Why Honeymoon in Marigot Bay
The setting does most of the work. You wake up to masts and mangroves, swim in a pool above the lagoon and watch the light go gold on the hills at dusk. Few Caribbean harbors feel this enclosed and private.
It is also a practical base. From here you can reach the Pitons, Castries and the northern beaches on day trips without long drives at either end. Restaurants, a marina and a small ferry across the bay mean you can spend a day without a car.
Couples who want a resort that does everything will be happy at one of the larger hotels on the bay. Couples who want to explore can hire boats and drivers easily. The main thing it lacks is a long swimming beach, which a boat trip to Anse Cochon solves.
When to Go
December through April is the dry season and the most popular time to visit, with sunny days, lower humidity and steady breezes. Christmas, New Year and the weeks around Easter are the busiest and most expensive.
May and June are a good compromise. Rain showers begin, but they are often short. Hotel rates drop and the bay is quieter.
July through November is the wet season, with the highest hurricane risk from August through October. The bay's reputation as a hurricane hole comes from this history, but you should still buy travel insurance that covers named storms and choose flexible bookings. Some restaurants close for a few weeks in September or October. Temperatures stay in the 80s Fahrenheit all year.
Where to Stay
Lodging around Marigot Bay is small in number and mostly upscale. The main resort and marina complex sits on the south side of the bay with suites stepping up the hill, a spa and restaurants by the water. It has changed brands over the years, so check the current name and reviews when you book.
On the north side, Marigot Beach Club & Dive Resort has rooms and villas close to the palm spit with its own dive center. Hillside villas and smaller inns on the ridges offer big views and more privacy, though you will rely on taxis or a rental car.
For something more secluded, Ti Kaye Resort & Spa sits above Anse Cochon a few miles south, with cottages and steps down to a snorkeling beach. Expect roughly $350 to $900 a night for most couples' rooms in high season, approximate and varying by suite.
Romantic Things to Do
Take a sunset drink somewhere high on the bay, where you can watch the yachts swing on their moorings as the hills darken. Then cross on the small ferry for dinner by the water.
Book a boat day south along the coast. Most trips stop at Anse Cochon for snorkeling over reef and rocks, continue past the fishing village of Canaries and end beneath the Pitons, with time at Soufrière's sulfur springs or Sugar Beach. The sea views of the Pitons are better than anything you see from the road.
Kayak or paddleboard into the quiet edges of the bay among the mangroves. Divers can join trips to the reefs and wrecks along the west coast. On a Friday night, drive ten minutes south to Anse La Raye, where the village street fills with grills, music and fresh seafood.
Getting There and Around
Most US nonstops land at Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) on the southern tip of the island, with flights from cities including Miami, New York, Atlanta and Charlotte. The drive north to Marigot takes about 1 to 1.5 hours on a winding road through banana valleys and villages. Many hotels arrange transfers. Helicopter shuttles to the north of the island can cut the trip to minutes.
George F. L. Charles Airport (SLU) near Castries is only about 30 minutes away but serves mainly regional flights, useful if you connect through another island.
In the bay, walk or use the ferry. Beyond it, taxis are the usual choice. Agree on fares in advance. Driving is on the left. The roads are steep with tight bends, so most couples skip the rental car.
Food and Drink
Marigot's restaurants cluster around the marina and the palm spit. Expect fresh fish, grilled lobster in season and Creole dishes with plenty of local spice. Several places sit on decks over the water, which makes dinner the highlight of the day.
Saint Lucian dishes worth trying include green fig and saltfish, the national dish, plus callaloo soup, accra fritters and bouyon, a hearty stew. Piton beer is the local lager. Chairman's Reserve rum is produced at the St. Lucia Distillers plant in the Roseau Valley, just south of the bay, which offers tours.
For a local night out, Anse La Raye's Friday fish fry is the best value meal on this part of the coast. Bring cash and arrive hungry.
Honeymoon Tips
- Ask for a hillside or bay-view room. The view is the reason to stay here.
- Plan at least one full-day boat trip to the Pitons. It is easier and prettier than driving.
- Pack reef-safe sunscreen and water shoes for rocky snorkel spots.
- Use insect repellent at dusk near the mangroves. Dengue occurs on Saint Lucia, so if you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices.
- Book dinner reservations on weekends and in high season.
- If you want a long beach as well, split the trip: a few nights in Marigot and a few in the north or at Soufrière.
