Best Beaches in Bequia
My Honest Rankings After Multiple Visits
My honest ranked guide to the best beaches in Bequia. From Princess Margaret to Friendship Bay, every beach reviewed with insider tips you will not find in guidebooks.
Best Beaches in Bequia The Honest Insider Guide
I have visited Bequia more times than I can count on both hands, and I genuinely believe it has some of the most underrated beaches in the entire Caribbean. When I first arrived on this tiny island south of St. Vincent, I expected the typical small-island experience. Instead, I discovered a place where nearly every beach has its own personality, and the crowds that overrun other Caribbean destinations simply do not exist here. After spending weeks exploring every cove, reef, and stretch of sand on Bequia, I can honestly tell you that this island delivers the kind of authentic Caribbean beach experience that most travelers are desperately searching for.
The truth is, many people have never even heard of Bequia, let alone know about its incredible beaches. They stay on the bigger islands and miss out entirely. I am writing this guide specifically for you because I want you to experience what I have experienced: pristine water that changes color throughout the day, beaches where you might see more sea turtles than tourists, and the kind of genuine island hospitality that makes you feel like you belong here. I have stayed in beachfront cottages, rented boats, snorkeled offshore, and eaten at every beach shack worth visiting. What you are about to read is based on actual experience, not tourism board descriptions.
The Quick Answer: If you are looking for the best beaches in Bequia, focus on Princess Margaret Beach for easy access and water sports, Friendship Bay for the laid-back vibe and sunset views, Lower Bay for swimming and snorkeling in one convenient location, and Moonhole Beach for something genuinely unique and unforgettable. But honestly, every beach on this island has something special to offer, and I will explain exactly which beaches deserve your time based on what you are actually looking for.
Princess Margaret Beach The Main Event
Princess Margaret Beach
Princess Margaret Beach is the first beach most visitors encounter when they arrive in Bequia, and for good reason. It is the longest stretch of sand on the island, with pale golden sand that slopes gently into crystal clear water. When I first stood here after taking the ferry from St. Vincent, I immediately understood why this beach has been the heart of the island's tourism for decades. The beach curves for nearly a mile, giving it plenty of room to spread out even when other travelers are around.
What makes Princess Margaret genuinely special is not just the beach itself but what surrounds it. The beach is backed by a village with actual character, where locals run small restaurants and shops, and the energy feels authentically Bequia rather than sanitized for tourists. I have spent entire afternoons here eating fresh seafood from the beachfront restaurants while watching fishing boats and yachts pass by. The water here is perfect for swimming at almost any time of day, and the slope of the beach means you can wade out quite far before the depth increases significantly.
Skip the beach bars right at the main road and walk south along the sand to find the smaller independent stands where the locals actually eat. I discovered a woman named Yvette who makes the best salt bread and fish cakes on the island, and she only sells from a little wooden counter near the palm trees. Her prices are half of what the tourist places charge, and the food is infinitely better. This is where you get the real Bequia experience.
Princess Margaret Beach is best for families, snorkelers, and anyone who wants the easiest beach experience on Bequia. There are water taxis here, snorkel rental shops, and enough facilities that you do not need to bring everything with you. However, I will be honest: this is also the most crowded beach on the island, though "crowded" in Bequia means maybe fifty people on a busy day, which is nothing compared to most Caribbean destinations.
Friendship Bay The Sunset Specialist
Friendship Bay
If I had to choose just one beach on Bequia to watch a sunset, it would absolutely be Friendship Bay without any hesitation. I have sat on this beach dozens of times at the end of the day, and the sky here turns colors that almost do not seem real. The bay is wide and faces directly west, which means the sun descends right into the ocean in front of you, and the water reflects the pink and orange light in a way that makes every sunset feel like a personal gift from the island.
Friendship Bay has a very different energy from Princess Margaret. It is quieter, more spacious, and attracts a different crowd. The beach itself is wider and sandier, with softer sand that feels better between your toes. When I visited during the high season, I found Friendship Bay to be significantly less visited than Princess Margaret, which made it my favorite spot for a peaceful swim. The water here is incredibly calm and warm, protected by the bay formation that gives the beach its name.
Along the beach, you will find a handful of small restaurants and bars, and several are genuinely excellent. I have had some of my best meals in Bequia at the casual spots here, particularly the conch salad served at the beach bars. The restaurant owners are mostly locals who have been running the same spots for years, and they treat you like a friend rather than a tourist transaction. One owner named Carlton makes a rum punch that is dangerous in the best possible way.
Arrive at Friendship Bay around four in the afternoon and claim a spot with a good view of the sunset. Do not eat lunch at the restaurants. Instead, grab something from the local shops in Port Elizabeth and bring it with you, then order just drinks from the beach bars. This saves money and gives you flexibility. Most importantly, stay until after the sunset ends because the light show continues for a solid thirty minutes after the sun disappears, and that is when the colors become absolutely ethereal. I have seen tourists leave right after the sun touches the water and miss the best part entirely.
Friendship Bay can get windy in the afternoon, and the wind can kick up some sand. If you plan to spend the whole day here, arrive early in the morning when the conditions are calmest. Also, the waves here are slightly bigger than at Princess Margaret, so it is not ideal if you are nervous about ocean swimming.
Friendship Bay is best for couples, photographers, sunset lovers, and anyone seeking a quieter Bequia beach experience. It is perfect for a romantic dinner followed by a moonlit swim, and several of the beachfront accommodations nearby make this a natural place to spend an evening.
Lower Bay The Snorkeler's Paradise
Lower Bay
Lower Bay is genuinely one of the best beaches I have visited anywhere in the Caribbean for combining accessibility with actual marine life. This beach is smaller and more intimate than Princess Margaret, but it offers something that most other Bequia beaches do not: excellent snorkeling right from the shore. When I first snorkeled here, I saw reef fish, sea turtles, and coral formations that rivaled dedicated snorkel trips to other islands. The whole experience took forty minutes, and I did not need a boat or a guide.
The beach itself is sheltered and calm, with a gentle slope into the water that makes it perfect for swimmers who do not want to deal with strong currents. The sand is soft and comfortable, and the beach is backed by a small cluster of local businesses that feel genuinely Bequia rather than touristy. I have rented snorkel gear right on the beach multiple times for very reasonable prices, and the equipment has always been clean and functional.
What I absolutely love about Lower Bay is that you can spend half your day snorkeling just steps from shore, then spend the other half swimming, reading, and eating fresh fish. Several small restaurants operate from the beach, and they serve the kind of authentic food that disappears at fancy resorts. I ordered a grilled fish lunch here that arrived still steaming, served with rice and plantains, for less than I would pay for a basic sandwich in the United States.
Go to Lower Bay early in the morning before the day-trip boats arrive from other islands. The water is calmest then, the visibility is clearest, and you will have the beach largely to yourself. I typically arrive by eight in the morning, snorkel until about nine thirty, and then spend the rest of the day swimming and relaxing. Also, bring reef-safe sunscreen because these reefs are already stressed, and every visitor who uses reef-safe products instead of standard sunscreen helps preserve what makes Lower Bay special.
Lower Bay is best for snorkelers, families, and anyone who wants to see actual marine life without booking an expensive excursion. It is my top recommendation if you are visiting Bequia specifically for water activities rather than just beach lounging.
Moonhole Beach The Secret Gem
Moonhole Beach
Moonhole Beach might be the most unique beach experience I have had anywhere in Bequia, and possibly anywhere in the Caribbean. This beach is small, hidden, and accessible only by water, which means it remains virtually untouched and undiscovered by most tourists. The beach takes its name from a dramatic rock formation at one end that has a distinctive hole carved through it by decades of waves. Standing in front of that formation at sunrise is genuinely one of the most beautiful moments I have experienced on this island.
When I first visited Moonhole, I took a small water taxi from Princess Margaret Beach. The boat ride itself is part of the experience, as you cruise along the coastline and see the island from a perspective that most visitors never get. The beach itself is only about two hundred yards long and is completely surrounded by cliffs and rock formations. There are no restaurants, no facilities, and no other people. Just sand, water, and the sound of waves echoing off the rocks.
The water at Moonhole is deeper and clearer than at most other Bequia beaches, and the color is an absolutely stunning shade of blue that I have not seen anywhere else on the island. I have snorkeled here and found interesting rock formations underwater that feel like exploring an alien landscape. The beach is also completely calm and sheltered by the surrounding geography, making it ideal for swimming even when other beaches might be choppy.
Moonhole is genuinely hard to reach without local knowledge. You can hire a water taxi from Princess Margaret Beach for about fifteen dollars per person, but the better option is to befriend a local fisherman or boat operator who knows the area well. I was introduced to a man named Clive through a restaurant owner, and he took me to Moonhole in his private boat for a very reasonable fee. He also told me about a small freshwater pool in the rocks where you can rinse off the salt water before heading back. This is the kind of local connection that transforms a beach visit from good to absolutely unforgettable. Ask at the beach bars about hiring private boats rather than using the official taxi service.
Moonhole Beach is accessible only by water, and the boat ride can be choppy depending on conditions. If you get seasick easily, this might not be your best choice. Also, there are absolutely no facilities here, so bring everything you need: water, food, sunscreen, and a way to get back. Do not assume there will be boats returning on a schedule. Plan your departure in advance.
Moonhole is best for adventurous travelers, photographers, snorkelers, and anyone seeking an authentic off-the-beaten-path experience. This is where you come to feel like you have discovered somewhere that almost nobody else knows about, because honestly, almost nobody does.
Industry Bay The Local Favorite
Industry Bay
Industry Bay is where I learned that the best beach experiences on Bequia happen away from where most tourists end up. This beach is on the southern coast of the island and is primarily visited by locals and the occasional adventurous traveler. The beach itself is smaller and rockier than some of the more famous Bequia beaches, but the water is absolutely incredible, and the atmosphere is authentically Bequia in a way that felt special to me.
I arrived at Industry Bay somewhat by accident during a scooter ride around the island, and I am genuinely grateful I ended up here. The beach is protected and calm, with views of the neighboring islands across the water. I spent an entire afternoon here with only a handful of locals nearby, swimming and reading and feeling completely disconnected from the tourist world. The few beach establishments that operate here are run by people who clearly love living on this island and are not trying to extract maximum money from every visitor.
What struck me most about Industry Bay was the genuine friendliness of the locals I met. When I was sitting alone reading, an elderly man stopped to chat and told me stories about Bequia from decades past. That kind of interaction happens here because tourists are not constantly flowing through and treating the beach like a theme park attraction. It feels like a place where you are genuinely welcome rather than simply tolerated as a source of income.
Industry Bay is not on the standard tourist route, which is precisely why you should visit. Rent a scooter in Port Elizabeth and drive south along the coast until you see small signs pointing to the beach. The road gets a bit rough at the end, but it is passable. Bring cash because the beach vendors here do not have card readers, and bring your own supplies because the selection is limited. In return, you get a beach experience that feels like you have stumbled into real
Common Questions About Bequia's Beaches
The questions I get asked most often, answered honestly from personal experience.
My Final Thoughts on Bequia's Beaches
Bequia's beaches are not the longest or the most photographed in the Caribbean, but they might be the most rewarding. Princess Margaret Beach is the standout for good reason, but every beach on this island has its own personality and I have never been to one that felt crowded. That alone makes Bequia special.
My advice is simple: do not just pick one beach and camp out. The island is small enough that you can visit a different beach every day and each one will surprise you in its own way. Start with Princess Margaret, end your trip at Friendship Bay, and explore everything in between.
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