Beaches
Beaches of all shapes and sizes dot the coast of St. Barths. All have lovely white sand and different types of surf to suit everyone...from totally calm, without a ripple to the "washing machine" which, as you can tell from its name is knock you down, tumble you over and should not be attempted...and everything in between. Some are more active with restaurants and watersports but you can always find a secluded beach with so many to choose from.
Snorkeling and diving
Snorkeling is good around the rocky perimiters of the beaches where you can see many colorful fish. There are several good dive sites around uninhabited islets and there is a sunken wreck to explore. Scuba diving trips can be arranged with a PADI-certified dive center. For those who like to stay dry, there is a glass bottom boat tour where you can see a wreck, coral and schools of barracuda among other undersea creatures.
Watersports
You can be up on the board windsurfing in 20 minutes when you get instructions from the windsurfing school on Grand Cul de Sac. The breeze here is steady and the lagoon shallow and protected and the windsurfers zip along. Surfing is good at several beaches where there are strong waves. Waterskiing and wakeboarding can be found at different levels of expertise and jet skis can be rented.
Shopping
St. Barths is duty-free shopping at its best with a vast choice of shops from which to choose. Some you will recognize...Hermes, Gucci, Cartier...many will be new to you. The two main shopping areas are Gustavia and St. Jean. You will find an excellent selection of boutiques, some with the latest european fashions. You can also find fine Cuban cigars for sale as well as some fabulous humidors.
Nightlife
If you like staying up late, you'll be at home here. As in France, dinner doesn't even get going until 9PM and can be considered an evening's entertainment in itself. After that, if you want, you can visit several clubs for after dinner drinks and disco dancing...some into the wee hours. Or you can hang out with the crowd in the garden at Le Select in Gustavia. You could also take in a Parisian Cabaret or dance to some wild latin music...or you could just rent a video and enjoy your villa.
