Pont Naturel

Pont Naturel is a span of basalt left standing where the sea cut a cave beneath the cliff and then broke through, leaving a natural bridge over churning water on the exposed southern shore. The rock is dark and jagged, the swell heavy because there is no reef offshore here, and the whole coast has a raw quality quite different from the lagoon side of the island. Getting there means turning off the coast road onto an unsurfaced track through sugar cane, driving or walking a couple of kilometres, and then crossing rough ground to the cliff edge. Nothing is fenced or signposted. People do walk out onto the arch, which is unwise given the drop and the spray.

What you actually see

• The rock arch - the basalt bridge over the sea below.
• Heavy swell - the unprotected south coast breaking on the cliff.
• The cane track - the rough approach through the fields.
• Black cliff coast - the jagged volcanic shoreline either side.

When to go

May to December for firmer tracks and clearer weather. Big southern swell makes the site more dramatic and more dangerous. Avoid after heavy rain, when the track becomes impassable.

Honest expectations

The track is rough and often needs a high-clearance vehicle or a walk. There are no barriers, signs or facilities of any kind. Walking onto the arch is genuinely dangerous. The spot is exposed and windy.

Nearby

Le Souffleur lies east; Souillac is west.