Anse Dufour and Anse Noire

Two coves sit side by side below a steep road on the leeward coast, joined by a flight of steps over the headland between them, and they could hardly be less alike: Anse Dufour has golden sand and fishing boats pulled up on it, while Anse Noire is black volcanic sand under a dense fringe of trees with a pontoon and a much darker, cooler feel. Turtles feed off both and snorkelling is the reason most people come.

What you actually see

• The two sands - golden at Dufour, black at Noire, a few minutes apart.
• The turtles - green turtles feeding on seagrass off both coves.
• The linking steps - the flight over the headland between the beaches.
• The fishing boats - the working craft on the sand at Anse Dufour.

When to go

December to April is calmest and clearest. Mornings are best for turtles and parking. Weekends fill both coves completely.

Honest expectations

Parking is severely limited and the access road is steep and narrow. Both coves are small and crowded from mid-morning. Crowding around turtles is a real problem here.

Nearby

Les Anses-d'Arlet is south, and Les Trois-Îlets is northeast.