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Anse des Cayes

Anse des Cayes: a quiet bay on the north coast

Anse des Cayes is a small bay on the north coast, between St-Jean and Flamands. Quiet, residential, close to the airport, with surf when the swell comes in. Here is what staying there is actually like.

Anse des Cayes sits on the north coast, between St-Jean and Flamands. It is a small bay, held between two rocky points, with houses on the slopes on either side. The land rises quickly from the water, so most homes look down on the bay rather than open onto it.

The beach is short and narrow. It faces north, which means it takes the swell when it comes in from that direction. When the swell is up, there is surf here and people come to ride it. When the sea is flat, the bay is calm and largely empty. That variability is the honest description: this is not a beach with a fixed character from one week to the next.

There are no facilities on the sand. No chairs, no shade, nothing to rent. Access is by a road that drops down from the main road above.

Everyday life and getting around

The airport is a few minutes away by car. So is St-Jean, where the shops, the bank, the pharmacy and most everyday errands are. Gustavia and the port are a short drive further on, depending on traffic through St-Jean at the end of the day.

Anse des Cayes itself is residential. There is no commercial centre in the bay, no shops, no line of places to sit. Evenings are quiet. What you hear is the sea and the wind, and, several times a day, aircraft on approach to the runway at St-Jean. Flights stop in the late afternoon and do not run at night, but if you are sensitive to that noise it is worth knowing before you book.

You need a car. Everything outside the bay is a drive. The roads are narrow and steep in places, and a small vehicle handles them better than a large one.

Who it suits, and who it doesn't

It suits people who want to be close to the airport and to the shops without staying in the middle of St-Jean. The difference is real. St-Jean is busy through the day; Anse des Cayes is not. If you are arriving late or leaving early, the short run to the runway matters.

It suits surfers, or people who like the idea of a sea that changes. It suits anyone who is happy driving to a different beach each day, which is what most people here end up doing.

It does not suit someone who wants to walk out of the door onto a long stretch of sand, or who wants to walk to dinner. Neither is possible here. It does not suit anyone who wants steady, flat water for swimming with small children; the lagoon at Grand-Cul-de-Sac is the better answer for that. And if aircraft noise bothers you, choose another part of the island.

Villas I place in Anse des Cayes

A few of the houses I work with in Anse des Cayes. Tell me your dates and who is travelling and I come back with what is actually open.

Villa IL FARO ESTATE, Anse des Cayes, St Barth
Anse des Cayes

IL FARO ESTATE

11 bedrooms · sleeps 22

An eleven-bedroom house in Anse des Cayes, north coast, with room for twenty-two, a heated pool of its own and an airport shuttle.

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Villa FIREFLY, Anse des Cayes, St Barth
Anse des Cayes

FIREFLY

7 bedrooms · sleeps 14

Seven rooms at Anse des Cayes, on the quiet north coast: fourteen sleep here, the pool is heated, and small children are catered for.

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Villa CIEL D'AZUR, Anse des Cayes, St Barth
Anse des Cayes

CIEL D'AZUR

6 bedrooms · sleeps 12

A twelve-sleeper with six rooms in the quiet north-coast bay of Anse des Cayes, heated pool and fitness room.

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Rates depend on the season and the length of stay, so I quote them case by case rather than publishing a figure that would be wrong half the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a beach, and can you swim there?

Yes, there is a beach, but it is small and narrow, with no services of any kind. Swimming depends on the day. When the sea is flat it is fine. When the north swell comes in there is real shore break and surfers in the water, and it stops being a place to swim with children. If you want water that is calm regardless of conditions, this is not the right bay.

How much aircraft noise is there?

You hear planes. The runway at St-Jean is close and the approach passes nearby, so several times a day there is engine noise overhead. It is short each time. Flights do not operate at night, so it does not affect sleeping. Some people stop noticing it after a day; others do not. If you already know you are sensitive to it, I would place you somewhere else on the island.

Do I need to rent a car?

Yes. There is nothing to walk to from the bay itself, so every meal, every beach and every errand means driving. Take a small car. The roads on this side are narrow, with steep sections and tight turns, and a compact vehicle is easier to park and easier to live with. Plan the rental before you arrive rather than on the day.

Is it a good base if I want to be near shops and the airport?

That is its main practical advantage. St-Jean, with the shops and most day-to-day services, is a few minutes away, and so is the airport. Gustavia is a short drive further. You get quick access to all of that without staying in the busiest part of the island, because the bay itself stays residential and quiet in the evening.

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