Buccaneer: Mermaid, Grotto & Whistle
There are 3 stunning beaches located within The Buccaneer Hotel property. Since all beaches on St. Croix are open to the public by law, you can enjoy these beaches even if you are not a guest at The Buccaneer. Once you enter The Buccaneer’s property, go straight to the guard gate and the guard on duty will instruct you on where to park. The beaches at The Buccaneer generally offer plenty of parking nearby, restrooms, restaurants, bars, and freshwater rinse stations.
Location: East End
Mermaid Beach
Located near the tennis courts, Mermaid Beach offers lounge chairs, restrooms, as well as a bar and restaurant that resides close to the water offering a nice to sit and have lunch. Mermaid Beach offers a beach shack where you can rent floats, kayaks and snorkel gear. There is a short dock to dangle your feet off of and to snorkel around. There is also a nice ridge-line on both sides of the small bay where you can snorkel. You have a good chance of seeing conch, starfish, and collector (or pincushion) sea urchins there. If you’re lucky, you may even see one of the resident spotted eagle rays that make their home in the waters around The Buccaneer. This beach is popular with hotel guests and locals alike. There’s lots of shade provided by palm trees and lots of chairs to lounge on. Mermaid Beach also offers a volleyball court, as well as cornhole boards and bags (a bean bag toss game). Watch for the local wildlife usually found around the restaurant and beach, including mongoose, iguanas and island cats.
Grotto Beach
Located just around the corner from Mermaid Beach to the west, Grotto Beach is also a nice beach. There is a bar and restaurant beach side, a pool (for hotel guests, only), restrooms, freshwater rinse stations and lounge chairs under the palm trees on the beach. Parts of the beach can be a little rocky, but there is great snorkeling right off shore here. There is also a nice long stretch of beach for walking and looking at seashells – just please do not remove shells or any other animals from the beach. Grotto Beach also offers a beach shack where you can rent floats, kayaks and snorkel gear. Also, since it borders the golf course, look for iguanas sunbathing in the grass.
Whistle Beach
Located just over the hill from Mermaid Beach to the east, Whistle Beach is a tiny secluded little beach and, because it is almost never crowded, and is a nice spot for privacy. However, there are no facilities here.
There are restaurants and bars, as well as restrooms, available at The Grotto and the Mermaid beaches, but not at Whistle Beach. There’s lots of shade provided by palm trees and lots of chairs to lounge on. Lounge chairs are reserved for hotel guests only, but you can rent one if there are some available. Depending on availability, water sports equipment rentals may be available for non-hotel guests.
The lounge chairs, water sports equipment rentals and the pool at The Grotto are reserved for guests of The Buccaneer Hotel.
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