Good to know
Good to Know
- Long Island beaches are extremely uncrowded; it's common to have miles of beach entirely to yourself
- Many Atlantic-side beaches feature shallow drop-offs or underwater depth changes—understand conditions before swimming, especially with children
- Cape Santa Maria and Stella Maris resorts offer complimentary morning beach excursions to top beaches for resort guests
- September-October closure at Cape Santa Maria Resort; plan winter/spring/summer visits
- Most tourist infrastructure clusters in northern (Stella Maris/Cape Santa Maria) and central (Clarence Town) areas; southern beaches require more effort to reach
- Calm, protected family-friendly beaches: Cape Santa Maria, Deals, Bonnecort, Columbus Harbour inner bay. More rugged Atlantic beaches suit experienced swimmers
- Snorkeling accessible directly from many beaches; extensive reefs and marine life common throughout
Beaches
Cape Santa Maria Beach
- Location
- Northern tip of Long Island
- Description
- Four-mile stretch of powdery white sand with crystal-clear turquoise waters and calm shallow bay. Recognized as one of the top beaches globally.
Resort
- Name
- Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort
- Type
- boutique beachfront resort
- Season
- November to August (closed September-October)
- Full Service
- Yes
Services
- restaurant
- oceanside bar
- water sports center
- fishing guides
Accommodations
- 1-bedroom bungalows
- 2-bedroom villas
Designation
- family
- quiet
Characteristics
- Sand
- white powder
- Water
- turquoise, calm
- Accessibility
- Resort-based, accessible via Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort
Amenities
- restaurant
- bar
- water sports rentals
- kayaks
- paddleboards
- bicycles
- snorkeling
- diving
Stella Maris Beaches
- Location
- Stella Maris area, northern Long Island
- Description
- Collection of beaches at Stella Maris Resort including pink sand beaches, rock pools, and natural swimming areas. Featured by dramatic cliffs and Atlantic Ocean views.
Resort
- Name
- Stella Maris Resort Club
- Type
- intimate plantation-style resort
- Full Service
- Yes
Services
- restaurant
- beach bar
- marina
- water sports
- scuba diving
- bonefishing
Accommodations
- ocean-view rooms
- cottages
- waterfrontage villas
Designation
- full-service
- family
Characteristics
- Sand
- pink, coarse
- Water
- Atlantic, varying conditions
- Accessibility
- Resort-based
Amenities
- moonshine beach bar
- restaurant
- water sports
- snorkeling
- diving
- fishing
Nearby Attractions
- Dean's Blue Hole
- Love Beaches
- Coral Gardens
Guana Cay Beach
- Cautions
- Wave and wind protection varies at beach ends; caution advised at extremities
- Location
- Mid-island Long Island
- Description
- Classic crescent-shaped Atlantic-side beach with spectacular views, excellent sand for walking, and extensive reef protection. Protected lagoon area for swimming and snorkeling.
Designation
- quiet
- family
Characteristics
- Sand
- ideal for walking
- Water
- multi-layered blues, protected center
- Accessibility
- Public, no facilities on beach
Amenities
- beach cabana for shade
- snorkeling
- wading to offshore cay at low tide
Special Features
- small iguanas on offshore cay
- extensive reefs
Dean's Blue Hole
- Location
- South-central Long Island
- Annual Event
- Vertical Blue Free Diving Competition
- Description
- The world's third-deepest blue hole with pristine white sand beach. Attracts free divers and day-trippers. Clear shallow water on white sand contrasts with dramatic underwater depth.
- Safety Note
- Extreme caution required—sudden depth change from shallow to 50+ story depths. Suitable only for strong swimmers.
Designation
- quiet
- family
Characteristics
- Sand
- white
- Water
- crystal clear but with extreme depth drop-off
- Accessibility
- Public beach area
Amenities
- snorkeling
- cliff jumping
- diving
- observation area
Love Beaches (Stella Maris Region)
- Location
- Northern Atlantic side
- Description
- Four secluded pink-sand beaches featuring a large natural swimming pool. Mile-long beach with soft sand and shells.
Designation
- quiet
Characteristics
- Sand
- soft white with pink hue
- Water
- protected natural pools
- Accessibility
- Public
Amenities
- shelling
- natural swimming pools
- snorkeling
Deals Beach
- Location
- Northern Long Island (Stella Maris area)
- Description
- Classic Caribbean crescent beach only 100 feet from Queens Highway. Very family friendly with adjacent bar and restaurant.
Designation
- family
- quiet
Characteristics
- Sand
- white
- Water
- calm
- Accessibility
- Easy road access
Amenities
- restaurant
- bar
- restaurant/bar watching sunset
Bonnecort/Lowes Beach
- Location
- Near Clarence Town (south-central)
- Safety Profile
- Significantly safer than Dean's Blue Hole for families
- Description
- Small protected cove and larger beach complex. Bonnecort is very protected and excellent for family swimming.
Designation
- family
- quiet
Characteristics
- Sand
- white
- Water
- calm and protected
- Accessibility
- Public
Amenities
- snorkeling
- swimming
Columbus Harbour/Monument Beach
- Location
- North-central Long Island
- Historical Significance
- Purported site of Christopher Columbus's New World landing, 1492
- Description
- Historic landing site featuring protected shallow inner bay beach (1 mile) plus two outer beaches (0.5 miles each). Adjacent to Columbus Monument with panoramic views.
Designation
- family
Characteristics
- Sand
- white, completely protected inner bay
- Water
- very shallow, calm protected bay
- Accessibility
- Public, monument with paved stairs
Amenities
- snorkeling
- shelling
- monument viewing
- complimentary shuttle from Stella Maris Resort
Turtle Cove
- Location
- South-central (near Dean's Blue Hole)
- Description
- Beautiful serene half-circle bay/nature pool with family-friendly atmosphere.
Designation
- family
- quiet
Characteristics
- Sand
- white
- Water
- protected, family-friendly
- Accessibility
- Public
Amenities
- snorkeling
- swimming
- family activities
Overview
Long Island features two distinct coastlines with dramatically different characteristics. The western shore has calm, quiet white-sand beaches ideal for swimming and family activities. The eastern Atlantic shore features dramatic limestone bluffs, pink sands, and more rugged conditions suited for experienced swimmers and adventurers.
Beach Services Summary
Full Service Resorts
- Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort (northern)
- Stella Maris Resort Club (north-central)
Beach Bar Restaurants
- Moonshine Beach Bar & Grill (Stella Maris)
- Beach House Restaurant (Cape Santa Maria)
- adjacent to Deals Beach
Public Beaches With Minimal Facilities
- Guana Cay
- Deals
- Dean's Blue Hole
- Turtle Cove
- Columbus Harbour
General Characteristics
- Seasons
- Winter (Nov-Apr) calmer; summer (May-Oct) rougher Atlantic side
- Crowd Level
- Very low—miles of empty beaches common
- Water Clarity
- Crystal clear across island
- Accessibility Note
- Car rental (preferably SUV/4WD) recommended; some beach access roads rough
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this beaches research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.