A perfect Week-end in the Saintes islands

The Saint Islands archipelago, 9 miles south of Guadeloupe, is a mix of traditional charm and crystal-clear waters. Two out of the nine islands are inhabited, Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas. It is hard to leave once you are there.

The magnificent Saintes Bay

The Saintes’ bay is legendary, and one of the most beautiful in the world, next to San Francisco and Rio de Janeiro. The scuba diving is also one of the best in the Caribbean, thanks to populated reefs and the famous Sec Paté spot. The bay has everything for the beach lover, from paddle boarding to sailing and snorkeling.

Club Pisquette, Lieu Dit Le Mouillage | Terre de Haut - Les Saintes, 97137- Tèl. : +590 (0)590 99 88 - turn left from the wharf, on Jean Calot street. Continue for a few blocks, and the club will be on your right, right before the coast that leads to the boathouse.

Tour the island on a scooter

After a 45 minute boat ride from Trois-Rivières in Guadeloupe, I pick up a scooter near the wharf and start my tour of the small island. Dreamy beaches, typical Creole houses, beautiful landforms.... Tropical exoticism hits me even before I step off the boat.

Rent a scooter near the wharf or by the church. From 25€/lday.

A guided tour of the Fort Napoléon

One of the best tourist attractions is the Fort Napoléon, a 400-feet high military fortress that towers over the Saintes bay. Its permanent exhibition tells the story of the islands and the famous naval battle of 1782 that saw the French and the British fight to claim the archipelago. The view of Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe and Dominica is beautiful. Not to be missed.

Fort Napoléon visits. Tèl. : +590 (0)690 50 73 47. 15 minute-walk from the wharf. Open from 9 am to 12.30 pm -3,5€/ adults ,2€/children under 12

Head to the Pain de Sucre and Anse Crawen

The Pain de Sucre beach, covered in moonlight cacti, is one of the most beautiful beaches of Terre-de-Haut. It attracts many tourists, so better go before lunch, as it is a precious spot. Nearby, the black sand Anse Crawen offers a nice respite. A serene haven.

What are the best restaurants in the Saintes?

Crayfish profiteroles, coconut seabass, lambi lasagna… All are served at the Au Bon Vivre restaurant, my favorite table in Terre-de-Haut. At Ti Bo Doudou, you can eat with your feet in the water, and enjoy a ray chiquetaille  and a tuna tartare that will give you chills. For a light lunch, try the Saladerie, which makes the freshest and most original salads of the island.

Au Bon Vivre, 31 rue J.Calot, 97137 Terre de Haut - Tèl. : +33 590 94 19 84
Ti Bo Doudou, 58, rue Benoit Cassin, 97137 Terre de Haut - +33 590 98 56 67
La Saladerie, Anse Mire,  97137 Terre de Hau - Tèl. : +33 590 99 53 43 

Hike at the Trace des Crêtes

Starting from Grande Anse, the Trace des Crêtes hike goes through the more arid landscapes of the island, between cacti and century-old frangipani. The Grande Anse beach, with its high Atlantic waves, is quite impressive. The nearby cemetery is charming, colourful, and atypical, with its lambi-ladden tombs. The hike ends the Marigot Bay and the Pompierre Beach. Sensational.

Trace des Crêtes hike, center of Terre-De-Haut. The hike begins after the last house behind the cemetery, follow the white paint marks along the way. 45 min to 1h.

Wander around in Marigot

The population of the Saintes islands, progeny of Brittons or Normans, live off fishing and tourism. In the fishing town of Marigot, they can be seen around their saintoises, a traditional colourful wooden boat.

Shopping and "tourment d'amour" testing

Near the wharf, you can find a few shops offering beach fashion and trinkets made from natural materials, done in a somewhat tikki style that I love. The Atelier du savon des Saintes sells artisanal soap made with coconut, pineapple and lime, to bring home a bit of your vacation.
On the road, I can smell in the air the tourment d’amour (or love torment): Stuffed with coconut, banana or guava, this little island delicacy tastes like its name. Oh, the joys of tourment d’amour !

L'Atelier du savon des Saintes, Rue Jean Calot. 97137 Terre de Haut - Tèl. : +33 590 99 56 24
Souvent assises, les mamies accompagnées de leurs grands paniers en osier, vendent les tourments d'amour au niveau de l'embarcadère aux horaires de départ des bateaux.

L'Anse Mire

I love wandering around Anse Mire to talk with the locals, gaze at the little Creole houses, and use the swings my feet in the water. A little exercise ? The clear-bottom boat is the new green activity, and allows you to explore underwater life. Great for families with children.

Clear Blue Caraïbes, rue Jean Calot, 97137 Terre-de-Haut - 20€/adulte, 15€/enfant jusqu'à 15ans, gratuit pour les - de 9 ans - Tèl. : 0690657981

Where to sleep in the Saintes islands ? 

Villa Amarelao, rue anse figuier, 97137 Terre-De-Haut - Tél. :05 90 99 19 58
Hôtel Bois Joli, Route du Bois Joli, 97137 Terre-De-Haut - Tél. :05 90 99 50 38
Hôtel le Kanaoa, Anse Mire, 97137 Terre-De-Haut - Tèl. : 0590 99 51 36

Where are the Saintes islands ?

 

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My go-to places in Marie-Galante

Marie-Galante continuously celebrates its traditional roots in the French West Indies, with its turquoise waters, legendary rums and endless sugar cane oasis. Zoom-in on an outstanding island off the Guadeloupe coast.

Twenty miles south-east of Guadeloupe is Marie-Galante, an island otherwise known as the “grande galette” (“big pancake”) or “the island with a hundred windmills”. I didn’t remember much of my first trip there, so, 20 years later, here I am rediscovering this gem for a weekend. Follow the guide !

1. Discover the island’s most beautiful beaches

My two favorite beaches are Feuillère beach and Petite Anse, both at the edge of a palm grove and boarded by waters boasting thousands of different blue hues. There is rarely anyone there, safe for the leatherback turtles and surgeonfish. What a luxury to share the golden sand with them!

Feuillère beach (Capesterre) - Petite Anse beach (Saint Louis)

2. Tour around Marie-Galante

The Gueule Grand-Gouffre site impresses with its sea-formed arch and the sound of the surf through it. The numerous distilleries (my favorite one is Bielle) take you through time, and offer the best rum in Guadeloupe. Impossible to leave Marie-Galante without stopping by one of its historical windmills, such as the Habitation Roussel Trianon.

Places to visit : Gueule Grand Gouffre (Saint Louis) - Distillerie Bielle (Grand Bourg) - Habitation Roussel Trianon - Ecomusée (Grand Bourg)

3. Village-hopping: Capesterre, Saint Louis and Grand Bourg

You will feel the true Marie-Galante charm in the narrow and colourful streets of Grand Bourg, Capesterre and Saint Louis, the three districts of the island. I love markets, and I can never resist visiting them on any of my travels: From the Grand Bourg market, I come with two bottles of “sirop de batterie”, a local sugar cane syrup.

4. Enjoy local food

Chez Henri

Near the wharf on Saint Louis beach, the Marie-Galante born Henri offers modern French West Indies food in his namesake restaurant. My feet in the sand, I enjoy a feast of dorado fillo with local vegetables. At night, I come back for the “takeoff”, an aperitif of legendary iced rum accompanied by the sounds of live music. Definitely my favorite address of the island. 

Chez Henri, 8, Avenue des Caraïbes Saint-Louis ) Tèl. : 0590 97 04 57

Au plaisir des Marins

Big fan of creole court-bouillon fish (similar to a blaff, the court bouillon is a stock containing tomatoes and fresh spices in which fish is cooked), I choose to enjoy it at Au plaisir des Marins (the Pleasure of Sailors), a table by the sea in Saint Louis. On the menu, Ti punch syrup drums, cod stuffed, short broth broth and flamed banana. As much to say that the nap of the afternoon was long .. Go for it !

Au plaisir des Marins, Section Chalet 97134 Saint Louis - Tél. : 05 90 97 08 11

Agoulou and bokit

The agoulou and the bokit are the best food to eat while appreciating a sunset by the ocean. I find a food truck hidden behind the Sainte-Anne Church in Capesterre, where I wait among a long line of people… But it was well worth the wait!

Agoulou et bokit à emporter au food truck derrière l'église Saint-Anne de Capesterre

Bébélé at Pomme Cannelle

In the heights of Capesterre, Marie-Christine puts love in the preparation of Marie-Galante’s most typical dish, the bébélé at her restaurant the Pomme Cannelle. Made with tripe, ripe stonefruit, flour balls, and green figs, the dish will put you in a delicious slumber...

Pomme Cannelle, Pichery, Capesterre 97140, Guadeloupe, Tèl. : +590 590 97-1708

Where is Marie-Galante ?

 

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