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Martinique🇲🇶 | beachesPlage de l’Anse CafardCap 110 memorial, fifteen white statues, Diamond Rock backdrop, rough water | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Plage de l’Anse Cafard
👀 For curious travelersbeach ranked #11
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

The beach sits directly below Cap 110, a memorial of fifteen white concrete statues that stand on the point and face the sea. Plage de l’Anse Cafard is in the south of Martinique, on the coast of Le Diamant, southwest of Fort-de-France. Swimming is not the draw. The water is rough, the currents are strong, and the sand is a narrow strip, so bring your swim plans for the long beach nearby. Crowds stay thin, nothing here costs money, and the Diamond Rock views are superb. Cheap bakeries and snack counters wait in Le Diamant village. Arrive in late afternoon, walk the memorial slowly, watch the light drop behind the rock, then eat in the village.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #11 beach in MartiniqueWhy Plage de l’Anse Cafard should be on your travel list

Plage de l’Anse Cafard earns a stop because of the Cap 110 memorial, where fifteen statues, each over two meters tall, honor Africans who died in a slave ship wreck off this coast. The figures stare toward Diamond Rock, which fills the horizon and gives you one of the best free views on the island. Backpackers also stop for practical reasons. The spot costs nothing, tourists seldom linger, and it breaks a drive along the south coast between the capital and the beaches around Les Anses-d’Arlet or Sainte-Anne. You get meaning and scenery without a ticket line. It suits travelers who want one thoughtful hour in between sunbathing days, then a short walk to Le Diamant for a cheap meal and a cold drink.

💡 HighlightsDon't-miss highlights and experiences

  1. Cap 110 Memorial: Fifteen white statues arranged in a triangle on the point, created by sculptor Laurent Valère. The name refers to the compass bearing toward Africa. It is the reason most people come, and it is quietly moving.
  2. Diamond Rock viewpoint: From the memorial the volcanic islet rises straight out of the sea. This is the sharpest angle for photos, especially with the statues in the foreground.
  3. Sunset from the point: The coast faces west, so the sun sets over the Caribbean with the rock in silhouette. The statues turn dark against the sky, which makes this the best time for photography.
  4. Coastal stroll toward Le Diamant: A walk along the shore road leads to the village, past small fishing boats and snack shacks. It gives you a feel for the southern coast without needing a car.
  5. Diving and
… read more 👉
  1. Cap 110 Memorial: Fifteen white statues arranged in a triangle on the point, created by sculptor Laurent Valère. The name refers to the compass bearing toward Africa. It is the reason most people come, and it is quietly moving.
  2. Diamond Rock viewpoint: From the memorial the volcanic islet rises straight out of the sea. This is the sharpest angle for photos, especially with the statues in the foreground.
  3. Sunset from the point: The coast faces west, so the sun sets over the Caribbean with the rock in silhouette. The statues turn dark against the sky, which makes this the best time for photography.
  4. Coastal stroll toward Le Diamant: A walk along the shore road leads to the village, past small fishing boats and snack shacks. It gives you a feel for the southern coast without needing a car.
  5. Diving and snorkeling trips to Diamond Rock: Local operators in Le Diamant run boat dives around the islet, known for caves and drop-offs. Snorkeling in the cove beside the beach itself is not advised because of the swell.
Plage de l’Anse Cafard costs nothing to visit, and the memorial, the view and the sunset are all free.
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Things to do near Plage de l’Anse Cafard

Private Tour: Southern Martinique by Prestige Vehicle

Private Tour: Southern Martinique by Prestige Vehicle

4.0(3) 6h
From €365
per personViator
Diving and Snorkeling Catamaran Private Tour in Martinique

Diving and Snorkeling Catamaran Private Tour in Martinique

0.0(0) 7h 30m
From €1,433
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Choosing the right time of year

  • Dry Season (December to April): Showers are short and the trade winds keep the air comfortable at 24 to 30°C (75 to 86°F). Days run about 11 to 12 hours of light. Lodging around Le Diamant costs more and the memorial car park fills at midday.
  • Wet Season (July to November): Expect heavy, humid afternoons at 26 to 32°C (79 to 90°F) and rougher seas on this south-facing coast. Rooms drop to roughly €50 to 80 a night. This is also hurricane season, so keep plans flexible.
  • Shoulder Months (May, June): Warm, mostly sunny, quiet, with daylight stretching to about 12.5 hours.
Arrive before 9 a.m. for soft light on Diamond Rock and an empty path along the memorial.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: fair for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: highly recommended for travelingDECDecember: excellent for traveling
when-to-go

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

The village of Le Diamant is the best base, about 3 km from the cove, with a small center of bakeries, snack bars and grocery shops. Guesthouses and apartments here run roughly €60 to 100 a night, and you can walk to restaurants without a car. Grande Anse du Diamant, the long beach on the village’s western edge, suits travelers who want to wake up beside the sand. It has a handful of beach bars, a relaxed crowd and a few budget rooms. Many backpackers also stay in Les Trois-Îlets, across the bay from Fort-de-France. It has more rooms, more restaurants and the most reliable shared taxi and ferry … read more 👉
The village of Le Diamant is the best base, about 3 km from the cove, with a small center of bakeries, snack bars and grocery shops. Guesthouses and apartments here run roughly €60 to 100 a night, and you can walk to restaurants without a car. Grande Anse du Diamant, the long beach on the village’s western edge, suits travelers who want to wake up beside the sand. It has a handful of beach bars, a relaxed crowd and a few budget rooms. Many backpackers also stay in Les Trois-Îlets, across the bay from Fort-de-France. It has more rooms, more restaurants and the most reliable shared taxi and ferry links. Martinique has few dorm hostels, so solo travelers should look at gîtes and shared-house rentals where hosts and other guests are a natural way to meet people. Book ahead from December to April.
Best hostels in Martinique


Best quality hotels in Martinique

🛡️ SafetyTraveler Safety Guide

Plage de l’Anse Cafard is more a viewpoint than a swimming spot. The cove is small and rocky, there are no lifeguards, and the open Atlantic-Caribbean swell and currents along this coast can be strong, so most people wade at the edge and keep going. For a proper swim, locals head to calmer sheltered beaches elsewhere. Sun is intense from late morning, with little shade beyond the memorial grounds, so bring a hat and water. Afternoon showers pass quickly. Cars parked along the road occasionally get broken into, so leave nothing visible inside. Daytime visits feel relaxed and the site is respectful and quiet.
Check Country Safety

FAQFrequently asked questions about Plage de l’Anse Cafard

Plage de l’Anse Cafard sits on the south coast near Le Diamant, about 35 to 40 km from Fort-de-France, and the drive takes 50 to 70 minutes depending on traffic. Without a car, take a shared minibus from Fort-de-France to Le Diamant (roughly €3 to 5), then walk or taxi the last 3 km. A rental car is the easiest option, with free parking by the memorial.
Plage de l’Anse Cafard is best for the view and not for water sports. The currents and rocks make swimming risky, there are no lifeguards, and surf is not reliable. For calmer snorkeling and swimming, head to Grande Anse du Diamant for a long open beach with caution, or to sheltered bays near Les Anses-d’Arlet, about 20 to 30 minutes away by car.
Yes, Plage de l’Anse Cafard is free to visit, and so is the adjacent Cap 110 memorial to the victims of slavery with its 15 white statues. There is no entry fee and no set opening hours for the open-air site. Parking along the road costs nothing, though you should budget for fuel or a taxi of around €10 to 15 from Le Diamant.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Martinican beaches near Plage de l’Anse Cafard

Explore more nearby:

  • Plage du Diamant—Rocher du Diamant, west-facing sunsets, strong currents, village accras| 2 km away
  • Anse Dufour—Sea turtles, gommier boats, calm snorkeling bay, Anse Noire path| 8 km away
  • Anse Noire—Black basalt sand, 150-meter cove, hillside steps, rocky snorkeling| 8 km away

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We 💚 feedbackKey takeaways before you go

Plage de l’Anse Cafard looks like a quick photo stop, but the statues face the sea at different angles, and each one is worth a slow look. Skip the swim here. Pack a towel for the long beach nearby, and save this spot for the hour when the light is soft and the wind is quiet.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Martinique. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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