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A horseshoe-shaped bay fringed with a sweeping stretch of white sands and a man-made lagoon, Rodney Bay sits on the northwest tip of Saint Lucia and is the island’s most vibrant visitor hub. Along with a good choice of hotels along the waterfront, Rodney Bay Village and its surrounds have plenty of shops, bars and restaurants and a vibrant but relaxed atmosphere making this the liveliest destination on the island. Beyond the beach, you can try your hand at kitesurfing, diving and snorkeling, go big game fishing, take a sunset cruise or hike in the nearby hills or rainforest.

Rodney Bay Village lies at the heart of the bay and is home to the modern Rodney Bay Marina. It’s the Caribbean’s second-largest yachting hub and finish point for the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers in December each year. The marina is well known for its upmarket restaurants and trendy cocktail bars and around it you’ll find all the main visitor facilities from banks and bars to shops and markets.

Reduit Beach, to the south of Rodney Bay Village, is one of the most popular on the island with soft white sands, calm waters and views of forested Pigeon Island to the north. It’s only 10 km (6 miles) from the Saint Lucian capital, Castries, so the central portion of the beach can get busy, but head north or south, beyond the main hotels and you should be able to find a quieter spot to relax.

Bars and restaurants, yoga studios, and nightclubs line the beach and there’s a host of water sports to choose from. The sea is very calm here and it’s a good spot to try out windsurfing or waterskiing, challenge yourself on the inflatable obstacle course, or simply sunbathe and swim. Rodney Bay is also a popular spot for big game fishing and you can charter a boat to look for marlin, sailfish, blackfin tuna, wahoo or dorado.

The Bay is named after Admiral George Brydges Rodney, a British naval officer who built the fort at Pigeon Island on the north side of the bay. Now joined to the mainland by a causeway, the island is a national park and a popular spot for walking.

The remains of the fort still stand and are surrounded by dry forests and grasslands laced with nature trails. To the south of the island are two quiet and secluded beaches good for a more tranquil afternoon in the sun, while a walk to the island’s highest point offers great views, and, between January and April when humpbacks ply the waters here, a good place for land-based whale watching.

Also on the north side of the bay, Gros Islet is a small fishing village that offers a taste of everyday Saint Lucian life. Along with plenty of rum shops and fishing shacks draped in nets, the village is renowned for its Friday night ‘Jump Up’, a weekly street party. Calypso music and the smell of street food fills the air, bars serve local beer and rum, and everyone dances in the street. It’s a great opportunity to experience authentic Saint Lucian food and culture.