You’ve seen pictures of it, you might have even heard whispers of this coveted destination among locals…but where is it exactly? How do you get to the secret Grand Fond natural pool or piscine naturelle, as the islanders call it, of St. Barth?
Photography property of SVADORE
After a lot of extensive research on the internet and a bit of wandering around St. Barth on my part, I have discovered how to reach the secret and highly coveted Grand Fond natural pool in St. Barth. Before I spill this local kept secret with you, let me share with you something you might not know. There is not only one natural pool in St. Barth, but there are actually two! In this article, I will be covering how to get to the Grand Fond natural pool. The other natural pool is located near le Petit-Cul-de-Sac. I’ll keep the directions to Petit-Cul-de-Sac a secret for now…but hope to share them with you next time I am in St. Barth.
For those who are curious what the difference between the two is, Grand Fond is pictured below. It is very much in the sun, with little to no shade, which creates a stark contrast between the orange color of the rocks and the crystal blue clear water of the natural pool. The Grand Fond natural pool is on a flat plane, so you can easily walk in and out for a dip. The natural pools at Petit-Cul-de-Sac on the other hand, are shaded and dark. Rather than have an orange color, the rocks at Petit-Cul-de-Sac are gray and dark creating a stark gray/black contrast with the crystal blue water of the natural pool. Unlike the Grand Fond natural pool, there is no way to enter the Petit-Cul-de-Sac natural pool except by diving or jumping into it. It is more of a cliff like pool than a flat plane like Grand Fond. With that said, let our journey begin on how to reach the hidden gem that is the Grand Fond natural pool!
The journey begins at the rocky, windy and non-swimmer friendly area of Grand Fond. A windy beach located on the south-eastern shore of the island. It’s mostly frequented by surfers due to the high winds, but swimming is not advised. As you drive by the entrance to Grand Fond beach, you will come across a small parking lot (pictured below). Park here or on the side of the road. You will find a small fenced entryway that leads to Grand Fond beach. Enter and reach the beach.
As you set foot on the beach, you will see the beginning of the beach on your left and a cliff on your right. Head towards the cliff on your right. There will be no clear path once you reach the cliff, but you will see a very vaguely outlined path where other people have walked before. Start walking along it and begin to circumnavigate the perimeter of the cliff.
As you start trekking around the edge of the cliffs you see gorgeous views of the neighboring cliffs. You’ll want to stop and take pictures every 2 minutes, so definitely bring your camera with you. Since the path is not well outlined, there is a bit of trekking involved. Do not try this without sneakers. There are points were you will have to use your hands for support, and if you have a fear of heights, this might not be the best activity for you. As much as children would love the natural pool, I do not recommend you bring children along either since you are walking pretty high up and close to the edge of the cliff. Example of the rigorousness of the trek below.
The trek to the natural pools takes roughly 20-30 minutes, depending on how often you stop to take pictures. Before you reach the natural pools you will come across 2 areas that I highly recommend you take advantage of. The first is the cliff that goes out the farthest from your trek. From here you can take in the views on your right to come, little coves swerving in and out filled with orange and green colors. To your left is the rustic view of Grand Fond beach. I highly recommend you take advantage of this vantage point for a great photo opp sesh. Breathe in the salty air and take in the gorgeous landscape that mother nature created around you!
The second must-see area is what the locals call the “Washing Machine.” Now, there are conflicting views on what and where the Washing Machine really is, even among locals! Some claim that the beach pictured below, right before the natural pools, is the true Washing Machine. It got its name from the way the water crashes over the beach and swirls during certain times of year, mimicking the action of a washing machine. The beach lies in between rocks carved out of the oceans waves. In my opinion, this is the true Washing Machine. However, others believe that the Grand Fond natural pool is the Washing Machine. I personally couldn’t find any resemblance to a Washing Machine, so I stand by my opinion that the below beach is in fact the original Washing Machine.
There is no shade along the path and once you reach the natural pools, shade is extremely limited except in one or two corners nestled into the rocks. Above the Washing Machine you will find a small cave like cove that offers a good amount of shade for a mid-hike break. Someone was even kind enough to build a small wooden bench for people to sit on to take a break from the blazing sun. It’s the perfect spot to catch your breath, sit down, drink some water, and marvel over the motion of the waves in the Washing Machine below.
The final hike to the natural pools ends with an interesting twist. You will begin to hear the ever so famous mountain goats of St. Barth bleating among one another. Don’t be afraid of the mountain goats, they are not dangerous. In fact, they are actually very much disliked among locals since they graze at their already limited crops. From this orange rock formation, you are all of a sudden met with a final hill to ascend. Unlike the others however, this one is green and full of grass. As you reach the top of the hill you final see the speck of blue and green crystal water you have been looking for, the Grand Fond natural pool!
Now you’d think that the hard part would be over, not yet! This is actually the hardest part of the hike, the descent..There is no obvious way or path to get down to the natural pools except for a steep rocky, dirt slope that does not offer a lot of support. You might as well grab a sleigh and try sliding down it, it would be easier. I sent Pat ahead of me to make sure the “coast was clear,” and the descent down was doable. This way he could help me down should I need any help, which I am not going to lie, I did. The path looks much more defined in the picture below, but I promise you it is not that obvious or easy in person. It is very steep.
Once you’ve made it down the slope of doom you are greeted by the heavenly sight of one of the two natural pools. For those who do no know, St. Barth is a volcanic island, which is why it’s land is so arid compared to greener islands. There are currently no volcanos in sight, but that explains the formation of these rare natural pools. Ocean water flows over these rocks creating a natural pool. Limited in ocean life, you will see a few small fish and A LOT of sea urchins, especially baby ones so watch your step or come wearing water shoes. The rocks shield the harsh waves of Grand Fond creating a small and tranquil pool. A sight for sore eyes to say the least. On the right is the first and more tranquil natural pool you stumble upon.
On the left hand side is the wider and deeper natural pool with a bit more protection. Since the natural pool is a local kept secret, you might be lucky enough to enjoy it all to yourself! At least that was the case for Patrick and I. We spent about an hour taking pictures, enjoying the pool and just relaxing away from the crowds. Pure relaxation. All you could hear was the sound of the waves crashing behind the rock formations, with the occasional salt water splash reaching the other end. I’ve read articles online saying that one of the only ways to make it to the natural pools is with a tour guide and that it is “too dangerous” to go by yourself. I don’t agree with these statements. As long as you go with a friend, it is completely safe. But I do recommend you go with someone else in case something happens to you.
8 comments
Stunning photos! I need to add this locale to my bucket list. Headed to Maui in a couple of weeks. Any hidden gems I should know about there?
Wow, great shots! The rock formations are beautiful and the water is so amazing! Would love to travel the place and experience it myself. Thanks for sharing ♥️ ♥️ By any chance you are interested on doing collaborations, you can check out the collaborations portal of Phlanx.com and connect with amazing brands!
Xoxo,
Tiffany
Great Pictures. Nice interpretation.
Thank you! 🙂
(Apologies for the all caps but seems as though there isn’t another option). This is very helpful. Do you think you could access the natural pools by approaching from the water from a boat?
I wouldn’t recommend it. It’s very rocky and shallow and the waves are strong, which may slam the boat up against the rocks!
Is it illegal to go to the natural pools now? thank you
Hi there! Yes, but not this one. It is illegal to go to the one in Petit Cul de Sac…unfortunately, since it is too dangerous. However this one – Le Grand Fond – is still safe as it is much more repaired and shallow than the other one.