Maconde Viewpoint

Maconde is a rock headland where the southwest coast road makes a tight hairpin around the base of a basalt outcrop, and steps cut into the rock lead up to a small platform above the bend. The view runs along the cliffs and the coast in both directions, with Le Morne visible to the northwest and the open sea below, and the road curving beneath the viewer, which is the photograph most people come for. It is a stop of ten minutes rather than a destination, on a stretch of coast road that is itself one of the better drives on the island. A monument at the base commemorates a local historical figure, and stalls sell drinks by the roadside.

What you actually see

• The hairpin bend - the road curving around the rock below the platform.
• The coastal view - cliffs running northwest toward Le Morne.
• The stepped lookout - the cut steps up the basalt outcrop.
• Open sea - the unprotected water south of the headland.

When to go

May to December for the clearest air. Late afternoon light works best on the cliffs and the sea. It is a brief stop on the drive between Le Morne and the south coast.

Honest expectations

This is a roadside stop of a few minutes, not an attraction in itself. The platform is small and gets crowded when tour buses arrive. Parking on the bend is tight and traffic moves fast. There is no shade.

Nearby

Le Morne lies northwest; Baie du Cap is immediately east.