Claiming its patch of dreamy island life St Barts lays in the Caribbean and can make for a blissful vacation destination. Surrounded by teal blue waters, lush vegetation and lots of sunshine, those looking for a nice place to unwind love coming here. St Barts villas on the beach offer amazing opportunities for visitors to feel like they are entering a vacation bubble.
This beautiful volcanic island is surrounded by shallow reefs. During its history it has been under Swedish and English rule, but has primarily been a French colony. In recent times St Barts has made its reputation as being an island that caters to those looking for luxurious places to stay and hosts the rich and famous. The official language is French, although most of the residents do speak English.
The island is named after Bartolomeo, the brother of Christopher Columbus who made his way there in 1493. St Barts is located about 250 kilometers away from Puerto Rico and the island itself is about 25 square kilometers. The island has an arid climate but receives enough rain to allow it to keep its lush green appeal. The island is almost always sunny and winds off the ocean keep the humidity pleasantly low.
As you are looking for your next awesome vacation destination, here are some reasons to consider St Barts.
The Beaches
The first thing worth mentioning are the beaches. The beaches around St Bart are absolutely world class, nearly post card perfect beaches. If you want to plan a vacation and do hardly anything other than enjoy unwinding at the beach, St Barts is the place for you. Around the island there are fourteen public beaches. Each one has its own special charms and allures. No matter which beaches you go to, always be a socially responsible traveler. Be extra mindful if you go out snorkeling. Standing, kicking or damaging the reef in any way can take life times to grow back. Try to get into the habit of putting sunscreen on at least twenty minutes before you go into the ocean so it has a chance to set in. If you see any trash floating around while you are there pick it up. We all benefit from less trash in our oceans. Try to do a good deed and get those plastics out of the ocean and into a trash can. As you blissfully plot out the beaches you would like to visit, here are two suggestions to get the ball rolling:
Baie de St Jean: This brilliant and ideal beach is a great one for recreating at. The reef protected waters are generally calm and make for a great location for wind surfing or snorkeling. The beach is located not that far from the tiny airport on the island. So this means it gives you a chance to keep tabs on how many people are coming and going from the island. This is a rather busy beach so it can make a great spot for some interesting people watching. There are also cute boutiques and tasty bistros nearby.
Anse des Flamands: This lovely beach is easy to overlook is you are not staying on the north side of the island. It is only three miles from the capital of Gustavia so it is relatively easy to get to. Something special about this beach is it offers can chance to snag a precious patch of shade cast by the palm trees along the beach which is a rarity on St Barts. If you are looking to get some exercise, visitors can take the semi strenuous hike from the beach to the nearby dormant volcano. This volcano is the one believed to have formed the island. If you are self-driving, other visitors have noted its worth trying to get there a bit early as the parking spaces are limited.
Experience the Inter Oceans Museum
This quirky and different museum is one of the most unique finds on the entirety of the island. Set up by the passionate oceanographer Ingenu Magras the museum is located in the charming village of Corossol. Inside there is a 9000 plus shell collection along with an impressive array of the other marine related objects. Visitors can get a firsthand look understanding of all the different things that may live in the ocean between those shallow reefs and the sandy beaches. When you are done learning all about the ocean, make sure you save yourself enough time so you can explore the secluded and interesting village of Corossol.
Take in the Views from Fort Gustav
This fort was built when the island was under Swedish rule way back in the 18th century. It offers a glimpse back into the islands colonial past. Heading up to the fort is worth it simply for the breath taking views of the harbor. While you are up there take a moment and try to imagine looking down and imagining what it would have been like to see pirate ships and naval frigates mooring in the harbor. While you walk around you can see the dilapidated remains of the old baking house and the old cannon studded bulwarks.
Admire the Architecture
With a wide variety of influences from the Swedish, the English, the Carib and of course the French, there can be an interesting mix of architecture to marvel at. Enjoy slowly wandering the cobble stone streets and enjoy the gems you find.
As you consider the best possible places to go for your next vacation, do make sure you give serious consideration to all the fine things St Barts has on offer.