However, one thing you must do is island-hoping to Les Saintes islands, part of Guadeloupe Archipelago.
Located south east of Basse-Terre and west of Marie-Galante, you arrive to the collective of islands by boat or plane, via the main island , Terre-de-Haut 4.9 sq mi (12,8km2). The most common way of arrival is the first option and we recommend a bigger boat like Miss Guadeloupe to go from Trois Rivières to Les Saintes. You can also leave from Pointe-à-Pitre to Les Saintes or even from Saint-Francois. But the best is from Trois Rivières with only 20 minutes of voyage. The round-trip rate is around 23€ per adult.
Arriving in the harbor, you will see many small shops and of course rental agencies for scooter, bicycles which you will need to get around the island. Cars are not allowed on the island except for administration and few people (fishermen, inhabitants) but there is an option of electric cars.
1/ The first tip we will give you is to rent an electric golf cart which is an amazing way to explore the island, especially if you are with young children. To reserve in advance contact Archipel Location company or we can help you book it directly.
2/ The other things to to do is visiting Le Fort Napoleon, which is overlooking the beautiful Bay of les Saintes at 114 meters. It will offer an exceptional 360° view on Guadeloupe, Dominica and Marie-Galante.
This Fort was classified as a historic monument in December 15, 1997.
Fort Napoleon was built on top of the hill Mire, where sat a first Fort called Fort Louis destroyed in 1809 by the English. Fort Napoleon, which owes its name from Napoleon III, was built until 1867. It has never served as a military fortress to fight the English, has never had a single shot, but it was used as a prison until the early twentieth century. It’s still in excellent condition.
Plage de Pompierre – Les Saintes
3/ Go to the beaches, visit Pompierre beach, le Pain de Sucre or Anse Mitan.
4/ We recommend you to stop at the restaurant “La Case aux Epices” or “Case a man albè”
5/ Enjoy sports on Les Saintes. The islands are perfect for divers with many spots and scuba diving centers. You can rent a paddle-board at UCPA or a windsurf. You will see many kite-surfers in the passage between the islands of Terre de Haut and Terre de Bas. There is a large windy passage with the Alizés wind.
6/ Do you want to relax on Les Saintes and discover all the charms of this island? You can rent our Villa Emeraude with services and amenities available to make your stay hassle-free.
Visiting les Saintes is a must whether for a day or if you stay 3,5 or 7 nights on the island of Terre-de-Haut.
If you have experienced Les Saintes already, feel free to leave a comment.
