A First-Timer's Guide to Anse des Lezards, St. Barths
For a first trip to Anse des Lezards, the essentials are simple. It's a small area of St. Barths, the French island in the northeastern Caribbean, reached by air into Gustaf III Airport or by sea into Gustavia. You'll want a car to get around, a week to settle in, and your dates, transfers and groceries arranged before you arrive.
This guide covers the practical side of a first visit to Anse des Lezards: where it is, how to get there and around, how long to stay and what's worth sorting out in advance. It closes with the homes we'd suggest for a first stay.
Where Is St. Barts, and Where Is Anse des Lezards?
St. Barths, also written St. Barts or Saint-Barthélemy, is a small volcanic island in the Leeward Islands of the northeastern Caribbean. It's a French overseas collectivity, so French is the everyday language and the euro is the currency. Its capital is Gustavia, a harbor town on the island's west side.
Anse des Lezards is one of the island's many small named areas. The name means "lizards' cove" in French. The one home on our page there, Villa Pelican, lists Anse des Cayes at 800 meters, Gustaf III Airport at 2 kilometers and Gustavia at 3.6 kilometers, which gives a clear sense of how compact this part of the St. Barts island map is.
Getting to St. Barths
There are two ways to arrive on St. Barths. Gustaf III Airport sits in St. Jean, and its short runway means arrivals are on small aircraft. The other route is by sea, into the harbor at Gustavia.
Whichever way you come, the last stretch is short. Our team can arrange your transfer from the airport or the harbor to the villa, so you don't have to think about directions or luggage after the journey.
Getting Around the Island
A car is the practical way to explore St. Barths. The roads are narrow, steep in places and full of tight bends, and traffic drives on the right, as in France. Distances are short, so even the far side of the island is within easy reach.
Two of the homes we suggest below list parking, which makes a car simple to manage. If you'd rather not drive at all, transfers can be arranged for the journeys that matter most, such as arrival and departure day.
How Long to Stay on a First Visit
We suggest at least a week for a first visit. The island is small, but its pleasures are slow ones: long mornings by the pool, a different beach each day, an afternoon in Gustavia and dinners that run late.
A week also gives you room for the weather, and time to find your own favorite corners of the island. St. Barts weather is warm year-round, with a dry season from about mid-December through April. Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with the greatest risk from August through October, so travel in those months calls for flexible plans.
Everyday Practicalities
A few everyday details help a first visit feel familiar quickly. French is the main language, though a few words of greeting go a long way. Prices are in euros, and the island's French character shows in its bakeries, its markets and the pace of its meals.
The sun is strong in every season, and the island's roads are best taken slowly, especially after dark. Pack light, breathable clothing, a hat and good sunscreen, plus comfortable shoes for steep paths and lookouts. If you plan a beach day, bring your own shade and water so you can stay as long as you like.
What to Plan Before You Arrive
A little preparation makes a first stay feel easy from the moment you land. These are the points we'd settle first:
- Your dates. The Christmas and New Year holidays are the high season. For summer and autumn, choose flexible flights and insurance that clearly covers named storms.
- Your transfer. Our team can arrange the trip from Gustaf III Airport or the Gustavia harbor to your villa.
- Your provisioning. We can stock the kitchen before you arrive, so breakfast is ready on the first morning.
- Your days out. Our concierge can help arrange excursions, so you can plan a few highlights and leave the rest open.
- Your packing. The sun is strong in every season, so bring a hat, sunscreen and light layers for breezy evenings.
Where to Stay: Our Villas for a First Trip
Our Anse des Lezards page lists one home, and we'd start there. We'd then add two homes elsewhere on the island, in St. Jean and Marigot, for travelers who'd like a different base. All three list concierge service and daily housekeeping.
Villa Pelican, Anse des Lezards
Our one home here, Villa Pelican, is a contemporary home with sea views. It's made up of two separate structures joined by a semi-covered outdoor living area, open on two sides to the breeze. A two-level terrace with sun beds, daybeds and shaded seating leads to an infinity pool, and a pergola between the buildings adds a quiet outdoor corner.
The bedrooms sit in their own two-story wing, each with an en-suite bathroom and access to a private terrace. Our listing puts Gustaf III Airport 2 kilometers away and Gustavia 3.6 kilometers away, which makes arrival day straightforward.
Villa Ott, St. Jean
For a first stay in the heart of the island, Villa Ott sits in St. Jean. It has a private pool, a terrace with outdoor furniture, a barbecue area and open-air parking. Air conditioning runs throughout, and the kitchen is fully equipped for meals at home. Our listing puts Gustaf III Airport 1.7 kilometers away.
Villa Epicure, Marigot
For a larger, more expansive home, Villa Epicure overlooks the waters of Marigot and Grand Cul-de-Sac in northeastern St. Barths. The villa unfolds over two levels joined by a spiral staircase, with an expansive terrace and a pool facing the sea. Laundry facilities and an outdoor sound system round out the listing. Grand Cul-de-Sac Beach is 1.1 kilometers away, according to our listing.
Making the Most of a First Stay
The best first visits combine a good base with a light plan. Our listings put Gustavia 3.6 kilometers from Villa Pelican and 4 kilometers from Villa Ott, while Villa Epicure sits on the island's northeast side. Either way, a car and a few planned outings are all you need.
Every villa in our collection is personally inspected before it joins us, and each stay is checked before arrival. We've been arranging villa stays since 1979, and our team can help with transfers, provisioning and excursions from your first enquiry to your last morning.
Planning Your First Trip to Anse des Lezards
A first trip to Anse des Lezards comes down to a few simple choices: when to travel, how to arrive, and which home suits the way you like to spend a week. Get those right and the island does the rest.
Explore Anse des Lezards and the wider collection of luxury villas in St. Barts on our St. Barths page, or look at homes in St. Jean. When you're ready, we're here.
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