North Friars Bay, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Also within 20 km of Basseterre
- Coconut Tree Reef Dive site · 1 km from Basseterre
- St. Kitts Marriott Reef Surf spot · 1.7 km from Basseterre
- MV River Taw Wreck Dive site · 3.1 km from Basseterre
- Brassball Wreck Dive site · 5.3 km from Basseterre
- Monkey Shoals Dive site · 7.1 km from Basseterre
- Grid Iron Dive site · 9.7 km from Basseterre
- Nag's Head Dive site · 10.7 km from Basseterre
Watch this spot We email you when North Friars Bay is worth the trip.
About North Friars Bay
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces NE (47°), so it takes swell from the NE. The wind blows offshore from the SW (227°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–9 ft of swell. The sea is about 27°C in January, its coldest month (no wetsuit), and 29°C in July, its warmest (no wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually March, April, September and October, with about 1 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Basseterre, 5.7 km away (about 10 min by car). Within 5 km we also list 5 dive sites.
Water about 29°C: no wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.
Book the trip
From Chicago: about 10 h 45 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to SXM, direct.
See flights ORD → SXM · Skyscanner from about £255 returnAdGetting there. 2 h from the airport to North Friars Bay.
Accommodation.
Stay in BasseterreAd
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Basseterre (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Basseterre 10 min by car · rooms from £60 a night · 8 places to stay · where North Friars Bay stays
Places to stay in Basseterre · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Basseterre · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Basseterre · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
North Friars Bay on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
North Friars Bay does not suit beginners. This is the forecast for intermediates, so you can see what it does.
The score for intermediates, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Scorefor Intermediate | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 31, too small | 3 ft9 s | 101kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 7 knots | 28°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 24, too small | 2 ft8 s | 77kJ | wind from the east, 8 knots | 29°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 17, too small | 2 ft8 s | 35kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 6 knots | 29°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 21, too small | 2 ft8 s | 57kJ | wind from the south-east, 7 knots | 29°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 18, too small | 2 ft8 s | 38kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 7 knots | 29°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 14, too small | 2 ft8 s | 34kJ | wind from the east, 9 knots | 29°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 10, too small | 2 ft4 s | 18kJ | wind from the east, 11 knots | 29°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 16, too small | 2 ft4 s | 18kJ | wind from the east-south-east, 9 knots | 30°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 16, too small | 2 ft4 s | 19kJ | wind from the east, 9 knots | 29°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 19, too small | 2 ft6 s | 31kJ | wind from the east, 8 knots | 29°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for intermediate surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Direct flight ORD to SXM, then 2h by road. About 10h 45 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Thu 22 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sat 24 OctRest day
Too small: 2 ft at best.
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Direct flight ORD to SXM, then 2h by road. About 10h 45 door to door
The plan picks the best of 2 spots near Basseterre each day: North Friars Bay, St. Kitts Marriott Reef.
Rough cost
About £745–£1,380 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to SXM, estimated from distance and season, 2 airlines on the route, with a hold bag | £255–£525 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Hire car | 6 days, shared | £70–£115 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £165–£280 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £155–£290 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £65–£105 |
| Total | £745–£1,380 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Basseterre
- LemongrassAsian · 0.2 km from the centre
- Spice of India, St. KittsIndian · 0.2 km from the centre
- Andy's Pizza & PastaItalian · 0.3 km from the centre
- Island Thyme SKNCaribbean · 0.3 km from the centre
- Keimei Asian CuisineChinese · 0.3 km from the centre
- Boozie'sAfrican · 0.4 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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Where to stayAd
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