Anse Dufour

About This Anchorage

Anse Dufour is one of the most charming and least-discovered small coves on Martinique's leeward coast — a tiny, intimate bay squeezed between two rocky headlands with a black-sand beach and an authentic fishing village that sees almost no charter boat traffic. The village of Dufour is tiny, with a handful of brightly painted creole houses, fishing pirogues drawn up on the beach, and an atmosphere entirely unlike the tourist-oriented anchorages of Anse Mitan and Grande Anse d'Arlet nearby. The bay has room for perhaps four or five visiting yachts — any more and the cove becomes crowded. Sand holding is reliable and the anchorage is well-sheltered from the dominant NE trades. Coral patches on both headlands require a careful approach from the north. The neighbouring Anse Noire is just minutes away by dinghy around the southern headland.

Hazards

• !Very small bay — room for 4–5 boats maximum; if full, anchor at neighbouring Anse Noire or Petite Anse d'Arlet
• !Coral headlands on both sides — approach from north only and anchor in sandy centre
• !No facilities whatsoever — self-sufficient approach required; carry all provisions
• !Fishing pirogue traffic — working fishing village; respect local operations

Skipper's Tips

• →Anse Dufour is Martinique's best-kept anchoring secret — rarely more than 2–3 boats even in peak season
• →Dinghy around the southern headland to Anse Noire — a dramatic black-sand beach with excellent snorkelling
• →The local fishermen sometimes sell fresh catch directly from their pirogues — negotiate respectfully and pay a fair price
• →This anchorage is perfect for a quiet night between the more social stops at Grande Anse d'Arlet and Anse Mitan
• →Approach slowly from the north and post a lookout — the coral patches on the headlands are not always obvious in choppy conditions

Nearby Anchorages