St Vincent, the lush, unspoiled mainland of St Vincent and the Grenadines, is home to some breathtakingly beautiful beaches. The St Vincent beaches remain some of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets, offering an escape from the hustle and bustle of mainstream tourist destinations.
We’ve been lucky enough to spend over a year in St Vincent and the Grenadines and around 2 months exploring the mainland itself. What we found is it’s unique among the Caribbean islands we’ve visited, with many of St Vincent’s beaches being stunning black sand. So, without further ado, let’s explore what we think are the 12 best beaches in St Vincent.
By Lauren & Jack · Updated September 2025 · Based on spending over a year in St Vincent and the Grenadines
What to expect from St Vincent beaches
Having spent a couple of months on the mainland, we realised pretty quickly that the beaches in St Vincent are very different to other Caribbean islands. If you’re expecting endless white sand, you might be surprised (you’ll find more of that further down the Grenadines, in places like Bequia!). On St Vincent, many of the beaches are black sand, because of the island’s volcano.
That doesn’t mean it’s all black sand, though. There are a handful of golden and white sand beaches in St Vincent, as well as small coves you’ll often have completely to yourself (or be sharing with the local village kids like we did at Questelles Beach!). Some are perfect for a swim or snorkel, others are better for a walk or just for admiring rather than swimming. We learned to expect variety and that’s kinda why we love St Vincent and its beaches so much.
The nice thing is that all beaches in St Vincent are public and free, so you can explore as many as you like. There are more than 30 named beaches along the mainland, so there’s plenty to keep you busy!
1. Questelles Beach – The best local beach in St Vincent
A favourite with locals, we loved Questelles Beach because it’s jaw-droppingly beautiful, and we were the only tourists in sight. That’s not unusual for St Vincent, but what set it apart was the atmosphere. Instead of being empty like many of the island’s beaches, this one had a lively, local feel with families swimming and kids playing in the water.
The sand at Questelle’s Beach is golden and slighty grey in colour, and the water is incredibly calm, so it’s a great spot for swimming and snorkelling.
We were told by some children on the beach that there is a shipwreck resting on a cliff, just out of eye-shot, and that you can climb the hill to see it. We didn’t take them up on the adventure as we didn’t have any footwear, but I imagine if you snorkel far enough out or arrive on a boat, you can see it.
There is a small bar on the beach, which is great for grabbing some cold Hairoun. It was pretty lively when we were there, with music playing and plenty of locals around and playing pool. Also, if you’re driving, there is a small parking areas next to the bar, which is free to use.
2. Cumberland Bay – The most picturesque backdrop
Cumberland Bay and the surrounding area has you literally saying ‘wow’ every 5 seconds. There’s not much around at all, a small bar at the back of the beach and a few small fishing boats, and that’s about it. There are no houses or villages too close by, so it feelsl ike you’re on a deserted stretch of sand.
Surrounded by rolling hills and majestic palm trees, this beach is the epitome of an unspoiled Caribbean gem. When you step into the water and look back at the land, the views will honestly take your breath away.
We loved it at Cumberland Bay, especially flying our drone here. We’ve been a couple of times, and both times we took some cold drinks and headed to the end of the beach, where no one else was around, and had a few hours of paradise all to ourselves.
3. Brighton Salt Pond & Beach – Best for a family beach day
People usually associate the best beaches in St Vincent with the Leeward Coast, but Brighton Beach is a bit of an anomaly. Located on the Southeast corner of the island, it’s a great spot for a fun beach day, a picnic, and even a bit of bodyboarding or surfing.
We loved Brighton Salt Pond and Beach because it’s hidden away. However, there are a few amenities, but in a rustic Caribbean style. There are picnic tables under wooden gazebos along the beach, colourful benches and a fun set of Vincy-inspired swings.
The water here isn’t always calm, but it is shallow, so it’s safe enough for a paddle. And on calm days it’s swimmable too. When the waves and swell are up, you can actually surf here too. Well, we saw a couple of guys attempting to catch some waves, we’re not 100% sure if anyone ever does.
If you want to spend a few relaxing hours at the beach in St Vincent while having access to amenities, then you can’t go wrong with Brighton Beach.
4. Mt Wynne Beach – Best hidden St Vincent beach
We went to Mt Wynne Beach and liked how unspoilt it was. It’s another beach with dark sand, well it’s two beaches actually, it’s split into two coves by a small headland. It’s a quiet spot with a few basics like gazebos, toilets and parking, but no shops or cafes. So you need to bring whatever you want for the day.
The sea here looks calm from the sand, but it gets deep quickly, and the current can be strong so it’s not one of the best St Vincent beaches for children or for standing around in the shallows. Also, the sand itself is a bit coarse and can have sharp pieces of rock, so some people say water shoes help.
Even though it’s a bit hidden away, it is one of the more visited beaches on this list, with locals and tourists often coming here.
5. Richmond Beach – Wildest beach in St Vincent
Richmond Beach is the furthest north of the beaches on this list. Go any further, and you’ll be reaching the base of the La Soufriere volcano. If you’re an adventurer and like getting off the beaten path, then Richmond Beach will give you a sense of solitude like no other. The sand is dark, the beach is littered with driftwood, and there won’t be anyone else around.
We didn’t spend long here, maybe an hour or so, but we adored it. It’s not a bring-a-picnic spot, and there are no amenities at all, but if just feels like you’re in the wilderness, and without trying to sound cheesy, at one with nature.
We don’t recommend swimming here as the waves can be rough, but from our photos, you can easily see why it needs to be on your list of St Vincent beaches to visit!
Our top tip would be to tie visiting Richmond Beach with a trip to Dark View Falls, because they’re only a few minutes drive apart.
6. Wallilabou Bay – Best for Pirates of the Caribbean fans
Wallibabou Bay is the probably the most famous of the beaches in St Vincent, and it’s not for reasons you might expect. It’s famous because many scenes from the original Pirates of the Caribbean movie were filmed here. And the film set and props are still on the beach! Obviously, over time, they have become a little tatty and worn, but still – pretty cool hey?!
Beyond the film connection, Wallilabou Bay itself is one of the best beaches in St Vincent, because, yet again, it’s incredibly beautiful. It’s another dark sandy shore with deep blue waters that are great for swimming and a spot of snorkelling.
We’ve been to Wallibabou Bay a couple of times, both by boat. It’s a popular anchorage, but there aren’t usually many boats around, so it feels super peaceful.
🎒 This 5 hour tour includes a visit to Wallilabou Bay as well as Fort Charlotte, Kingstown, the villages of Layou, Barrouallie and Villa Beach – the perfect day tour, especially if you’re visiting St Vincent on a cruise or for one day.
7. Buccament Bay – Best white sand beach St Vincent
Buccament Bay is unique in that fact that it’s home to one of the best hotels in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the only large 5-star all-inclusive resort on the island, Sandals St Vincent.
We first stepped foot on this beach before the opening of Sandals, and we’ve been again since. It’s seen a big change! One half of the beach is dark sand and lacks any natural shade or palm trees, so it’s not really worth it. However, the other half of the beach with the resort on, is white sand and beautiful.
If you’re not staying at Sandals, you can access the beach for free, but you have to enter via a bridge near Bucaneers restaurant. There is a local vendor selling drinks, and there are beach chairs with umbrellas too.
8. Young Island Beach – Best beach for exclusivity and luxury
While Young Island is technically a separate island, lying just 180 meters south of St Vincent, we had to include it on the list of St Vincent’s best beaches because most people class it as being a part of St Vincent anyway, and, until recently, it was the only real resort on St Vincent.
The 13-acre island is home to the Young Island Resort and its pristine white sand beach. Although it’s a private island, you don’t have to be a guest to visit. You can spend time on the beach, or book lunch or cocktails at the restaurant and bar.
To get to Young Island from the mainland, head to the pier at Mangoz Restaurant and Bar, and there are usually several water taxis that will take you across.
If you can, we’d also recommend heading around to Fort Durvenette, it’s the tiny island just behind Young Island, where you can climb to the top and see the old, very small fort. It only took us 15 minutes or so to climb up to. the top, but the views make. itso worth it!
9. Rawacou Recreation Park and Argyle Beach – Best beach for a picnic
Out by the airport, on the Windward Coast, is a relatively new recreation park and beach area. While you wouldn’t associate this side of the island with the best beaches in St Vincent, Rawacou is an exception because it’s a great spot for a cookout or picnic. Also, to combat the crashing Atlantic waves, they’ve created a saltwater pool at Rawacou Recreation Park, which is pretty cool if you want to go for a swim.
To be honest, when we visited, there was quite a bit of sargassum seaweed around, so the two beaches here weren’t the most enjoyable. We had a little walk around and the whole area was really pretty, but we were a bit gutted we couldn’t go in the water.
Because of the park area and natural pool (when there’s no seaweed), this is probably one of the best beaches on the island for families visiting St Vincent.
10. Indian Bay Beach – Best beach with amenities
Indian Bay Beach is one of the few golden sand beaches in St Vincent. Located on the south-west corner of the island, it’s one of the more well-known and visited beaches, probably because of its pretty close to Kingstown and being on a stretch of road where the most well-known hotels are on the island.
From Indian Bay Beach, you get beautiful views of Young Island, Fort Durvernette and across to Bequia. We spent an afternoon on Indian Bay Beach after having drinks at La Vue hotel (which we’d definitely recommend, their rooftop pool looks out over the beach).
While it’s not the biggest stretch of sand, and it’s quite narrow, it’s still worth visiting because it’s one of the few beaches that is near restaurants, bars, hotels and Blue Lagoon Marina, so there are lots of amenities around.
11. Chateaubelair Beach – Best beach in St Vincent for nature nearby
We had probably the most memorable day we’ve had in St Vincent when we were on Chateaubelair Beach, in the village and exploring the surrounding area. Up here, you experience the real Caribbean in all its raw beauty. We’ve visited this little fishing village on the Leeward coast a few times now. Usually, we sail across from Bequia and anchor here before heading up to Dark View Falls.
There are usually some small fishing boats dotting the shore and local kids playing on the beach, but other than that, there isn’t much going on. It’s a long enough stretch of sand for a walk, and the water is calm enough for swimming. You won’t spend all day here, but it’s definitely worth a stop.
There are a couple of small local restaurants on the beach and a few rum shops around, and you can walk from the beach up to Dark View Falls in around 20 minutes, so visiting both together makes sense, and the walk gives you the chance to interact with locals.
🎒 Book our favourite Dark View Falls and Beach tour.
12. Coconut Grove Beach Club – Best beach club in St Vincent
Ok, the beach at Coconut Grove Beach is manmade, but it’s white sand (which, as we all know by now, you don’t normally get here), so we had to put it on this list. Of all the St Vincent beaches we’ve mentioned, this is the most different of them all because it’s not got that typical local Vincy vibe. Instead, it feels more like an upmarket beach club, with lounge chairs, cocktails and a more expensive menu.
The beach is dotted with beautiful palm trees, the water is incredibly calm and there is a beach volleyball area and watersports. It’s the ideal spot for a relaxed beach day with all the amenities you could possibly need. For us, the only thing that lets it down is the price of things, but you expect to pay a premium at beach clubs.
It was all lit up at night when we went for dinner, which was super cute. The views across the water look back at the island and towards Blue Lagoon Marina, with boats lighting up the sky at night, it’s very pretty.
Does St Vincent have nice beaches?
Yes, St Vincent has some incredible beaches. Most of the beaches in St Vincent are dark sand, because of the volcano, but they are still beautiful. You’ll also find a few gold sand beaches and some man-made white sand beaches. The main reason we love St Vincent beaches is that most still have a local vibe rather than lots of tourist development.
Does St Vincent have black sand beaches?
Yes, the majority of the beaches in St Vincent are dark or black sand beaches. The darkest sand we found is in the north of the island, particularly at Richmond Beach.
More St Vincent and the Grenadines travel guides
We’ve been lucky enough to spend over a year in St Vincent and the Grenadines, exploring as much of these beautiful islands as possible. During our adventures, we’ve documented our experiences, detailing our top tips and mistakes we’ve made, so you can plan your trip easily. There isn’t much information out there about this country, so we hope these travel guides provide you with some much-needed honest insight.
Our top things to do in St Vincent and the Grenadines
The hotels we recommend in St Vincent and the Grenadines
Unmissable things to do in Bequia
Our favourite restaurants in Bequia
Beaches in Bequia you should visit
A guide to island hopping in St Vincent and the Grenadines
What we suggest doing in Mayreau
Activities and things to do in Union Island
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When you choose to purchase through our links, you support us at no extra cost and help us keep creating content. Thank you for your support. ♥️
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