A very clean, well-equipped and friendly establishment, with views overlooking the marina. One of the cheapest options and with good wireless.

La Panache. The La Panache St. Lucia Caribbean guesthouse is located near Gros Islet, Rodney Bay and the marina yacht harbour on a hill with a stunning view. All apartments are equipped with a basic kitchen, bathrooms, balconies and spacious beds with fans and mosquito netting. Towels and bed linen are provided. High speed wireless Internet access is free.

Windjammer Landing. Mediterranean village-style resort on 55 acres of lush tropical landscaping overlooking picturesque Labrelotte Bay.