Top Montserrat Beaches

Where to get sun and surf on this unique Caribbean island

By Robert Curley

Updated 10/11/17

Montserrat's La Soufriere volcano has taken much away from the island -- including the former capital city of Plymouth -- but also gives back in the form of new land and volcanic sand. From secluded black-sand hideaways to strips with beach bars and historic monuments, Montserrat has a beach to suit almost any desire. While volcanic action has closed off many parts of the island to visitors, you can still find a few secluded seaside hideaways, and a lack of big tourist crowds means you'll never had to fight for a spot on the sand.

  • 01 of 05

    Woodlands Beach

    ••• Woodlands Beach, Montserrat. © Bob Curley

    A popular picnic spot, Woodlands Beach has a covered clifftop picnic area overlooking clear blue waters. The black-sand beach, evidence of the island's volcanic origins, is easily accessible and rarely crowded.

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    Rendezvous Bay

    ••• Rendezvous Beach, Montserrat. © Bob Curley

    Montserrat's only white-sand beach is only accessible by boat or a rugged hike (but remember that a refreshing plunge is your reward at the end!). There's excellent swimming, snorkeling, and diving in the pristine bay.

  • 03 of 05

    Little Bay

    ••• Little Bay beach, Montserrat. © Bob Curley

    You can watch boats coming in and out of the Little Bay Port at the northern end of the popular swimming spot, with beach bars located nearby for a drink or snack.

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    Carr's Bay

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    ••• Cannons at Carr's Bay in Montserrat. © David Stanley via Flickr

    This beautiful black-sand beach is a hotspot for history lovers as well as sunbathers: a ruined fort still has cannons pointing out at sea, the island's War Memorial, and a model of the Plymouth Clock Tower---a victim of the Soufrière Hills volcanic eruption in the 1990s. Snorkelers can explore giant underwater boulders and reefs at the south end of the beach.

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  • 05 of 05

    Old Road Beach

    Volcanic mud flows have made this popular swimming beach a place to marvel at the earth's power, but a sandy beach remains attractive as well. The mudflows have moved the shoreline so far that a former jetty is now landlocked on the beach.