Classroom lesson · Marigot Bay · 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia

Marigot Bay

One of the most beautiful natural harbours in the Caribbean

Photo · Wikimedia Commons

What is it?

Marigot Bay is a small, sheltered bay on the west coast of Saint Lucia where the hills come right down to the water and tall palm trees lean over the edge. It is famous for being one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the whole Caribbean Sea. Sailing boats from all over the world drop anchor here to rest in the calm, glittering water.

Tell me more

The bay is shaped like a teardrop tucked into the hills, which means it is sheltered from strong winds and waves. This makes it a perfect spot for sailing boats and yachts. A tiny wooden water-taxi ferries people across the narrow entrance because the bay is divided into an outer and an inner part — and the inner part is the most peaceful of all.

The hills around Marigot Bay are covered in thick tropical forest that stays bright green all year round. Palm trees line the water's edge, and at sunset the whole bay turns golden and orange. Film-makers have used Marigot Bay as a backdrop for movies because it looks so picture-perfect.

A small village sits on one side of the bay, with restaurants, shops and a marina where sailors can stock up on supplies. Life here moves slowly — people arrive by boat, swim in the warm water and enjoy fresh local food as the pelicans swoop overhead. It is the kind of place that makes visitors feel very far from busy city life.

In the classroom

Walk your class through this in 15 minutes.

Talk together

Discussion prompts

  1. 01Marigot Bay is sheltered from the wind by surrounding hills. Can you think of how the shape of the land changes the weather in a place?
  2. 02Sailors from many countries stop at Marigot Bay. What do you think they would eat, see or share when they meet there?
  3. 03Film-makers chose Marigot Bay because it looks beautiful on screen. What place near you would you choose as a film location and why?
Try this

Classroom activity

Draw Marigot Bay from above as a bird would see it. Include the hills, the teardrop-shaped water, the tree line, the water-taxi route, and at least three sailing boats at anchor. Label each part and add a compass rose showing north.