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Sugar Beach St Lucia is the epitome of any beach holiday. Feeling that silky white sand between your toes is surely one of life’s greatest pleasures. Being surrounded by those famous towering Pitons set amongst pristine rainforest while you jump into the sparkling turquoise water is no doubt everyone’s idea of paradise.
The view that graces hundreds of travel brochures is certainly breathtaking. Welcome to Anse des Pitons (or Sugar Beach as rebranded by the Viceroy), one of St Lucia’s finest beaches on which the Viceroy Sugar Beach Resort is situated.
Check out our Family Travel Guide To St Lucia!
Contents
The Resort
The Viceroy Sugar Beach Resort has been voted one of the Top 50 Resorts in the Caribbean by Conde Nast Traveler. Positioned on the most beautiful stretch of white sand beach in St Lucia, it is a beautiful luxury resort. Set on the site of an 18th century sugar plantation (hence the name), this five-star resort adds a bit of glitz to St Lucia and has the price tag to go with it.
Towering above the resort are the stunning twin Pitons which are UNESCO World Heritage-listed. The waters surrounding the Pitons, particularly off the Petit Piton, are a marine reserve. Snorkellers and divers, who are able to access this site directly from the beach, are treated to an abundance of corals such as brain corals and a variety of delightfully patterned fish. But you don’t have to be a guest to enjoy the delights this beach has to offer. You too can enjoy Spending The Day At Sugar Beach In St Lucia.
The Beach
Most beaches in St Lucia are made from black sand due to the island’s volcanic heritage. Sugar Beach has been man-made with 7,500 tons of white sand brought in from Guyana. Especially chosen for its light-reflective qualities, it is actually cooler underfoot than the black volcanic sand found on the rest of the island’s beaches.
It is possible to enjoy spending the day at a Sugar Beach resort in St Lucia. Even if you aren’t a guest of the hotel, you can enjoy its facilities, albeit for a fee. But what many people don’t realise is that according to an ordinance in St Lucia’s civil code, any land that runs 57m inland from the high watermark is public property. This means that all beaches in St Lucia belong to the people and that includes Sugar Beach. As a result, you are perfectly able to spend the day at Sugar Beach without being a guest at the resort.
At the time of writing this article, Sugar Beach is a bone of contention between the government and tourists. Whilst legally Sugar Beach is available to the public for access, it is challenging to get there due to the Viceroy Resort imposing their own restrictions.
Having done this ourselves on a previous family trip to St. Lucia, we can tell you what you need to know before you go as there are various options to consider.
Free Access
The only easy way to access Sugar Beach is through the Viceroy Resort. Sadly you cannot access the property with your car without paying a fee. It is possible, however, to find a small space outside the Viceroy gate but there is a 1.2km walk downhill from this point which would be a steep uphill journey when you leave. If travelling with children, we don’t recommend this option as the journey there and back may be difficult for little ones or if you are bringing a fair amount of beach gear.
Once you arrive at the beach, you are immediately met by the security guards of the hotel. They attempt to convince you that only a small area is set aside for non-guests. This area is segregated due to its rock rather than sand construction. According to security, the sandy area is reserved for hotel guests only, as are all the beach loungers. As a non-guest, you are not able to use the hotel bathrooms, but there are alternative bathrooms nearby.
Whilst it is perfectly legal to access Sugar Beach, the staff and security at the resort give a frosty reception to visitors. We saw numerous people turned away who thought they could have access to the hotel’s facilities for free while staying at the beach. We can understand why the security at the Viceroy are strict about who they let in.
If you decide to go for this option, be prepared for a challenge from the hotel security. You are perfectly within your rights to have access to the entire sand beach. However, they may not make it easy for you.
Day Passes
An easier alternative to access Sugar Beach is to purchase a day pass to the resort. This comes with a few “perks” unavailable to non-paying visitors. However, as a family of four, this alternative can add up very quickly so it may be best reserved as a special outing.
There are two options when it comes to these day passes:
Basic Day Pass
The day pass rate is $50.00 (USD) per person. Car parking on hotel property is included. The use of the shuttle is available to take you down to the beach and back again when you leave. The good news is that you receive a credit of $50.00 towards food and drink at the resort (alcohol included) at Bayside Restaurant on the beach or the resort’s beach service. So you can effectively recoup the entrance fee provided you spend $50 or more on food and drink.
Beach Chair Day Pass
This pass is an additional $50.00 (USD) per person on top of the Basic Day Pass rate. For this rate you gain access to the resort’s beach chairs which are situated at the back row of the beach chair area. This also entitles you to beach service if you wish, instead of going to the restaurant.
Is it worth it?
Knowing the options available to you, whether to pay for a day pass or not, it is something worth considering. During our visit to St Lucia, we decided to treat ourselves and opted for the basic pass. We had a delicious lunch at Bayside Restaurant and afterwards found a comfy sofa and hammock area to relax while the kids played in the sand. We decided not to include the use of beach chairs simply because we were quite content to base ourselves on some very squishy sofas in front of the beach.
The food at Bayside Restaurant is of a high standard. There is a large variety on the menu, but it does come with a price tag. If you are looking for a special day then be sure not to miss this restaurant. The staff were very accommodating and attentive even though we were not residents of the resort. We even came back another evening for a really amazing Creole-inspired buffet dinner with live band that the resort puts on weekly.
The cost of the day pass is significant. However, it’s a great way to give yourselves a bit of comfort and service. At the same time, you can have access to a beautiful white sand beach on St Lucia. When you take into consideration the cost of staying at this resort, you may find that the day rate is a cost-effective way to enjoy the facilities without having to stay there.
We hope you have enjoyed reading about Spending The Day At Sugar Beach In St Lucia.
Read about our Ultimate 7-Night Family Getaway To St Lucia!
Don’t Forget!
- If you purchase a day pass with beach chairs, aim to get there early in the morning. There are limited chairs in the back row for non-resort guests and they go quickly.
- The day pass is valid until 6pm.
- With a day pass you are able to use the resort’s restroom facilities. These are located next to the pool area. Non-resort guests are not allowed to use the pool at any time.
- Give yourself plenty of time to get to the beach and back from any location in the resort. The shuttle can take time to arrive, particularly around the busy times at the beginning and end of the day.
- Remember to keep your day pass receipt as you will need to show it multiple times during your stay. It is generally asked for when you arrive at the beach and when it comes time to pay for your bill. Your $50.00 credit will be applied when you show this receipt.
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