Caribbean Destination Guide: St Lucia’s Rodney Bay

St Lucia’s Rodney Bay is located in the Gros Islet quarter on the Caribbean island’s north-west coast. It is one of the most popular areas for tourists because of its beautiful beaches, countless restaurants and varied nightlife.

Known as St Lucia’s entertainment and recreation centre, Rodney Bay is a unique location in a horseshoe shape with a man-made lagoon. It’s named after British Naval Officer Admiral George Brydges Rodney who took over St Lucia’s National Landmark Pigeon Island between 1779 and 1782 and built Fort Rodney.

Any visit to Rodney Bay should include the stunning Reduit Beach, which is popular with locals and tourists because of its white sand and crystal, clear waters. It’s also the home of the Splash Island Water Park which features several obstacles floating in the Caribbean Sea and promises fun for all the family.

A visit to the bay’s marina, which has over 220 anchorages and 32 mega yacht docks for holding, is also worthwhile even if it’s just to glimpse at the glistening toys of the super-rich. The marina is also the site for the annual Atlantic Rally for Cruisers which takes place in December and attracts around 200 boats and 1,500 amateur sailors.

When you’ve worked up an appetite there are plenty of restaurants and cafes within a short distance where you can choose between a cornucopia of food choices including Indian, French, Italian and Caribbean.

As the sun sets, the place to be is Reduit Beach Avenue, where there are several nightclubs and bars waiting to keep you entertained with soca, calypso and reggae tunes into the early hours of the morning.

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Check out the official St Lucia Tourism Authority website for more information on Rodney Bay.

Sources: The Telegraph, St Lucia.org and St Lucia UK.