Le Souffleur

Le Souffleur is a hole in the basalt cliff at L'Escalier where the sea has driven a tunnel under the rock and swell forces water up through a vent, throwing a spout into the air when conditions are right. Nineteenth-century accounts describe a jet of considerable height and the site was a fixture on early tourist itineraries; erosion has since widened the opening and the effect is much reduced, so most visitors now see a surge rather than a spout. The setting remains the draw: unprotected coast with no reef, a natural rock arch nearby, and cliffs with heavy sea below. The approach crosses sugar estate land and access has been closed at times, so it is worth checking locally.

What you actually see

• The blowhole vent - the opening where swell surges up through the rock.
• The natural arch - the rock bridge along the same cliff line.
• Unprotected coast - open ocean breaking on the basalt.
• Cane fields - the estate land crossed on the approach.

When to go

May to December for the weather, and on days of large southern swell for any chance of a spout. Big-swell days are when the site works; on calm days there is little to see.

Honest expectations

The blowhole is far weaker than its reputation and often does nothing at all. The cliff edges are unfenced and dangerous, particularly in wind. Access across estate land is informal and has been closed at times. The track is rough.

Nearby

Pont Naturel lies west; Blue Bay is east.