Is Foul Bay good for swimming?

Our guide rates the sea at Foul Bay as usually rough, with strong waves and currents, so it is not a beach we suggest for young children to swim at.

Can you see turtles at Foul Bay?

Turtles are seen at Foul Bay. They are wild: give them space, and never touch or feed them.

What facilities are there at Foul Bay?

Our guide lists toilets, showers, parking and shade at Foul Bay (as of October 2026).

St. Philip · East coast

Foul Bay

A wide, quiet south-east beach for picnics and walks, with surf too rough for easy swimming.

Rough water(usually rough, with strong waves and currents)ToiletsShowersParkingShadeTurtles

Foul Bay is a long, wide cove of white sand in St Philip, about 3 miles from the airport, framed by cliffs and shaded by casuarina and palm trees. A few local fishing boats are often moored in the bay. The beach is kept clean and is rarely crowded, which is why Bajans use it for family picnics and weddings. There are showers and toilets and a car park a minute from the sand, but no vendors or chair hire, so bring food and drink.

The waves break close to shore here, creating currents and undertow, and there's no lifeguard: strong swimmers body-surf, but most people should just paddle. Hawksbill turtles nest on the beach, with hatchlings usually emerging between mid-July and mid-October, mostly at night. The signposted access is beside St Martin's Church.

Best for

Picnics
Long walks
Body-surfing (strong swimmers)
Turtle season

On our lists: Turtles

Where to stay

Villas within 10 minutes of Foul Bay

None of our villas is within about ten minutes of Foul Bay. See every villa.

Good to know

Foul Bay: questions

Is Foul Bay good for swimming?: Our guide rates the sea at Foul Bay as usually rough, with strong waves and currents, so it is not a beach we suggest for young children to swim at.
Can you see turtles at Foul Bay?: Turtles are seen at Foul Bay. They are wild: give them space, and never touch or feed them.
What facilities are there at Foul Bay?: Our guide lists toilets, showers, parking and shade at Foul Bay (as of October 2026).

Sources: barbadospocketguide.com, totallybarbados.com, en.wikipedia.org, barbados.org. Lifeguard information is checked against the National Conservation Commission and barbados.org lifeguard lists. Facts as of October 2026; conditions change, so check on the day.