Surfing in the Lesser Antilles - Spots & Swells
Excellent surfing conditions for very good surfers can be found off Saint Martin. Here the wind reaches speeds of around 20 - 25 knots on certain days. Less well-known surfing hotspots can be found on the west coast of Martinique with not quite as high waves (up to 3 metres), the best time of year is the European winter. In Guadeloupe, the portfolio is wide-ranging, the frequent winds provide ideal conditions for beginners and leisure surfers, as well as in St Barthélemy. Kitesurfing is very good in Antigua. Beginners and advanced surfers will find attractive bays on the east coast of the island on the Atlantic.
Surfing in Guadeloupe - Grande Terre - top spot in the Antilles
Guadeloupe is the top spot in the Lesser Antilles with around 35 surf spots. There are very good conditions for surfing all year round for all levels on the flat Grande-Terre part of the island. A more or less shallow coral reef provides good reef breaks. On the mountainous Basse Terre part of the island, surfing is only reasonably good at most spots during the European summer season.
Beginner spots: e.g. Plage de Petit Havre (between Gosier and Ste-Anne), Plage de Gros Sable Le Helleux (between Ste Anne and St Francois near a surf school), Plage des Raisins Clairs (St Francois near a surf school), Malibu (Port Louis)
Advanced: e.g. Parc Damencourt de la Baie du Moule (very popular), Anse la Barque (Ste-Anne), Plage de la Caravelle (Ste-Anne). Wind sideonshore often from the left
Very good surfers: e.g. Waimea/Anse Salaboulle (south of Le Moule near the village of Conchou), Anse du Souffleur (north of Port Louis)
Other surf spots are sometimes susceptible to wind and sometimes not entirely safe. Sometimes there is only a short distance between the good-natured and very challenging waves, such as at Anse du Souffleur. We recommend taking a surf instructor with you or asking the locals beforehand.
Kitesurfing: Raisins Clairs beach near St Francois, Bois Jolan beach (kitesurfing school), Les Salines, La Moule (wavespot)
Kite size 10 - 14 m² with trade winds between 12 - 20 knots, in exceptional cases 25 knots. Kite time November to possibly the beginning of May outside the time of the tropical storms. Wind: during this time mostly from the left (N-E). Wave height in the surfing season usually max. 2.5 - 3 metres (swell size 3-4 feet), average wind force F4
Guadeloupe Basse Terre
The Îlet Caret, about 5 kilometres off the coast of Sainte-Rose, in the Grand-Cul-du-Sac-Marin is an absolute insider tip for experienced surfers and kitesurfers. You can be taken out by a fishing boat or charter. We are happy to help with the organisation. It's very busy at weekends. Wind: It blows quite strongly from side-off to side-on.
Bananier beach, south of Capesterre on the east side of Grande Terre, is a popular beach for swimming and is ideal for learning to surf, thanks to a local surf school and a local surf club. The sandy bottom makes it ideal for beginners and it is the only beach break on the island where surfing is possible all year round. Generally manageable wave heights. However, the spots La Tortue and La Pointe are reserved for experienced surfers.
The beach at the Hotel Fort Royal in Bas Vent - in the municipality of Deshaies - is probably the best spot on the island, according to professional surfer Tristan Algret. The insider tip among very good surfers. The hotel has its own surfing and sailing school and it blows right.... and keep your hands off the beautiful Plage de Cluny nearby: very strong underground currents. A beach break to forget.
Les Saintes
There is a Breton kitesurfing school on the island of Terre-de-Haut. You are taken out to sea by boat and the wind really blows there. Beginners' courses are offered on the Grande Anse beach near the aerodrome. The advanced spots are to the north and south of the mountain "Le Chameau" of Terre-de-Haut. Of course you can also go surfing, e.g. near Cabrit Island and in the north of Terre-de-Haut Island at Petit Havre Bay.
Surfing in Martinique
Martinique has become a popular surfing destination, especially on the Caravellle peninsula for wave riding. There are several surf schools on the Plage de Tartane. This is where most surfers in Martinique end up.
Beginner spots: Anse Trabaud (Sante Anne, access: private path, fees), Anse Cafard
Advanced: Anse Bonneville, Plage de Tartane (both on the Caravelle peninsula in the west)
We do not list any other spots here, as some of them can or are dangerous due to the rocky ground during wipe-outs.
Saint Martin/Sint Maarten
The most popular spots in the French part can be found on the east coast at Orient Bay and Galion Bay. On this side facing the Atlantic, you can expect wind speeds of 12 - 20 knots, in winter sometimes up to 25 knots. Very good conditions not only for surfing, but also for kitesurfing and windsurfing. Weaker winds in the afternoon and good conditions for beginners' courses. Plum Bay is also suitable for beginners and advanced surfers. Otherwise, there are almost only spots where very good surfers can let off steam. Anse des Pères, Grandes Cayes etc. The same applies to Sint Maarten: Guana Bay, Mullet Bay, Cupecoy Beach etc. are for top surfers. We can only repeat ourselves: assess your own ability correctly (e.g. wave height, wipe-out).
St Barthélemy
Some of the best surfers in the Caribbean come from St Barth's. This sport is very popular there. The swells are not as high as in St Martin (max 3 - 3.5 metres). The best time is in the European winter. Here is an overview of the spots:
Beginners and advanced: Lorient, Anse des Cayes, Flamand, Anse des Lezards, Saint Jean
Very good surfers: Anse du Grand Fond (Toiny), Pointe Milou
Marie-Galante
You won't find Marie-Galante in any surf travel guide or specialised magazine. It is not the top surfing destination for professional surfers. This is surprising, as the beach "La Feuillère" is considered one of the best kitesurfing spots in the Lesser Antilles. Enjoy the unmistakable charm of the island on a relaxed surf trip. However, we are not aware of any surf schools. Surf camps with external French instructors are organised from time to time. There is a kitesurfing club in Capesterre and a "kitesurfing zone" on la Feuillère beach with signs explaining the local conditions.
Kitesurf: Plage Feuillère near Capesterre
Surfing: e.g. Spot des Galets, Spot de Belvedère near Capesterre
Antigua
Antigua is not one of the top destinations for surfing in the Caribbean. This is partly due to an underwater plateau between Antigua and Barbuda, which weakens the swell in the north of Antigua. The most suitable surf spots are therefore often located in the south-east, e.g. Turtle Bay, Half Moon Bay and Exchange Bay
The situation is different for kitesurfing. Here, for example, you can kitesurf very well on the side facing the Atlantic in Nonsuch Bay, which is completely enclosed by a reef with constant trade winds. The starting point is the beach at Green Island where there is a kitesurfing school, as well as in the north-east at Jabberwock Bay with its side-on wind conditions.