St Eustatius / Beach Life

By Nigel Tisdall

St Eustatius is a volcanic island with unappealing grey sandy beaches that have no facilities and in some cases come with dangerous undercurrents. While there are a few attractive spots where you can relax by the waves, this is not the place for that Caribbean dream beach holiday.

However, there are two beaches on Statia...

Oranjestad Bay - The Lower Town of Oranjestad is bordered by a long, rocky beachfront dotted with bars, hotels, shops and business premises. At the southern end lies the harbour and Gallows Bay. The remnants of 18th century warehouses lie close to the shoreline, and grassy, palm-shaded areas make this a popular stretch for locals to come and swim, snorkel and relax – especially in the evenings and at weekends.

Zeelandia Beach - In the northeast of the island, Zeelandia Bay sits on the Atlantic coast and offers a long, wild and often deserted expanse of dark sand that is ideal for a breezy, beachcombing walk. Swimming is not recommended due to the strong currents, and visitors are asked to respect what is a valuable and peaceful nesting site for turtles.

Snorkeling off St Eustatius

Oranje Bay is a popular spot to go snorkelling from the shore – as well as looking for fish and corals you can trace the now-submerged stone walls and warehouse ruins left from St Eustatius's golden days as an 18th-century trading post. The island's dive operators also offer snorkelling trips to the two reserves of the St Eustatius National Marine Park - where you go will depend on conditions but popular sites include Twelve Guns and Blind Shoal in the south and Inner Jenkins Bay in the north.

Watersports

There is no watersports centre on St Eustatius, although on Sundays you may be able to rent a jet-ski in Gallows Bay from an enterprising local. Water-skis and jet-skis are not permitted in the marine reserves that protect two sections of the coastline.