Paynes Bay Beach

Paynes Bay is at the centre of the west coast in St. James: a wide curve of pale golden sand with trees at one end and clear, usually calm water. You will find lifeguards, showers and changing rooms, sun loungers and umbrellas for hire, and beach bars and restaurants close by. Jet skis, kayaks, boogie boards and banana boats are on offer, and catamaran cruises stop in the bay.

Snorkel early. A small reef directly in front of the Treasure Beach hotel sits close to shore. Later in the day, boats and watersports stir up the water and cloud it. Green and hawksbill turtles usually feed about 250 m out, in open water used by jet skis and speedboats, so a short glass-bottomed boat trip is the safer way to swim with them. They tend to be most curious in the early morning and late afternoon.