In the friendly rivalry between St. Barths\u2019 most beautiful wild beaches, Gouverneur has been vying for first place with its neighbor, Saline, for generations. Surrounded by a ring of green hills, with light-colored sand and no buildings in sight, the bay has retained all of its original character, including the legend of a buccaneer\u2019s treasure said to lie buried somewhere beneath the sand.<\/p>\n
You can get there via the road that climbs above Gustavia and then turns south: the descent offers one of the island\u2019s most beautiful panoramic views, with the entire bay spread out below. A small parking lot marks the arrival point; from there, it\u2019s just a few steps to lay out your towel. That\u2019s the advantage of Gouverneur over Saline: the sea is almost right at the edge of the road, with no steps to climb.<\/p>\n
Like all of the island\u2019s wild beaches, Gouverneur offers no amenities: no restaurants, no lounge chair rentals, no trash cans\u2014you have to take everything with you. Shade is scarce, so a beach umbrella is essential in the middle of the day. Swimming is delightful when the sea is calm; when there\u2019s a swell, the breaking waves can be rough, so be careful with children.<\/p>\n
The best times? In the morning for the light and the cool air, and in the late afternoon when the bay empties and the hills turn golden. Regulars often do the \u201csouthern double\u201d: Gouverneur in the morning, Saline Beach<\/a> for an evening swim\u2014they're both just a few minutes' drive from each other.<\/p>\nThe Ideal Base Camp<\/h2>\n