Plage des Surfeurs (Tartane)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Beginner
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Moderate
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Plage des Surfeurs (also known as Anse Bonneville) at Tartane is described as a consistent reef-based surfing area on Martinique’s Caravelle Peninsula, producing both left and right waves. Sessions are generally good for learning progression, with mellow options and rideable sections, while the point can also offer more intense set-ups such as barreling tendencies. Wave shape is commonly reported as peeling, with moderate wave power and medium ride lengths. The spot is noted to work on all tides, but the exact takeoff can be sensitive because reef/rock areas and scattered shallow patches can become more exposed at lower water levels. On bigger north swells, the surf may hold size yet become messier or close out. Wind-wise, south wind is described as the best direction for this spot’s surfing conditions; east-northeast can create cross-onshore conditions, while southeast is reported to be cleaner. Seasonal consistency is strongly linked to the winter-and-spring pattern, and October is also specifically called out as a best month. Safety is a key consideration: hazards include rocks, sea urchins, and reef/coral barriers near launch, and rip currents are reported as present. There are no lifeguards; in emergencies rely on the regional emergency number guidance and local medical access around La Trinité. Local tips emphasize wearing booties if you’re sensitive to urchins, moving carefully near the reef barrier, and going early to reduce crowd pressure.
- Consistent reef break with both lefts and rights
- Works on all tides
- Best on north-east swell with south wind for surfing
- Top-notch surf-school presence in Tartane and a beginner-friendly learning environment
- Consistent surf spot for Martinique with a well-known learning culture
- Good wave quality and a rideable mix of lefts and rights
- Works on all tides; commonly best on north-east swell with south wind for surfing
- Reef/rock hazards including sea urchins and a coral/reef barrier at the edge
- Some areas show shallow reef patches at lower tides
- No lifeguards reported; rescue is limited and managed regionally
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, ESE, NE
- Offshore directions
- S
- No-go directions
- N, NNE, NE, ENE
- Wind Range
- 15–25 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Trade winds (Alizés) with offshore component at this spot when winds are from the south; NE/E winds can be cross-onshore for surfing.
- Reliability
- High during the winter trade wind season; also shows a low portion of clean/usable hours in October (reported blown vs clean percentages).
- Gust Factor
- Steady — No strong gust pattern stated; steady conditions reported in the winter trade-wind period.
- Best Months
- October, December, January, February, March, April
- Shadow Zones
- The bay is somewhat sheltered by the Caravelle Peninsula from strong northerly winds.
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Reef — Beach/nearshore bottom characterized as reef/coral by one source; another describes sand with mixed reef patches.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Medium — Wave size reported as medium by one provider; another describes small surf—conditions may vary by season/swell.
- Launch
- Small — Delicate launch due to coral barrier at the edge in one description; sandy beach entry space in another—use caution around reef boundaries.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Launch difficulty reported as moderate by one source; another describes sandy access with easier entry—takeoff near reef boundary remains the key difficulty.
Through the year
High during weekends, school holidays, and peak winter tourism months.
June to November is the hurricane and rainy season.
By sport
What to expect for each.
Not a primary kitesurfing destination; dense surfers and offshore/onshore angles can be tricky for launching.
Possible when swell is manageable, but shallow reef patches and urchins require caution.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foil-friendly noted as limited for this spot.
- Min Depth
- 1.5 meters
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Primarily a reef break that produces a mix of left and right waves; it is often described as right-hand dominant, with mellow lefts also possible. At the point it can get sucky and can form barreling waves. Some sources describe a more beach/sand-and-reef mixed takeoff and shallow reef patches at lower tides.
- Wave Direction
- Both
- Optimal Swell
- NE, N, NNE
- Swell Height
- 0.5–0.6 m
- Optimal Tide
- All tides — Works on all tides.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Semi-sheltered feel; the Caravelle Peninsula provides some shelter from stronger northerly winds, but the spot still has reef exposure and scattered rocky areas.
- Wind Effect
- Best with south wind for this reef setup; E/ENE can be cross-onshore, while Southeast is cleaner.
- Bigger Swell
- Can get messy on very large north swells; holds size well but may deteriorate when bigger.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Good wave quality reported.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Moderate wave power.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling — Peeling wave shape reported.
- Peel Speed
- Medium — Medium peel speed reported.
- Ride Length
- Medium — Rights sometimes offer longer rides.
- Typical Ride Length
- 50–100 m
- Ride Length Details
- Reported ride lengths are medium; on good days rights can deliver longer rides.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Plage des Surfeurs (Tartane) in the full forecast view.
Plage des Surfeurs (Tartane) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 5–14 ktsGusts 26 kts
- Direction
- E98°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2514 kts
- Windy days
- 1/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 1.1–1.6 m7s period
- Temperature
- 26–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Plage des Surfeurs (Tartane) is forecast for daytime winds of 5–14 kts, peaking around 14 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 26 kts. The prevailing direction is E. Waves run 1.1–1.6 m with a period of about 7s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- rocks
- sea urchins
- coral barrier
- rip currents
- crowds
- scattered rocks and shallow reef patches (especially at lower tides)
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Regional guidance indicates rescue coverage is managed by local fire/rescue services and SNSM for incidents; spot-level reporting also indicates no direct rescue service at the beach.
- Emergency Info
- Nearest clinic/major care reported around La Trinité; in emergencies call 112 (and 15 for medical emergencies).
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Mild localism reported; mainly advice to respect local surfers and schools.
Rules of the spot
Standard surfing etiquette applies; respect local surfers and schools. Avoid designated swimming areas.
- Avoid designated swimming areas.
- Watch for urchins and rocks, especially near the coral/reef barrier at launch.
- Wear booties if you are sensitive to sea urchins when walking out.
- Early mornings are best to beat crowds and heat.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Tartane (fishing village)
- Nearest Town
- La Trinité
- Nearest Airport
- Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport (FDF)
- Parking
- Available near the spot; dedicated dirt parking lot at the entrance to the beach path reported.
- Public Transport
- Access is primarily via car or taxi; local bus lines serve La Trinité, while reaching Tartane beach areas is limited and infrequent.
- Access
- From Fort-de-France, drive toward Trinité before following Tartane to the right toward Caravelle peninsula; at rue du surf, turn left (provider description).
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- French
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Various apartments and small hotels in Tartane village.
- Food & Drink
- Food and drink available in Tartane fishing village within walking distance or short drive.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental available at surf schools located directly on the beach (provider description).
- Gear Storage
- Storage mostly limited to what schools provide or what specific accommodations offer (regional guidance).
- Gear Repair
- Basic surfboard repairs available via local surf shops (regional guidance).
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Plage des Surfeurs (Tartane)?
The best overall months at Plage des Surfeurs (Tartane) are December, January, February, March, April, May, June, October, November, September, August. The best wind months are October, December, January, February, March, April.
Which wind directions work at Plage des Surfeurs (Tartane)?
Plage des Surfeurs (Tartane) works with E, ESE, NE winds. Offshore directions are S. No-go directions are N, NNE, NE, ENE.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Plage des Surfeurs (Tartane)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Plage des Surfeurs (Tartane): Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–25 kts.
What skill level is Plage des Surfeurs (Tartane) suitable for?
Plage des Surfeurs (Tartane) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Advanced · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Beginner.