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Just a few minutes north of Soufrière town, this beach offers some of the most accessible and vibrant snorkeling in the entire Caribbean—and you don’t even have to be an Olympic swimmer to enjoy it.
Anse Chastanet is tucked into a sheltered bay beneath the cliffs of a higher-end eco-resort, but don’t worry—it’s totally open to the public. All you have to do is follow the narrow road down (or take a water taxi, which is more fun and 100% less bumpy), and you’ll find yourself standing on soft black volcanic sand, surrounded by swaying palms and crystal-clear water. Cue the steel drums and the sunscreen.
The real magic, though, begins as soon as your mask goes on and you dip your head beneath the surface. Just yards from shore, you’ll find vibrant coral gardens teeming with marine life—bright blue tangs, shy seahorses, sergeant majors, and parrotfish doing their thing like underwater graffiti artists. The reef is shallow, making it ideal for beginners, and since it’s protected as part of a marine reserve, the sea life here is plentiful and surprisingly chill. They know they’re on display and act accordingly.
There’s a buoyed-off area to guide snorkelers, so you won’t accidentally drift off into open water or, worse, into someone’s paddleboard yoga class (it happens). If you swim a little farther out, you might even spot squid or the occasional turtle—both guaranteed to make you feel like a National Geographic explorer.
Don’t have your own gear? No problem. You can rent everything from us at Green Fig. And if you’re not content with just snorkeling, the area is also home to one of the island’s top-rated scuba diving centers. Who knows? You might go from casual snorkeler to dive addict in one sun-soaked afternoon.
When you’re done communing with clownfish, relax under the shade of a palm tree or grab a drink at the beachside bar. There’s nothing like sipping a cold Piton beer with salty hair and reef memories fresh in your brain.
Hot Tip: Go early or late in the afternoon to avoid the midday crowd and get the best underwater visibility. And please, don’t touch the coral—it’s like the fine china of the sea. Pretty to look at, terrible to poke.
