Englishman's Bay

A pristine horseshoe cove on the north coast, considered one of the Caribbean's finest beaches

Englishman's Bay is tucked into the north coast between Castara and Parlatuvier, reached by a steep winding road through the forest. The bay is a near-perfect horseshoe, sheltered by rocky headlands, with a river mouth at one end feeding into the sea. The forest comes right down to the beach, the water is clear and calm on the leeward side, and on a good day you may have the entire cove to yourself.

The snorkelling around the rocky headlands is excellent — the reef here is in good condition and the fish life is rich. Swimming is comfortable except after heavy rain, when the river can discolour the water near the mouth. There are no facilities and no shade structures, so bring water, food, and sun protection. The drive along the Northside Road is itself worthwhile: look out for scarlet ibises in the mangroves and blue-crowned motmots in the forest.

beaches beach swimming snorkelling
A story
Englishman's Bay consistently appears on lists of the Caribbean's most beautiful beaches, yet it remains largely undeveloped. The horseshoe-shaped cove has no hotels, no bars, and no permanent infrastructure — just a narrow road down through the forest, a small car park, and the sand. A couple of local vendors sometimes set up with cold drinks and coconuts. The bay's seclusion is the result of its rugged northern-coast road, which until recently was barely passable.