Les Saintes — 'Lézan' in Guadeloupean Creole — form one of the most beautiful mini-archipelagos in the Lesser Antilles. Nestled 15 km south of the coast of Basse-Terre, this string of 9 islets with rocky peaks emerging from a turquoise sea constitutes a concentrate of Caribbean paradise — to the point that the bay was UNESCO-classified among the world's most beautiful bays in 1998, alongside those of Rio, Halong or San Francisco.
The organisation of the visit is simple: only two inhabited islands, Terre-de-Haut (5 km², 1,500 inhabitants, the most visited, shuttle arrival point) and Terre-de-Bas (10 km², 1,000 inhabitants, more authentic). The 7 remaining islets — Grand îlet, La Coche, Les Augustins, Le Pâté, La Redonde, le Cabrit, Caye Plate — are uninhabited and accessible only by private boat, refuges for pelicans, frigatebirds and iguanas.
For a day excursion from Basse-Terre or Pointe-à-Pitre, you will discover the essentials of Terre-de-Haut: Fort Napoléon, Pompierre beach, lunch in the village. For a 2-3 night stay, add Pain de Sucre, Anse Crawen, an excursion to Terre-de-Bas and sunset from Fort Napoléon. For a full week (rare but magical), also explore the uninhabited islets by boat, dive on legendary sites (la Coche, le Sec Pâté) and adopt the peaceful rhythm of the Saintois.
Read also
- Terre-de-Haut, Fort Napoléon and Sugarloaf — The main island of Les Saintes: Fort Napoléon, Pompierre beach, Pain de Sucre.
- Guadeloupe — Complete archipelago guide: entry rules, budget, when to visit, islands to discover.
- Marie-Galante, the round island — The other satellite island: AOC rum, deserted beaches and Creole authenticity.
- Basse-Terre, volcano and jungle — The volcanic wing of Guadeloupe: Soufrière, Carbet Falls, National Park.