Sargassum at Plage des Salines (Sainte-Anne): today's conditions
Clear
Easy going
Plage des Salines lies at the southern tip of Martinique, in the commune of Sainte-Anne, where the road ends beside the salt pond that gives the beach its name. It is one of the island's best known stretches of sand, and one where visitors check the seaweed situation before loading the car.
This page covers sargassum at Les Salines: the state of the beach today, a 0 to 5 rating that sums up what has been observed, and a map placing the shore within its stretch of coast. Everything is reviewed each morning, so what you read reflects the current day rather than last week.
Plage des Salines on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
Les Salines faces due south, on the Atlantic flank of the island's southern tip. Sargassum rafts reach the Caribbean pushed by the easterly trade winds, which puts east and southeast facing shores in the front line. A south facing beach sits at an angle to that flow: landings do happen, but they depend on how the swell is running and on whether the rafts wrap around the point.
The bay also unfolds as a long open arc of sand with deep water in front of it, so anything drifting in settles across a wide stretch at once. Length matters here: one end may be loaded while another is still walkable, and the picture can shift within the same day.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Plage des Salines get sargassum at all?
It sits on the Atlantic flank of Martinique's southern tip and opens due south. Rafts carried west by the trade winds can round the point and pile onto this open arc of sand when the swell pushes them inshore.
How can I check Les Salines before driving down?
Open the FanGass map and read the 0 to 5 rating given to this beach. It is refreshed every morning, so one look before you leave tells you what the sand is likely to be like when you arrive.
Which months tend to be worse here?
Landings cluster between spring and late summer, when large rafts drift into the Caribbean. Winter months are usually quieter, though an isolated episode can still occur, which is why the beach is rated day by day.
Is the whole beach affected in the same way?
Not always. Salines runs a long way along the coast, and a raft can settle on one section while another stays clear. Walking a few minutes along the sand often changes the picture entirely.