Anchorage· St Vincent· Windward Islands
Chateaubelair Anchorage
13° 18.0′ N · 61° 14.5′ W
A big, green fishing-village bay in the shadow of La Soufrière. Palms lean over the water, and it is the best base for Dark View and Trinity Falls and the leeward volcano trail.
Practical
Noonsite bay-entrance position 13 18'02"N, 61 14'28"W. Noonsite (May 2025) calls it a good anchorage, especially in the eastern half of the bay, but northerly swell in winter can cause problems. A boat boy will usually paddle out, day or night, to help with anchoring, clearance and tours, and a tip is customary. Noforeignland reviewers report good holding and friendly locals, and name a helper called Kemroy; others report pushy boat boys. Doyle notes some shifting of the bottom after the 2021 eruption, so sound carefully. Ashore: restaurants and a bar on the beach, a gas station, mini-market and bakery in town. Security: armed boardings in May 2015 and October 2016, and since then mostly petty theft. Noonsite has recommended using the bay by day to clear in and then moving on; if you stay, lock hatches and lift the dinghy. Chateaubelair Island, off the point, is a dramatic wall dive.
Best for
Base for the north-west waterfalls and the volcano
Season
Nov-May; untenable in strong north swell
Nearby
- Winter North Swell on the Leeward AnchoragesRight here
- Chateaubelair Customs and Immigration0.6 NM away
- North Leeward Breadfruit Festival0.7 NM away
- Thirteen Stones of Chateaubelair (Petroglyphs)0.7 NM away
- Richmond Beach0.9 NM away
- Dark View Falls1.3 NM away
- Trinity Falls2.2 NM away
- Cumberland Bay Reef Edges Snorkel2.3 NM away