Sargassum at Anse des Cayes: today's beach status
Light
Some weed
Anse des Cayes cuts into the north coast of St Barthelemy, between Flamands and Saint-Jean. The bay is narrow, framed by rocky points, with houses running down the slopes to the sand. Surfers know it for the north swell that funnels in through much of the winter.
This page gives the current state of sargassum at Anse des Cayes: a 0 to 5 rating, a map placing the bay along the northern shore, and an update each morning. Enough to decide between this cove and a neighbouring beach before you load the car.
Plage d'Anse des Cayes on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
The beach opens due north, on the Atlantic side of the island, so it takes whatever the wind and drift carry along the windward coast. Sargassum driven by the easterly trades rounds the eastern point, tracks the north shore and can enter the bay with little in the way. Exposure here sits in the middle: higher than on the western beaches, less relentless than on shores that face east head-on.
The tight shape of the cove then cuts both ways. Rocky points slow the exchange of water at the head of the bay, so a patch that drifts in may linger for days. A sustained north swell does the opposite, stirring the water and moving stranded weed around again. Two consecutive mornings can read quite differently, which is the argument for checking the rating on the day itself.
Frequently asked questions
Is Anse des Cayes exposed to sargassum?
More than the western beaches, yes. It faces north on the Atlantic side, and mats pushed by the trade winds travel along the north coast before entering the bay without meeting a reef or barrier.
How do I check the beach before surfing or swimming?
The 0 to 5 rating and the map on this page are refreshed every morning. Look when you wake up, because conditions here can shift from one day to the next with the north swell.
Does swell change how much weed ends up on the sand?
Mostly it changes where it sits. A working north swell stirs the bay, scatters some of the floating weed and pushes the rest up the beach, where it piles into a band.
Which nearby beach should I check as a second option?
Saint-Jean to the east and Flamands to the west sit either side of the cove and take seconds to compare. They face differently, so their daily ratings often differ too.