Anse Chastanet, Tropical beach in Soufrière, Saint Lucia

Anse Chastanet is a small bay with black sand in the southwest of Saint Lucia, on one of the island's westernmost points northwest of Soufrière. A hotel named after the beach stands there. The smaller Anse Mamin beach lies a short distance away, reached by a hiking path or by boat.

The area was once part of a large plantation where cocoa and coffee were grown. In the 1970s, the land was transformed into a marine reserve to protect the coral reefs and sea life.

Local fishermen work at the northern end using methods passed down through generations. This practice is woven into daily life and shows how the community has long depended on the sea.

The beach lies northwest of Soufrière on the island's western tip, with a hotel of the same name at the shore. The smaller Anse Mamin beach nearby is reached on foot by a coastal trail or by boat. The sand is black, so bring footwear for the heat.

More than 150 fish species live under the water here, making the reef one of the richest marine habitats in the Caribbean. This variety is visible to the naked eye when you snorkel or peer into the water.