Friars Bay
The south – Caribbean Sea – side of Friars Bay provides a splendid beach experience for all. The water is calm and the atmosphere is usually quite lively, especially on Sundays. Food and drinks are available. It is an excellent outing for the entire family. However, the more adventure-seeking beach goer will probably be more exhilarated by the higher surf of the Atlantic Ocean on North Friars Bay.

Frigate Bay - South
This is the action beach strip on the Caribbean Sea. There is a hotel & restaurant (Timothy Beach Hotel), an independent restaurant (Monkey Bar) and water sports located on the eastern end, while the western end is punctuated by the Oasis restaurant-sports bar-night club. This one mile stretch of white-sand beach, which is ideal for swimming, wind-surfing, water-skiing and various other water sports, is also lined with various types of beach shacks – island bars that serve drinks, food, craft, and trinkets in an atmosphere infused with infectious Caribbean rhythms. The party goes on to the wee hours of the morning.

Frigate Bay - North
This white-sand Atlantic coast beach is literally in walking distance from the south side. It is ideal for relaxing, swimming, wind-surfing and surfing in some areas. Various hotels, like the Angelus Resort, the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and the Sugar Bay Club, are situated on this beach.

White House Bay
Apart from passive sea-bathing, this beach offers a tremendous opportunity for snorkeling. This is as a result of the rocky reef that shelters the beach and a sunken tugboat that harbour schools of multi-coloured fish and other marine life.

Sandy Bank
This is an unusually calm Atlantic beach with a quiet, romantic aura. While bathing in the warm waters or strolling across the white sand, one is unlikely to come across many other folks, especially since there are no restaurants or water sports available here.

Turtle Bay
This is adjacent to Sandy Bank beach. It a stretch of white sand beach that offers surfing possibilities and much seclusion.

Turtle Beach
Turtle Beach is not to be mistaken for Turtle Bay, which is on the northern coast of the peninsula. Turtle Beach is situated at the extreme end of the South East Peninsula, and is ideal for a day out. It houses an excellent beach bar and restaurant by the same name and is frequented by friendly vervet monkeys, some of which will gladly join you for a drink and/or a bite to eat. If you are out on a boat and you are lucky, you might see the odd dolphin or pod of whales passing through, especially in wintertime. The beach is great for bathing, water sports and beach sports. It is worth the drive.

Cockleshell Bay
Cockleshell Bay is two miles (3 km) of power-white sand. It offers a splendid view of the sister island of Nevis, since it sits directly on the Narrows, which is the channel between the two island. This is the perfect beach seclusion.

Dieppe Bay Beach
This small palm-lined, black sand beach is protected by a major reef, which serves to provide placid waters, ideal for sea-bathing. The reef also provides an excellent site for snorkeling, since it is the home of a variety of marine life. Additionally, the shiny black sand enhances the tanning process. As you stand on the beach and gaze out at the water, you will be looking at the Caribbean Sea on your left, and the Atlantic Ocean on your right. Dining and bar services are available at the Golden Lemon Inn which sits on this exotic beach.

Pump Bay
Pump Bay, in Sandy Point, is a good beach for beginners who want to dive and snorkel. It is a shiny, black sand beach in the shadow of the magnificent Brimstone Hill Fortress.

Conaree Beach
Some may argue that this is the best beach on the Atlantic side. It is a narrow strip of gray-black sand, signifying the meeting of the volcanic and coral features of the island. Body-surfing is popular here, as well as snorkeling along the reef.

Half Moon Bay
Like Conaree, this Atlantic beach is great for a brisk swim and some exhilarating body-surfing.

Banana Bay
Do you want to get away from it all? This beautiful, secluded beach is at the very tip of the southeast peninsula and offers pristine waters, soft sand, swaying coconut trees and uninterrupted peace. As is the case with the other beaches on the peninsula, you will need a car to get out to this beach. However, If you do not have a rental vehicle, the taxi drivers will be happy to drop you off and come back at a prearranged time. Enjoy the spectacular views on the way to Banana Bay beach.

Links & Sources:

• Frommers
• St Kitts Tourism Board