Magazine Beach, often spelled Magazin, is the long stretch of pale sand on the Point Salines peninsula, a few minutes from Maurice Bishop International Airport. Where Morne Rouge is a tight horseshoe and Pink Gin a small resort bay, Magazine is open and generous: a straight sweep of sand backed by greenery and low rocky bluffs, with a large resort towards one end and a well-known beachfront restaurant at the other.
It is popular with residents for long walks and Sunday afternoons, with travellers killing time before a flight and with anyone who finds Grand Anse too busy. It is also a little more exposed than the coves further north, which changes how and when you should swim there. This review covers the sand, the water, the facilities and the practicalities.
Sand and setting
The sand is fine and pale, and there is a lot of it. Magazine is one of the better beaches on the south coast for a proper walk: you can stroll the length of it at the waterline without clambering over rocks, and on a weekday morning you may share it with only a few joggers and resort guests. Vegetation and low bluffs behind the beach give it a more natural feel than the hotel strips, even though development sits close by.
At the northern end is the Royalton resort, whose guests use the adjoining sand. The southern end, where rocks and a small headland close off the beach, is home to the Aquarium restaurant, a long-standing open-air place overlooking the water. Between the two, the beach is open, with patches of shade from trees at the back but very little near the water.
Because the beach faces west across the Caribbean Sea, the evening light is excellent. Sunset over the water from Magazine is one of the more popular end-of-day rituals for people living in the True Blue and Lance aux Epines areas, and it is a natural final stop for travellers on the way to the airport.
How the water behaves
Generally gentle. On most days the sea at Magazine has small, regular waves rather than the flat calm of Morne Rouge. It is comfortable for confident swimmers and children who are used to the sea.
More exposed than the coves. Without enclosing headlands along most of its length, Magazine picks up more wave energy when a swell is running. From roughly November to March, northern ground swells occasionally produce a noticeable shore break, and the bottom drops off more quickly in places.
Watch the shore break. On swell days, waves break close to the sand and can knock people off their feet in knee-deep water. Hold small children's hands and enter where others are swimming comfortably.
Clear water. Visibility is good on calm days, and the rocks near the southern end hold reef fish, which is why snorkellers gather there.
No lifeguards. Do not assume anyone is watching the water. Swim with a companion and stay within your depth if the sea is lively.
Facilities and food
Magazine has more on offer than the small coves nearby but less than Grand Anse. What to expect, bearing in mind that businesses and opening days change:
- The Aquarium restaurant. At the southern end, open-air and right by the sand. It has long been known for Sunday gatherings, and live bands sometimes play on weekends. Booking ahead is sensible for a weekend lunch or dinner.
- Resort facilities. The Royalton's loungers, bars and pools are for its guests. Day passes may be offered; check directly with the resort.
- Toilets and showers. Use them as a customer of the restaurant. There are no dependable public toilets on the beach.
- Rentals. Some loungers and water-sports equipment may be available near the restaurant and resort end; do not count on it on quiet days.
- Shade. Limited to the trees at the back of the beach. Bring a hat and, for a long stay, an umbrella.
- Vendors. Far fewer than at Grand Anse, so bring water and snacks unless you plan to eat at the restaurant.
Getting there and parking
By taxi. From the airport it is only a few minutes. From Grand Anse, allow ten to fifteen minutes in normal traffic. Agree the fare and a pick-up time, as taxis do not usually wait at the beach.
By car. Follow the road from the Grand Anse and Morne Rouge area towards Point Salines and follow local directions for Magazine or the Aquarium. Parking is available near the restaurant end; on busy Sundays it fills up, so arrive early or be prepared to walk a little.
By bus. Route buses serving the south of the parish do not run down to the beach. You can ask to be dropped at the nearest junction, but the walk is along roads with little or no pavement and is not pleasant in the midday heat.
Walking from the neighbouring bays. Pink Gin lies close by towards Point Salines. Walking between beaches along the shore is possible only in calm conditions; never scramble round rocks with waves washing over them.
When to go
Weekday mornings are the quietest time at Magazine, with soft light, calm water and the trees at the back still throwing shade. It is the best window for a long walk or a peaceful swim, and the water is at its clearest before the trade wind builds through the morning.
Sunday is the beach's social day. Families and groups of friends come for lunch, music and a long afternoon in the water, and the atmosphere near the restaurant end is cheerful and busy. If you enjoy a crowd, this is when Magazine is at its liveliest; if you want peace, walk towards the middle of the beach.
Late afternoon to sunset is the other classic time. The light over the water turns gold, swimmers come down after work, and the restaurant end fills with people who have come for a drink as the sun drops. Plan your return before full darkness, as the access roads are poorly lit.
Who Magazine suits
Walkers and joggers. The long, uninterrupted sand makes it one of the best beaches in the south for a walk at the waterline, ideally early or late in the day.
Groups and families with older children. There is space to spread out, room for ball games and a restaurant at hand for lunch, toilets and shade.
Travellers between check-out and a flight. The airport is minutes away, which takes the stress out of a final swim if you keep a change of clothes separate from your luggage.
Sunset watchers. The open western horizon is ideal, and the restaurant end has a sociable early-evening feel.
Less ideal for toddlers. The small waves and quicker drop-off in places make Morne Rouge or Lance aux Epines better choices for the very young.
Less ideal for shade seekers. If you want to spend all day under trees without renting anything, La Sagesse or the southern end of Grand Anse offer more natural cover.
Pitfalls and what to check
Magazine is an easy beach to enjoy, but a few points catch people out:
- Swell days. Look at the water for a few minutes before swimming between November and March; if waves are dumping on the sand, stay in the shallows or swim at Morne Rouge instead.
- Aircraft noise. Planes taking off and landing at the nearby airport pass overhead. It is brief, but it is loud.
- Sun exposure. Little shade near the water means burns come fast, especially between 11am and 3pm.
- Sea urchins on the rocks at the southern end. Wear water shoes if you snorkel or explore there.
- Resort boundaries. Walking and swimming along the shore is fine; using resort loungers without a pass is not.
- Valuables. Do not leave bags unattended on the sand or visible in parked cars.
Frequently asked questions
Is it Magazine Beach or Magazin Beach?
Both spellings are used for the same beach on the Point Salines peninsula in south-west Grenada. Maps, hotels and the tourism authority use either version, and every local taxi driver will know where you mean.
Is Magazine Beach good for swimming?
Yes, on most days, with small waves and clear water. It is more exposed than Morne Rouge, so during winter ground swells it can have a strong shore break. Check the conditions before swimming and keep children close in any waves.
How far is Magazine Beach from the airport?
Only a few minutes by car from Maurice Bishop International Airport. Many travellers spend their last afternoon there before an evening flight, using the beachfront restaurant as a base for lunch and a change of clothes.
Are there toilets at Magazine Beach?
There are no dependable public toilets on the sand. The practical option is the restaurant at the southern end, used as a paying customer. Resort facilities at the northern end are reserved for guests or day-pass holders.
Can you snorkel at Magazine Beach?
There is reasonable snorkelling around the rocks at the southern end near the restaurant, with reef fish on calm days. Wear water shoes for the urchins on the rocks, snorkel with a companion and stay out when waves are breaking on the rocks.
