Belle Mare

Belle Mare, stretching for several kilometers, is one of the most beautiful beaches around the island and still reasonably wild.

Facing east and the rising sun, Belle mare, stretching for several kilometers, is one of the most beautiful beaches around the island and still reasonably wild. The sugar fields have generously agreed to leave some space to other crops. The small planters, as they are called here, grow fruits and vegetables. The sun is hot, Sanjay, under his improvised shelter watches his « brinzel et zonion » grow! This sandy soil is without doubt ideal for his aubergines and onions.

The parking spaces are organized along the main road thus leaving wide stretches of green all along the beach.  During weekdays, Belle Mare is quiet. Seeven on his motorbike equipped with a glass showcase full of colorful preserved fruits and vegetables goes up and down this “forbidden to vehicles” stretch! He hails Mariana, we can hear a mix of Italian, English and French words… Mariana seems happy, she carries now a precious artistically peeled yellow pineapple…

Here, the reef is quite far from the beach, the lagoon exposed to the south Easters is a bit more choppy but harmless. Swimming is a real delight! The sea changes color all day long according to the rays of the sun, the depth of the sea and the sandy bottom, what a sight! I wish I was an artist…

The village, further inland, is not an organized touristic village. Sega skirts, T Shirts and sarongs hanging along open passages may give an impression of commercial organization. A few grocery shops but no coffee shops or restaurants in sight…

Unlike the other coastal villages, Belle Mare is quiet and peaceful, no shopping centers or important villages around… The hotels although quite numerous, are discreet, a real seaside atmosphere.