Galley Bay Beach

Tourist attraction · St. John's

Galley Bay Beach

Tourist attraction · St. John's

44F5+5J8, St John's, Antigua & Barbuda

Highlights

Nestled away via a charming gravel path, this stunning yet tranquil beach in Antigua boasts pristine sands, crystal-clear waters, and excellent snorkeling, perfect for a peaceful escape.

44F5+5J8, St John's, Antigua & Barbuda Get directions

google.com

@cntraveler

"A beach popular for surf-friendly waves and sea turtle hatchlings."

Where to Eat, Stay, and Play on Antigua: Beaches, Shopping, and History

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@cntraveler

"Galley Bay Beach ticks off the boxes for a great beach: soft, white sand, turquoise water, and towering palm trees. The beach is also a haven for sea life: tucked between two small coral reefs, snorkelers can spot stingrays, angelfish, and parrotfish, and if you visit during the summer, keep an eye out for nesting sea turtles. The beach is home to the intimate Gauguin Restaurant and Bar, which offers private cabana dining right on the beach. If you can, stay for a dazzling sunset and snap a photo for your future screensaver."

The Best Beaches in Antigua—And Where to Stay Nearby

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@afar

"Bask in the Land of Sea and Sun No trip to Antigua , the “Land of Sea and Sun,” would be complete without spending quality time on one (or two, or three) of its fabled 365 sugar-white, sparkling beaches and the Galley Bay Resort and Spa sits on one of the best of the bunch. Galley Bay Beach is graced with three-quarters of a mile of quintessential Antiguan beach. Perfectly sized sand won’t blow in the breeze, palm trees dot its length providing natural shade, beds and hammocks dare you escape their relaxing embrace, and the water… Well… The water looks like you see above. Immaculate. Turquoise. Radiant. In the distance, you can see Nevis and St. Kitts on the horizon almost close enough to touch adding to the impossible perfection."

Antigua's Best Beaches

View Postcard for Galley Bay Beach

Jenny Sprague

Google

Pristine beach. No public facilities. Park on side of the road past the resort and there is a gate to the walk thru to the beach. Great snorkeling. Live fan coral, saw a hug eel, couple founders and a young turtle while we were there. There was quite a bit of boat traffic so keep a eye out while swimming/snorkeling. Practically had the beach to ourselves. Great way to spend a couple hours for sure.

Hannah

Google

Absolutely stunning beach! Very quiet, not too many people there. Great for snorkelling or swimming or just for a stroll on the beach! Very sandy, there are quite a few big rocks too, but mostly sand, sea and sun! The water looks beautiful and it’s quite warm! Amazing place to watch the sunset too!

KEN WHITMAN

Google

Thank you, Jenny Sprague, for the directions to access the beach. We parked across from the gate to Galley Bay Heights and walked back to the green chain-link gate that allows access over the resort property. Note: according to the Antiguan government all beaches are public even though several resorts will not allow you through their gates. The beach is nearly 1/2 mile long and a bit steep. The waves were unusually strong when we were there making casual swimming difficult. It would be a five star beach if it wasn't for the resort rooms crowding the beach.

T J LeRoy

Google

This is a great beach. They have tried to make it look private but almost All beaches in Antigua are public. Enter via the unlocked gate in the fence and walk a short gravel path to a pristine beach. Great for swimming, snorkelling etc. Snorkelling is good at both ends but the right hand side (as you face out to sea ) is best. For snorkelling be aware that the jet skis that come out of Deep Bay come illegally close to snorkellers on occasion (within 15m) as most of the riders are first timers, so a surface marker buoy is a useful safety precaution. There are occasional Moon Jellyfish which are pretty harmless and easy to avoid. Would be no worse than a stinging nettle even if you did brush up against the underside of the bell.

Cindy W

Google

Take the road that bypasses the resort to get there and park on the side of the road. Enter through a gate (see photo) and you will find yourself walking through parts of the resort to get to the beachfront. The beach had a nice sunset view, but I can see it getting crowded since it is right by the resort.

Sara Gallini

Google

Very quiet secluded beach with crystal clear water despite the sea being quite choppy due to the constant wind blowing from East. Many seashells and broken corals on the beach so that children can go treasure hunting and keep busy for a few hours. Very recommended to those who don’t like the crowd at Dickenson Bay.

Lenore Campbell

Google

Beautiful beach. Nice to swim on calm days.

Rick Evans

Google

Antigua Trip: Beautiful, Friendly, Relaxing, All Inclusive, Tropical, Highly recommend.