Anse des Flamands, St. Barths: The Wide Beach on the North Coast
The island's broadest stretch of sand, and the start of the walk to Colombier.
Why Go
Flamands is the widest beach on St. Barths — a long open sweep of pale sand on the north coast, backed by latanier palms and a short row of hotels and villas, facing open water rather than a sheltered bay. It has more room than anywhere else on the island, which on a rock this small and this expensive matters. It is also where the path to Colombier begins, so the best walk on St. Barths starts at the far end of it.
The Experience
The bay is broad and shallow-shelving, with clear water and enough space that even a busy day leaves plenty of empty sand. Because it faces north it takes swell when there is any, so the water ranges from glassy to genuinely rolling depending on the season — winter brings surf and summer brings calm, which is the opposite of what most visitors assume. The hillsides behind are green and steep, and the village strung along them is quiet and residential. At the western end the road stops and the coastal path to Colombier begins; at the eastern end Petite Anse is a smaller cove that catches waves and is where the island's surfers go. It feels less enclosed and less manicured than the beaches on the leeward side. The width is what people remember. Most beaches on St. Barths are pockets between headlands, generous by the standards of a small island but enclosed; this one opens out, and the horizon is uninterrupted. On a clear winter afternoon with surf running it is the most dramatic stretch of sand the island has.
What to Try
Swim, and check the water first — on a calm day this is one of the loveliest swims on the island, and on a swell day it is a beach to walk rather than enter. Eat at La Case de L'Isle for the polished lunch on the sand, La Langouste for the long-standing local one, La Cabane and La Pigeonnière for the range. TasteBudsChefs and La Cuisine de Fred are the private-chef operations, which is how a good share of villa guests here eat. Food Locker covers the provisions. Then walk to Colombier from the western end — half an hour over unshaded rock to a beach with no road, which is the best half-day on St. Barths. Vicky's Féerie is the local shopping. The Saint Barthélemy Natural Reserve protects the water offshore. La Pigeonniere rounds out the short list of places to eat along the bay itself.
Insider Tip
Judge the sea before you commit to a swimming day here. Flamands faces north into open water, so between roughly December and March it can be running a real shore break while the leeward beaches at Saint-Jean and Grand Cul-de-Sac are flat calm — the same island, ten minutes apart, completely different conditions. If it is rolling, walk the sand or take the Colombier path instead, and swim on the other coast.
The Practical Stuff
Anse des Flamands is about ten minutes from Gustavia and five to ten from the airport at Saint-Jean, on the north coast. The road runs behind the beach and ends at the Colombier trailhead. Parking is informal along the road and limited in high season. The beach is public, as all French beaches are, with access points between the properties. There are no lifeguards. St. Barths is a French overseas collectivity: the euro is the currency, French is the everyday language with English widely spoken, and driving is on the right on steep narrow roads. The island is in the hurricane belt, roughly June to November, and a significant share of restaurants close from late August into October.
Common Questions
Is Anse des Flamands good for swimming?
On calm days it is among the best on the island. It faces north into open water, so between roughly December and March it can run a real shore break while the leeward beaches stay flat.
Is it the biggest beach on St. Barths?
It is the widest, with more open sand than anywhere else on the island — which matters on a rock this small, since even a busy day leaves plenty of room.
How do you get to Colombier from here?
The coastal path starts at the western end of the bay where the road stops, and takes twenty-five to thirty minutes each way over unshaded rock. It is the best walk on the island.
Where do you park?
Informally along the road behind the beach, and space is limited in high season. Arriving earlier in the day is the simplest solution.
How far is it from Gustavia?
About ten minutes, and five to ten from the airport at Saint-Jean. Nothing on St. Barths is far, though the roads are steep and narrow.
Are there restaurants on the beach?
Yes, several along the bay, from a polished lunch on the sand to long-standing local tables. Many close from late August into October, so check before travelling in the autumn.
Pair It With
- Colombier Guide — The walk-in beach at the end of the path.
- La Case de L'Isle Guide — Lunch on the sand before or after it.
- Plage de la Petite Anse Guide — The cove at the other end, where the waves are.
