Sargassum at Anse de Colombier: today's beach report
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Pristine
Anse de Colombier sits at the north-western tip of St Barthelemy, on the Caribbean side of the island. You reach it either by boat or on foot, along the coastal trail that drops down from Petite Anse, which makes it one of the quietest beaches around.
This page tracks sargassum at Anse de Colombier day by day. A 0 to 5 rating sums up what has been observed, the map places the bay and the water around it, and everything is refreshed each morning. What you read is the current picture rather than a seasonal average, useful before you commit to the walk or drop anchor offshore.
Anse de Colombier on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
Colombier faces west, with its back to the easterly trade winds that push sargassum rafts across the Caribbean. That leeward position is the key fact here: mats drifting in from the Atlantic meet the eastern and north-eastern shores of St Barth first, and only reach the western coast after working around the island, usually in smaller volumes.
The bay itself is deep and open to the sea, with no lagoon or reef barrier to hold weed once it drifts in, so an episode that does travel up this coast tends to scatter faster than it would inside an enclosed cove. Two caveats. A west or north-west swell, less common here, can carry fragments into the anse. And because the beach takes either a boat ride or a hike, an unplanned visit costs time, which is exactly why the daily rating is worth a look first.
Frequently asked questions
Is Anse de Colombier badly affected by sargassum?
It faces west on the leeward side of St Barth, sheltered from the easterly trades that drive rafts in from the Atlantic. Arrivals still happen when a large episode wraps around the island, but they are less frequent than on the east coast.
How can I check Colombier before making the trip?
Use the 0 to 5 rating and the map on this page, both refreshed every morning. It matters here, because reaching the beach means either a hike from Petite Anse or a boat.
When is sargassum most likely around St Barth?
The sensitive stretch usually runs from spring to late summer, peaking between May and August. On the western shore, Colombier tends to register only the broader episodes within that window rather than every pulse.
Which nearby beaches can I check as a backup?
Flamands, on the same leeward coast, and Shell Beach near Gustavia are the closest alternatives. Compare their daily ratings, since two beaches a few kilometres apart can differ noticeably depending on how they face.