Around St Barths: Ile Fourchue and Anse Colombier
On the route between St. Martin and Gustavia, Île Fourchue and Anse Colombier – two stunning nature reserves that are among the highlights of the area – await you. Both spots offer good shelter from north-easterly winds and are perfect for stopping off to enjoy nature, go snorkelling or have a sundowner.
Both destinations are well sheltered from the north-easterly wind and swell. It doesn’t really matter which one you visit first – the important thing is that you don’t miss either of them.
Île Fourchue lies to the north-west and forms a semi-circular island that offers excellent protection against swells from the north-east. When navigating, you should pay particular attention to the reef in the south-east, which lies right next to the entrance. It is easy to spot as the waves break there. Buoys are marked on the charts around the island to indicate the nature reserve – however, as of spring 2026, these were not in place.
The island is privately owned. Decades ago, sheep lived here, but they are no longer present, leaving the island to glow in various shades of green and red. There are several peaks that are ideal for a sundowner. The climb takes about 20 minutes, but you should wear sturdy footwear – there are plenty of cacti, and some thorns can easily pierce through the soles of trainers. Watch your step carefully.
A particularly beautiful spot is located eastwards from the beach on the nearest peak (17°53’49.9”N 62°50’58.4”W).
Occasionally (especially in October, November and April), locals come to the island and set up camp there – with tents, barbecues, music and all the trimmings. This seems to be a long-standing tradition and generally doesn’t bother anyone.
Park rangers are also out and about regularly, but they usually tolerate boats at anchor, even if this isn’t officially permitted everywhere.
Anse Colombier is the first bay on St. Barths and also one of the most beautiful. There are plenty of well-placed buoys, significantly more than on Île Fourchue, and a large number of turtles of various sizes. The beach in the south-east of the bay is particularly beautiful.
From there, you can also walk up to the hills, enjoy an excellent sundowner and, with a bit of luck, spot some tortoises too. In the water, there are several reefs teeming with marine life – we saw numerous species of fish, rays and even pufferfish there.
The frontmost buoys are sometimes exposed to the force of the surf, so you should avoid these. Alternatively, some boats also anchor in the shallower sandy areas.
You can only go ashore by dinghy – be sure to watch out for the surf. In the northern part of the beach, you’ll also find beautiful rock formations in the water that make for great photos.
I hope this helps you with your planning and I hope you have a great time at these two spots.
