Best snorkelling spots in St. Lucia You can only reach these by car.

We snorkelled at five different spots during our two weeks in St. Lucia, visiting most of them more than once. Every single one was good. But some were clearly better than others, and the practical details (how to get there, where to park, where to change, how crowded it is) made a big difference in the overall experience.

All of these spots are best reached by car. That's kind of the point of this site. Having your own vehicle means you can show up early, avoid the tour boat crowds, and hit the quieter spots that most visitors never find.

Here's my ranking, from best to still-really-good.

This was the best snorkelling we found on the island, and it wasn't close. Anse Chastanet has two completely different snorkelling areas on the same beach, and both are excellent.

On the left side, there's a rocky area with a roped-off section that protects you from boat traffic. The water is full of fish. Big schools, smaller reef fish, anemones, and if you look into the underwater caves along the rocks, you'll see all kinds of things hiding in there. If you swim to the outer edge of the roped area where it drops off deeper, you can spot much larger fish below. It's a really cool feeling looking down into that deep blue with big shapes moving around.

On the right side, past a large dock, there's a massive coral garden. Less fish than the left side, but the coral itself is incredible. You can just keep going along it, and it seems to stretch forever. This is where we saw a sea turtle, which was the highlight of the trip for the kids.

The resort at Anse Chastanet was friendly to us even though we weren't guests. They let us use the washrooms (one of the only snorkelling spots where you can change properly). There's a restaurant that says "guests only," but when we asked if we could eat there, they said it would be fine. We ran out of time that day, but it's an option.

Getting there

This is where the 4x4 earns its keep. The access road to Anse Chastanet is a dirt road with a very steep section right at the top. You're going to want four-wheel drive for that part. There are tight turns with mirrors to help you see oncoming traffic, and if you have to let someone pass, the left side feels like you're about to go off a cliff.

It's not actually dangerous. The road is used by resort guests and staff every day. It's just intimidating the first time. The second time we went, we didn't see a single car on the way in. Go slow, enjoy the drive (there are great photo spots along the road), and you'll be fine. We caught a stretch of this exact road on video in the car rental guide, if you want to see what you're in for.

Saline Point was close to where we were staying and became our most-visited snorkelling spot. If you go down to the beach and head to the right, you'll find a rocky point that's the main snorkelling area. The fish life is excellent. Lots of schools, lots of variety, little caves to peek into, and we even spotted a small octopus.

If you're a strong swimmer, you can keep going past the point to a rougher, rockier area where there's bigger coral and potentially bigger fish. We didn't see anything huge out there, but it's worth exploring if you're comfortable in the water. Stay close to shore if you're not sure, though. You can always go back in.

The beach is accessed through the BodyHoliday Saint Lucia resort. Park outside the resort where you'll see lots of other cars, then walk down the road into the resort grounds. The first time we went, someone at the gate asked if we were guests. We said we were there for the day, and they let us in with no issues. After that, we just walked in and nobody questioned us. All beaches in St. Lucia are public by law, so you have every right to be there.

Put your stuff at the edge of the beach, stay out of the resort guests' way, and you'll be left alone. The setting is gorgeous.

Smuggler's Cove is right next to Saline Point and has the easiest access of any spot we visited. There's a parking area, and you walk down a set of steps straight to the beach.

There's a restaurant on the beach. They asked if we wanted to buy a seat, but we said we were just there to snorkel and they left us alone. There's even a hammock, which was a nice touch after a swim.

The snorkelling was good. Lots of fish, clear water. But the area you can snorkel is smaller than Saline Point, and I felt like there was more to see over there. That's why we ended up going to Saline Point more often. Still, Smuggler's Cove is a beautiful spot and well worth a visit, especially if you want the easiest possible access.

No washrooms here either. Come ready to snorkel.

Sugar Beach sits between the two Pitons. The setting is stunning. But when we went, the beach was packed. Tour boats were anchored offshore, the sand was covered with people, and the snorkelling area (which is roped off for safety) was full of other snorkellers.

The snorkelling itself was good. Lots of fish, calm water, the roped area makes it safe. And swimming with the Pitons towering above you is a unique experience. If I'd had the beach to myself, this would rank much higher. But the crowds really took away from it.

The parking situation

This confused us. Before you reach the resort gates, there's a parking lot where a woman charged us $5 USD. We figured that was the deal and started walking. It turns out you can drive through both gates and park for free down at the tennis and pickleball courts, much closer to the beach.

We had to walk back, get our car, and drive down. So don't make our mistake. Just drive through.

From the parking area, it's a steep walk down to the beach. There's a shuttle for about $10 USD, or if you eat at the resort restaurant, I believe the shuttle is included. We didn't have cash on us so we walked. It's not far, but going back up is a workout.

No changing facilities on the beach. People were changing behind towels, or just not bothering.

Pigeon Island is a national park with a $10 USD entry fee per person. It has the best facilities of any snorkelling spot on the island: washrooms, showers, a changing room, and even a lifeguard. If you're staying in the north, it's the closest and most convenient option.

When you enter the park, go left. The snorkelling beach is separate from the swimming beach. The water is shallow and you can hug the shore, which makes it comfortable for less confident swimmers.

Our first visit was good. There were lots of fish and the water was calm. I was fishing with my son for part of it, so I didn't get as much snorkelling time as I would have liked, but what I saw was promising.

Our second visit was after a rainstorm, and it was a completely different experience. The visibility was terrible and there was a strong current that pulled us along the shore. My son and I ended up walking back along the beach rather than swimming against it. My wife and daughter swam back and were fine, but it was noticeably harder. Something to be aware of if it's rained recently.

Pigeon Island ranks last not because it's bad, but because the other spots are better for pure snorkelling. The facilities and convenience are hard to beat, though, especially for families.

How long to budget

We typically spent 30 to 45 minutes in the water at each spot. But when you factor in driving, parking, getting set up, and drying off afterward, you really want to budget at least 1.5 to 2 hours per stop.

If you're combining snorkelling with other activities on a day trip to the south (which we often did), build in more time than you think. Everything takes a bit longer in St. Lucia, and that's part of the charm.

Best conditions

Visibility was good at every spot, even in the middle of the day. The only time it was poor was at Pigeon Island after rain. The water was warm enough that we never once wished we had our wetsuits (we packed them and never used them).

Morning tends to be the calmest water with the fewest people. If you're doing a day trip south, plan your snorkelling for the first stop and save the lookouts and other attractions for the afternoon.

What to bring (and what to leave)

A note on beach access

All beaches in St. Lucia are legally public. Even the ones in front of expensive resorts. You have every right to walk onto the sand, put down your towel, and get in the water. We were never turned away anywhere. At most, someone asked if we were resort guests, we said no, and that was the end of it.

Don't let the fancy resort entrance intimidate you. Just be respectful, stay out of the way of paying guests, and enjoy the water. It belongs to everyone.