Guana Bay Beach
Guana Bay Beach
3.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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3.5
60 reviews
Excellent
19
Very good
19
Average
12
Poor
5
Terrible
5
nurseoberle
Mazatlan, Mexico57 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
We rented a 6 bedroom home through VRBO on Guana bay beach. Very private, safe, and quiet location. It’s a protected beach for the sea turtles. We have only seen some dogs and a couple people walking the beach. Definitely recommend if you are looking to be away from resorts and be a little more secluded. The property manager Chris went above and beyond our needs during our stay to make sure everything was perfect during our trip.
Written October 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zbyg
Toronto, Canada78 contributions
Dec 2019
St.Maarten the smallest Carribean Island divided between France and Semi Independent Holland Part.
The location is just 5 minutes from Philipsburg .Great beach,basically empty.Nice waves to play with.
We stay at beach front Luxurious 6 BR Villa HIBISCUS at Guana Bay
Highly recommended
The location is just 5 minutes from Philipsburg .Great beach,basically empty.Nice waves to play with.
We stay at beach front Luxurious 6 BR Villa HIBISCUS at Guana Bay
Highly recommended
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travillionaire
Missouri8 contributions
Mar 2015 • Family
St. Maarten was the last stop on our Southern Caribbean cruise, and we wanted a crowd-free adventure. This outing was AMAZING.
We took a cab from the port to Guana Bay ($5 per person), and had him drop us off at the end of the road at the south end of the beach. The trail starts right at the end of the road and is clearly marked the entire way. Bring a hat and sunblock, because it's full sun the entire way, but the views are great and steady breeze keeps it tolerable even at mid-day.
You'll be heading toward the prominent rocky point that you can see in the distance to the south. We hiked for about an hour (including photo and rest breaks) until we came to the natural pool just past the rocky point. It's large and deep enough for several people at a time to swim and check out the fish. There are a few sea urchins, so take some sandals or water shoes.
After a swim and scrambling on the rocks with the kids (ages 8 and 10), we continued south for another 45 minutes to a little community where you can call a cab (or walk another 30 minutes back to the cruise ship port).
This is a simple and very affordable DIY outing for a cruise stop. The taxi dispatcher tried to dissuade us from going to Guana Bay, and now we know why--nobody selling anything on this unspoiled stretch of rugged coastline.
I understand that some companies do arrange hikes here as a guided excursion, but that support would be totally unnecessary. We also met some local med school students taking a break from their studies at the natural pool.
We took a cab from the port to Guana Bay ($5 per person), and had him drop us off at the end of the road at the south end of the beach. The trail starts right at the end of the road and is clearly marked the entire way. Bring a hat and sunblock, because it's full sun the entire way, but the views are great and steady breeze keeps it tolerable even at mid-day.
You'll be heading toward the prominent rocky point that you can see in the distance to the south. We hiked for about an hour (including photo and rest breaks) until we came to the natural pool just past the rocky point. It's large and deep enough for several people at a time to swim and check out the fish. There are a few sea urchins, so take some sandals or water shoes.
After a swim and scrambling on the rocks with the kids (ages 8 and 10), we continued south for another 45 minutes to a little community where you can call a cab (or walk another 30 minutes back to the cruise ship port).
This is a simple and very affordable DIY outing for a cruise stop. The taxi dispatcher tried to dissuade us from going to Guana Bay, and now we know why--nobody selling anything on this unspoiled stretch of rugged coastline.
I understand that some companies do arrange hikes here as a guided excursion, but that support would be totally unnecessary. We also met some local med school students taking a break from their studies at the natural pool.
Written March 24, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carol Ann Z
Old Saybrook, CT201 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
So we were looking for a good place to hike, and how great to hike to a beautiful natural pool?!? So WEAR sneakers or a walking shoe. Plan to hike up and down some pretty treacherous trails ( at times) It took us about 30 minutes at a good clip each way. Once you get to the pool, be careful getting in. There are sharp rocks and sea urchins. It is a beautiful place and we were happy to have made the hike. Again, be forewarned that it is steep at times. But pretty neat to basically be hiking on goat paths (you see goats)! And the view is spectacular. We had difficulty finding the start point of the hike but once you enter the Guana Bay villa area, drive to the end. Park and hike and enjoy!
Written August 8, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rolf V
Sarasota, FL33 contributions
May 2016 • Couples
We heard about Guana Bay and the "Natural Pool" from co workers. If you have the time and not on a cruise ship for a day, you must visit unless you are afraid of heights. Park the car and hike over the mountains between goats and Iguanas. Finally after a good 45 minute hike, past some cliffs and rock formations you see the "Natural Pool". Make sure to keep your sneakers on so you don't cut your feet on the shells stuck to the rocks, but you've found yourself a pool so clear, great temperature. Just an amazing experience.
Written August 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Margaret B
St Martin / St Maarten252 contributions
Feb 2014 • Solo
This quiet, beautiful beach is off the beaten path because it's in an area that has one way in and one way out - Guana Bay. It's on the Atlantic side of the island and it's quiet in the people sense, but it's normally quite rough and can sometimes be very dangerous to swim in. The water is quite changeable here too - one minute it seems calm enough and the next minute a parade of powerful waves are heading relentlessly towards you. If you are a good swimmer, by all means swim, but know that a good time to get out is when you feel strong currents circling your ankles that make it difficult to walk - or when you find yourself being swept southwards. All that said, it's an excellent place for exercise, under the right conditions - and surfing! Leatherback turtles like to nest here too. There isn't designated parking for the beach - just take any of three roads heading to the beach and park where you can. There is a beach bar at the northern end with parking, but the bar itself only opens for special occasions.
Written March 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andy B
66 contributions
Feb 2018
Very secluded beach that was hard to find. When we finally found it there was a rocky path to get there. The beach was full of debris from Irma and no visible effort was being made for cleanup. Very secluded but the surrounding buildings were severely damaged. The water was very choppy with strong under tows. We didn’t dare go in the water. Save your time and skip this destination.
Written February 8, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Minna K
Helsinki, Finland43 contributions
Dec 2015 • Couples
As everyone says, the sea can be rough there so it's not so good for a traditional beach day, but it's a starting point for a trail that takes you to the natural pools at Geneve Bay. Very nice views! The pool can be reached from Pointe Blanche direction, which is shorter, or Guana Bay. We left our car at Guana Bay, hiked, bathed in the pool for a bit and then walked back. Took about 2,5h altogether. Keep in mind that the pools are not too nice with eastern winds and heavy swell. Also bring some swimming shoes, there are sea urchins.
Written January 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anne O
Philipsburg, null, Netherlands Antilles4 contributions
Jul 2014 • Solo
Guana Bay Beach is unlike any of the other beaches on the island. Very wild - the sea can be quite challenging and at times very dangerous if you take risks and go out too far into the surf. But if you want peace and quiet, without any distractions or commercialism, then take your chair, umbrella and cooler and enjoy the wonderful sandy beach, the wild ocean and the view over to St Barths.
Great beach for walking the dog, running or walking the length of the beach. There seems to be a beach bar opening again but doesn't seem to have opened yet.
Great beach for walking the dog, running or walking the length of the beach. There seems to be a beach bar opening again but doesn't seem to have opened yet.
Written July 2, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wjmacia
Stuart, FL10 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
Beautiful sand, great snorkeling with many reefs to explore and like famed Orient Beach, clothing is optional.
Written June 2, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi coming in on cruise ship.
Do you take a cab to beach area? What would the cost be?
Is it easy to get a cab back to ship?
Written January 11, 2016
Seemed pretty safe. Saw no more that 2-4 people out on any given day. Beach is not far from villas and homes that are within walking distance. Was there during the low season, but can't imagine you would ever see many people on this beach, including thieves. Would say it's safer there than waking alone on the Monon Trail or White River Parkway during the daytime!
Written November 14, 2015
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