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Secret beaches of St. Barts: seven coves away from the crowds

Colombier, Petite Anse, Grande Saline, Gouverneur, Petit Cul-de-Sac, Anse des Cayes, Toiny: access, swimming and precautions, per the tourist office.

By Sun Beach House

Plages secrètes de Saint-Barth : sept anses à l'écart des foules

On October 10, 2026, the Saint-Barthélemy nature reserve turned thirty. The decree that created it, signed on October 10, 1996, protects about 1,200 hectares of sea spread over five zones, including a single beach on the island: Anse de Colombier[1]. It is no coincidence that this is also the first beach people mention when they talk about secret beaches in St. Barts.

Let us say it from the outset: on an island this size, no beach is truly secret. But some remain apart, because you reach them on foot or by boat, because there is no restaurant and no sunlounger, or because the sea is too rough for swimming. This guide picks seven, based on the tourist office, the official website of the French national tourism agency and the local press, with what you need to know before going to each.

Key points

  • Colombier is the only beach on the island within the nature reserve created in 1996[1]; you get there on foot or by sea[3].
  • Grande Saline and Gouverneur are two large beaches with no shops on the sand[7][8].
  • Toiny and Anse des Cayes are wave beaches, better suited to walking than swimming at Toiny[11][10].

What makes a beach "secret" in St. Barts

In the official descriptions, three criteria come up: access, lack of facilities and sea conditions.

Beach Access Shops on the beach Swimming
Colombier Trail or boat[3] None mentioned[3] Yes, snorkeling[3]
Petite Anse Next to Colombier[3] None mentioned[3] Yes, snorkeling[3]
Grande Saline About 10 minutes on foot[7] None[7] Yes[7]
Gouverneur Road, easy to reach[8] None mentioned[8] Yes, snorkeling in calm seas[8]
Petit Cul-de-Sac East coast[9] None mentioned[9] Yes, calm water[9]
Anse des Cayes Close to Saint-Jean and Gustavia[10] Hotels and restaurant nearby[10] Wave beach[10]
Toiny Southeast coast[11] Beach club[11] Not recommended[11]

Colombier, the beach without a road

The tourist office presents Colombier as a bay with crystal-clear water, reached by a hiking trail or by sea, where people come for snorkeling, swimming and relaxing[3]. France.fr specifies that you arrive by boat or by one of two trails, and links this isolation to history: David Rockefeller had his residence built there in 1957, and a condition of the 1957 sale forbids any road to the 27 hectares concerned[4]. When snorkeling, the same article says, you can see turtles in the seagrass[4].

Colombier is also the only beach on the island within the boundaries of the nature reserve[1]. The decree prohibits, among other things, net fishing, trap fishing and spearfishing, dumping any waste, and using sound devices that disturb the site[1].

Le Journal de Saint-Barth describes it as the only beach on the island "backed" against a cliff, badly hit by Hurricane Luis in September 1995[2]. Goats eat the vegetation; when it rains, runoff carries sediment into the sea and harms the seagrass beds[2]. The Agence territoriale de l'environnement is running a restoration project there, with nearly 250 meters of sand fencing followed by planting sessions[2]. So stay on the paths and leave the vegetation alone.

Access via Petite Anse: check before you go

In December 2024, neighboring landowners put up a barrier at the entrance to the private path leading from Petite Anse to Colombier[5]. Le Journal de Saint-Barth reported at the time that walkers had to go via the heights of Colombier instead[5]. On December 16, the Collectivité announced that a passage would be left for walkers within 24 hours, while one owner stated that no agreement had been reached[6]. We have not found a more recent source: check the state of access on site. Arriving by sea remains the other option[3]; our article on water sports in St. Barts details outings at sea.

Petite Anse, the neighboring cove

The tourist office mentions Petite Anse as an intimate cove next to Colombier, suited to swimming and snorkeling[3]. It is also, as we have seen, the starting point of the path to Colombier, whose access has been disputed[5][6]. Petite Anse is in the Flamands area[6], which we presented in our guide to Flamands beach.

Grande Saline and its little sister

Grande Saline is a dune-lined beach with a simple, natural atmosphere, reached in about ten minutes along a sandy path that crosses low dunes[7]. Old salt ponds lie just before the beach[7]. The tourist office notes that there are no shops directly on the beach; visitors shop in Saint-Jean or Gustavia[7].

France.fr adds that sharp lava rocks separate Grande Saline from "its little sister, narrower but just as wild", and that both coves can be seen from Morne Rouge, at 161 meters[4]. The same article warns that the access path is the kind where cars get stuck in the sand[4]: park carefully.

Gouverneur, the large beach of the south

The tourist office describes Gouverneur as a wide beach of pale sand with deep blue water, surrounded by green, undeveloped hills, easy to reach and calm, with snorkeling areas when the sea is calm[8]. According to France.fr, it is said to hide the treasure of the pirate Daniel Monbars[4]; no source reports any find. It is the beach next to the Lurin neighborhood, presented on our page villa rental in Lurin.

Petit Cul-de-Sac, the calm cove of the east coast

Petit Cul-de-Sac is a small, peaceful beach on the east of the island, protected by a coral reef that gives it calm water[9]. The tourist office describes it as lightly frequented and recommends it for family time or a picnic[9]. In this selection, it is the cove best suited to a family swim, the sea being sheltered by the reef[9].

Anse des Cayes and Toiny: the wave beaches

Anse des Cayes

The tourist office highlights the raw, unspoiled character of Anse des Cayes, the sound of the waves and the vegetation, and says it is popular with surfers[10]. Gustavia and Saint-Jean are a few minutes away by car[10]. It is a beach for walking and watching the sea rather than for children's swimming.

Toiny

At Toiny, on the southeast coast, Atlantic waves crash against the shore; the sea is often rough and swimming is not recommended, the tourist office states[11]. These conditions attract surfers[11]. The open, preserved coastline is good for walking and offers several viewpoints[11].

Before you go: our practical tips

  • Bring the essentials: Grande Saline has no shops on the beach[7], and the official descriptions of Colombier and Gouverneur mention no facilities[3][8]. Plan for water, shade and a picnic.
  • Check sea conditions: swimming not recommended at Toiny[11], snorkeling recommended in calm seas at Gouverneur[8].
  • Respect the reserve at Colombier: no waste, no noise, no net fishing, trap fishing or spearfishing[1].
  • Check access: the path from Petite Anse to Colombier was closed in December 2024[5][6].

Our concierge service can arrange a driver for a full or half day, as well as the rental of a yacht or catamaran with crew.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most secluded beach in St. Barts?

Colombier, reachable only on foot or by sea[3]. A condition of the 1957 sale forbids any road to the 27 hectares concerned[4].

Can you swim at Toiny?

The tourist office does not recommend it: the sea is often rough[11].

Are there restaurants at Grande Saline?

Not on the beach itself; restaurants and a hotel sit set back, among the vegetation[7].

Which beach should you choose with young children?

Among the beaches in this guide, Petit Cul-de-Sac, protected by a coral reef and with calm water[9].

Is Colombier part of the nature reserve?

Yes. The decree of October 10, 1996 classifies Anse de Colombier among the five zones of the reserve[1].

Our recommendation

The quietest beaches in St. Barts take a little planning: a walk, a car, sometimes a boat. Choosing the right neighborhood for your villa shortens those trips. Our destinations page presents each part of the island, and our selection of villas for rent helps you find a house close to the coves you prefer.

Sources

  1. Decree no. 96-885 of October 10, 1996 creating the Saint-Barthélemy nature reserve — AIDA (INERIS), regulatory text — https://aida.ineris.fr/reglementation/decret-ndeg-96-885-101096-portant-creation-reserve-naturelle-saint-barthelemy — published in the Journal officiel on 11/10/1996 — accessed 21/10/2026 ↩
  2. Le Journal de Saint-Barth — "À la découverte de Colombier, la plage « adossée » de l'île", T.F. — https://www.journaldesaintbarth.com/fr/actualites/environnement/a-la-decouverte-de-colombier-la-plage-adossee-de-lile-202602051944.html — published 07/02/2026 — accessed 21/10/2026 ↩
  3. Saint Barth Tourisme (official tourist office) — "Colombier" — https://www.saintbarth-tourisme.com/locations/colombier — undated page — accessed 21/10/2026 ↩
  4. France.fr (official website of the French national tourism agency) — "Un jour, une plage, à Saint-Barth", Aliette de Crozet — https://www.france.fr/fr/article/plages-saint-barthelemy/ — published 02/11/2019 — accessed 21/10/2026 ↩
  5. Le Journal de Saint-Barth — "À Petite Anse, l'entrée du chemin vers Colombier a été barrée" — https://www.journaldesaintbarth.com/fr/actualites/vie-locale/a-petite-anse-lentree-du-chemin-vers-colombier-a-ete-barree-202412131752.html — published 13/12/2024 — accessed 21/10/2026 ↩
  6. Le Journal de Saint-Barth — "Cacophonie autour de la levée du barrage à l'entrée du sentier de Colombier", T.F. — https://www.journaldesaintbarth.com/fr/actualites/vie-locale/cacophonie-autour-de-la-levee-du-barrage-a-lentree-du-sentier-de-colombier-202412170002.html — published 16/12/2024 — accessed 21/10/2026 ↩
  7. Saint Barth Tourisme (official tourist office) — "Grande Saline" — https://www.saintbarth-tourisme.com/locations/grande-saline — undated page — accessed 21/10/2026 ↩
  8. Saint Barth Tourisme (official tourist office) — "Gouverneur" — https://www.saintbarth-tourisme.com/locations/gouverneur — undated page — accessed 21/10/2026 ↩
  9. Saint Barth Tourisme (official tourist office) — "Petit Cul-de-Sac" — https://www.saintbarth-tourisme.com/locations/petit-cul-de-sac — undated page — accessed 21/10/2026 ↩
  10. Saint Barth Tourisme (official tourist office) — "Anse des Cayes" — https://www.saintbarth-tourisme.com/locations/anse-des-cayes — undated page — accessed 21/10/2026 ↩
  11. Saint Barth Tourisme (official tourist office) — "Toiny" — https://www.saintbarth-tourisme.com/locations/toiny — undated page — accessed 21/10/2026 ↩