Travel Guide Rivière Noire

Like Tamarin, this part of the coast, though booming, has remained fairly local and residential, with no massive constructions. Straddling a sublime lagoon and wild inland areas, the region is ideal for a multitude of sports. The absence of a truly large beach means that there are no large resorts, and for the time being the focus is on small, charming hotels, although the area known as Les Salines is set to welcome several large luxury establishments in the coming years. The most pleasant stretch of sand for sunbathing and swimming is at La Preneuse, just before the mouth of the Grande Rivière Noire. The town is also the first and only to boast a marina worthy of the name, from which the majority of catamaran and motorboat cruises on the west coast depart. In the mountains, the terrain lends itself to hiking, notably in the Gorges de la Rivière Noire National Park, whose entrance and reception office are located around 7 kilometers from the village. But the area is first and foremost a big-game fishing spot, as evidenced by the number of trophies on display in the clubs. The underwater topography of this part of the island is characterized by steep drop-offs and deep waters just a few kilometers from the coast. Added to this are the phenomena of marine currents associated with regular plankton upwellings. The latter attracts small fish, which, from November to March in particular, are followed by medium and large predators (yellowfin tuna, dogtooth tuna, snapper, dorado, etc.), themselves hunted by sharks, black marlin and, above all, blue marlin. Hence the success!