Les Saintes

⚠️ Timetables, opening hours, prices and access conditions may change without notice, for reasons beyond our control (season, weather, decisions by operators, venues or local authorities). Before every trip, check the information with the relevant authorities and service providers. Entry requirements and local rules (reserves, quotas) are subject to the same caveat.

Les Saintes are a small archipelago south of Guadeloupe, a few kilometres off the coast of Basse-Terre. Two islands are inhabited: Terre-de-Haut, with its village of Creole houses, its fort and its bay, and Terre-de-Bas, quieter and more rural. Visitors cannot rent cars here, so people get around on foot, by scooter or in a small electric car. This page gathers the essentials for planning a stay: accommodation, restaurants, activities, culture, boat access and vehicle rental.

A two-island archipelago south of Guadeloupe

Les Saintes lie south of mainland Guadeloupe, opposite the coast at Trois-Rivières, and cover about 13 km² in total, including the islets. Only two islands are inhabited, by fewer than 3,000 people: Terre-de-Haut, the most visited, where the port, most of the accommodation and the restaurants are concentrated, and Terre-de-Bas, more rural and more relaxed. The neighbouring islets, including Îlet à Cabrit, are uninhabited. The highest point on Terre-de-Haut is the Chameau, at 309 m, and on Terre-de-Bas it is Morne Sec, at 293 m. Les Saintes belong to Guadeloupe, like Marie-Galante and La Désirade, neighbouring islands that have their own pages.

From Breton and Norman sailors to today's Saintois

Christopher Columbus reached the archipelago in 1493 and named it “Los Santos”. In the 17th century, Breton and Norman settlers moved in. Their descendants, the Saintois, have kept up traditional fishing, a Creole of their own and a way of life shaped by the sea. Fort Napoléon, built between 1844 and 1867, recalls the strategic importance of the roadstead, where the Battle of the Saintes took place in 1782. Local symbols include the saintoise, a sailing fishing boat inherited from Breton shipwrights, and the salako, a hat made of bamboo fibres that a few craftspeople on Terre-de-Bas still make.

What to see on Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas

On Terre-de-Haut, the village is best explored on foot: Creole houses with red roofs, narrow lanes, the church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption and a seaside cemetery with graves decorated with shells. Above the village, Fort Napoléon houses a museum of seventeen rooms and a cactus garden, with 360° views over the bay; the site opens in the morning. Opposite the port, Îlet à Cabrit, managed by the Conservatoire du littoral, preserves the ruins of Fort Joséphine and waymarked trails, about fifteen minutes away by boat.

Terre-de-Bas is a different experience. In Petite-Anse, the village has craft workshops, a fishing harbour and grilled-fish restaurants, and its 19th-century church overlooks the bay. The former Poterie Fidelin, an 18th-century industrial complex, is the island's only listed historic monument. Several waymarked trails start from the villages: the Terre-de-Bas loop, about 7 km and 2.5 hours, is rated easy by the tourist office, with the option of returning by water taxi from Petite-Anse. The island stays quiet, far from the bustle of the port of Terre-de-Haut.

Bays, beaches and trails

The Bay of Les Saintes is a member of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club. On Terre-de-Haut, Pain de Sucre beach, reached on foot or by boat, is good for snorkelling. Anse Crawen, wilder, is reached by a dirt track and has no facilities, while Pompierre, lined with coconut palms, suits families. On Terre-de-Bas, Anse à Dos is a quiet beach known for its sunsets. For hiking, the Chameau (309 m, about 2.5 to 3 hours for the loop) offers a 360° panorama, and Morne Morel is an easy route for families.

How to reach and get around Les Saintes

In practice, you reach Les Saintes by boat. Crossings leave from Trois-Rivières (about 25 minutes to Terre-de-Haut with FRS Express des Îles, according to the operator), from Pointe-à-Pitre (about 1 hour) and from Bouillante (Karu'Ferry service, about 1 hour 15 minutes, on certain days of the week). The Terre-de-Haut airstrip is reserved for light aviation and no regular commercial service is currently confirmed: the arrival airport remains Pointe-à-Pitre (PTP). Book ahead in high season and at weekends.

On the island, visitors cannot rent a car. You walk around the village, then hire a scooter, an e-bike or a small electric car near the ferry pier. If you want a rental car, pick one up on mainland Guadeloupe before the crossing. Bring cash too: cash machines are scarce and some businesses do not accept cards. To reach Terre-de-Bas, you either go via Terre-de-Haut or board directly at Trois-Rivières; the island is mainly explored on foot, and scooters can be hired there.

When to go and how to plan your stay

The dry season, from December to April (known locally as the Carême), brings more settled weather, around 27 °C, but it is also the busiest period, so book early. From June to November, the wetter hivernage season is quieter, with some seasonal closures (in 2026, the La Dive Bouteille diving centre announced a closure until 15 October and the Au Bon Vivre restaurant until 20 October). One day is enough to see the main sights; a night on the island gives you time once the day-trippers have left. On 15 August, the Assumption festival is the big event on Terre-de-Bas.

Essentials

Your questions answered

Nearby islands: Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante, La Désirade and Dominica.

Photo: Filo gèn', CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons