Marigot Bay

A natural harbour

Marigot Bay is a narrow inlet on the west coast, a short drive south of Castries. Steep, green hills enclose it, and the water inside is calm and deep, which is why it has long been prized as an anchorage. A small ferry takes visitors across the bay, and the waterfront has a marina, restaurants and bars.

The bay is often said to have been a filming location for an old Hollywood production, and that story is part of its folklore. Whatever the truth, the setting is one of the prettiest on the island.

Things to do

Most visitors come to sit on a terrace, watch the boats and enjoy a meal. There are beaches nearby, and boat trips from the marina cover the coast, as covered in our sailing and boat trips guide. Sheltered water also makes it good for paddleboarding and kayaking.

• Allow a few hours for lunch and a swim.
• Pair it with a visit to the capital, described in our Castries guide.
• Look at the northern alternatives in Rodney Bay.

Getting there

Marigot Bay lies on the main road between the north and the southwest, which makes it a natural stop on the way to or from Soufrière. See our getting here guide for transfers and driving notes.

A day in the bay

A relaxed day starts with a drink on a waterfront terrace and a look at the boats. Take the small ferry across to the far side, where there are beach bars and a quiet strip of sand. You can swim, paddle a kayak or hire a paddleboard and glide around the inner harbour in calm water.

Lunch comes in many forms, from simple grilled fish to a longer sit-down meal at a restaurant on the quay. In the afternoon, take a short walk along the water or sit and watch the sunset change the colour of the hills.

Staying nearby and onward travel

Accommodation around the bay includes small hotels and villas, and some visitors base themselves here to be midway between the north and the southwest. From the bay it is a short drive to Castries, and about an hour or more to Soufrière, depending on traffic.

Sailors will already know the harbour as one of the best anchorages in the region. If you are planning to charter, see our boat trips guide for the main options, and our getting here guide for transfers.

• Check ferry times for crossing the bay.
• Bring insect repellent for the evening.
• Book popular restaurants in the busy season.

What makes Marigot Bay different from Rodney Bay?

Marigot Bay differs from Rodney Bay because it is a narrow, sheltered harbour enclosed by steep green hills, with a village-scale waterfront, a small ferry and a quieter pace, whereas Rodney Bay is a long open bay with a big beach and nightlife. The two suit different moods. Rodney Bay offers choice and energy. Marigot Bay offers calm and a sense of retreat, where the main activity is watching boats and the light change on the hills. Both are on the west coast, a drive apart, and many visitors enjoy both in the same trip, one for the first half and one for the second. If you are travelling with children, the calm water in the bay is gentle, but supervise them closely near boats.

The bay's shape is the secret. A narrow entrance opens into a deep, calm basin, which is why sailors have valued it as an anchorage, and why the water inside is ideal for kayaks and paddleboards. Palms and green hills line the edges, and the sound of the village comes softly across the water. A small marina, a handful of restaurants and a few boutique hotels sit around the shore. Our sailing and boat trips guide explains how to sail from here, and which trips start and finish in the bay. Early mornings are the best time to see the light on the water, and the village is at its most peaceful before the day visitors arrive.

Visitors who prefer this mood often stay a night or two at a hotel or villa around the bay, using it as a base between the north and the southwest. It is close enough to Castries for a morning in the capital and midway to the Pitons. Those who need nightlife and a long beach should stay in the north and visit here for lunch. The bay is also a good place to spend the last night of a trip, since the quiet pace helps you recover before the long journey home, and the airport at Vigie is not far. Check whether your hotel offers transfers, since the bay can be awkward to reach by public transport.

How do I spend a lazy day at Marigot Bay?

Spend a lazy day at Marigot Bay with breakfast on the waterfront, a ferry to the far beach, a swim and paddle in calm water, a long lunch of grilled fish and a sunset drink as the hills turn gold. Nothing here is rushed. The small ferry takes you across the bay in minutes, and the beach on the other side is quiet and sandy, with a beach bar that serves cold drinks and simple food. Check the ferry times before you plan the day, and carry small notes for the fare and for drinks at the bar. A late afternoon is the best time for a swim, when the sun is lower and the water is warm.

Water activities are gentle. Kayaks and paddleboards can be hired, and the sheltered water makes them suitable for beginners and children. Snorkellers can enjoy the rocks near the entrance, although the sea outside is open, so go with a guide. The beach bars and sunsets guide lists Roots Beach Bar as a relaxed place to end the day, with views over the marina and the surrounding hills. Arrive an hour before sunset to secure a good table, and order something to eat before the evening rush begins. Bring water shoes if you plan to explore the rocky edges. Early morning is the best time to paddle, before the wind picks up.

If you want to combine the bay with sightseeing, the road south leads to Anse La Raye, with its fishing boats and Friday fish fry, and on to the Pitons. Our Anse La Raye guide explains the village and how to enjoy the fish fry. Do not forget insect repellent, since the evening air near the water can bring biting insects, and a light layer, since the breeze can cool quickly once the sun goes down. A relaxed pace, a good book and a cold drink are all you really need. Allow plenty of time for the drive, as the road winds through the hills. Fill your tank in Castries if you are driving yourself.

Is Marigot Bay good for sailors, couples and honeymoons?

Yes, Marigot Bay is good for sailors, who value its sheltered harbour and marina, and for couples seeking a quiet, scenic setting with waterfront dining, though it is less suited to travellers who want a long beach or late-night entertainment. The mood is romantic, with candlelit terraces over the water and lights reflected on the dark surface of the bay. A small hotel or villa here suits couples who like to wander, swim and eat without a schedule, and who are happy to leave the car at home for a day or two. Ask your hotel about quiet corners of the bay for a sunrise coffee, when the hills are lit gold and the water is mirror still.

For honeymooners, the bay works best as part of a two-centre trip. Combine a few nights here with a stay near the Pitons, and add a sunset sail along the coast. Our guide to a honeymoon in Saint Lucia explains how couples build such trips, and the catamaran sunset cruises guide shows the evening options. Ask your hotel to arrange a private dinner or a boat trip for a special evening, and book well ahead in the dry season, when the best tables and boats fill early. Mention your plans when you book so that staff can add small touches. Pack a smart outfit for dinner and flat shoes for the quay.

Sailors will already know the harbour as one of the better anchorages in the region. Charter yachts, small hotels and a marina make it a convenient stop for crews, and the quiet water makes for a restful night at anchor. For land travellers, our getting here guide explains transfers, and the yacht arrival guide covers entry for those coming by sea. Check the latest harbour rules and clearance arrangements before you arrive, and talk to the marina staff, who are generally helpful and know the local waters well. Fresh provisions, water and a good meal are close at hand, and the village atmosphere makes it an easy stop for a night or two.

Marigot Bay beyond the view

A sheltered bay invites a closer look at the sea around it. The guide to marine life and coral reefs describes the underwater world, and conservation and protected areas explains how natural places are looked after.

For the story of why the bay mattered in earlier centuries, read French and British rule and the notes on heritage and historic sites. The geography page explains the landforms that give the bay its shelter.

Staying near Marigot Bay

If Marigot Bay is on your list, compare it with the other hotels in St Lucia before you book. Cap Maison is the leading boutique choice in the north, while Sandals Grande is the all-inclusive option.

To plan a holiday in St Lucia, read the best time to visit, how to get here and itineraries, and see honeymoon in St Lucia ideas if you are travelling as a couple.

Doctor Dolittle, a hurricane hole and a marina village

Marigot Bay has a small place in film history. It was a setting for the 1967 musical Doctor Dolittle, based on Hugh Lofting's children's books, and scenes including the shipwreck were filmed here. Do not expect a film trail. It is simply a good story to know while you watch the boats. Another tale, that a British fleet once hid in the bay from French pursuers, is also told locally, but there is no primary evidence for it, so enjoy it as folklore.

The shelter that suited a film crew has long suited sailors. The inner part of the bay is a recognised hurricane hole, where boats are taken to ride out storms, and cruising guides describe it in just those words. The entrance is a narrow channel marked with lights and buoys, which is why the water feels so enclosed once you are inside. Around it has grown a small marina village, with moorings, a hotel, and restaurants and bars along the quay, so the whole place can be seen in a morning. If you are arriving by yacht, read our guide to yacht arrival and clearance, and for the weather behind the name see climate and hurricanes.

Crossing the bay and eating on the water

The village straddles the water, so you will cross it at least once. A small ferry runs from the main dock to the far side in a couple of minutes, and it is how you reach the beach bars over there and Rainforest Hideaway, a restaurant among the mangroves that cannot be reached by road. Ask on the dock when the ferry runs and whether any fare applies, because arrangements change, and if you are booking an evening table confirm the time of the last crossing back. Bring insect repellent, since the mangroves that make the setting so pretty also bring mosquitoes at dusk. Our guide to restaurants with a view explains how to plan that evening, and the sailing and boat trips page shows other ways to see the bay from the water.

Where to eat and drink around Marigot Bay

Marigot Bay is small enough that you can see most of its dining from one spot on the water, and three names do most of the work. Chateau Mygo House of Seafood is a dockside restaurant with a casual lunch menu and grilled fish and lobster in season at dinner, and it is the easiest choice when you want to sit beside the boats with a sunset cocktail. Doolittle's is an open-air restaurant and bar overlooking the bay, which suits a longer, more relaxed meal, and Roots Beach Bar on the beach side is the place for a drink, simple food and a view back across the marina to the hills.

Because the bay is quiet in the evening, the best plan is to choose one and settle in rather than hopping around. Arrive in good time for the sunset, and let your hotel know in advance if you want a table at the water, since the popular spots fill on busy winter nights. Many guests staying at Zoetry Marigot Bay combine meals at the resort with an occasional evening on the quay.

If you want the bay without the evening crowd, lunch is easier. Take the small ferry across, order something simple, and pair it with a swim or a paddle in the sheltered water. After lunch, a boat trip is a good way to see the coast, and our sailing and boat trips guide explains the options that leave from the bay.

For comparisons with other tables on the island, our where to eat guide covers the main areas, and the guide to restaurants with a view picks out the places where the setting matters as much as the plate. Evenings here are calm rather than lively, so if you want a livelier night, a taxi to Rodney Bay or the Friday fish fry in Anse La Raye are both within reach.

Questions travellers ask