The bay of Les Saintes
2 islets are inhabited: Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas. Both are well worth the detour! You will easily find a ferry to get there from Pointe-à-Pitre, Saint-François or Trois-Rivières.
The Tourment d'amour
After a short crossing, on the jetty, the Tourment d'Amour seller offers you THE speciality of Les Saintes: a kind of coconut tartlet with a sponge base, lemon zest, vanilla and a hint of cinnamon. In the past, fishermen's wives prepared this West Indian sweet treat, with all their love, to comfort their husbands after a hard day at sea.
Terre-de-Haut is a car-free paradise! (Except for electric vehicles.) You get around on foot, by bike or by scooter. To make the most of the island, it is handy to rent a two-wheeler.
Fort Napoléon
Set off to storm Fort Napoléon. The fortress never saw a single shot fired! It served as a penitentiary before becoming a museum bearing witness to the Saintes' past. Walking along the rampart path, you will discover a superb botanical garden devoted to succulents.
At the top the view is sublime. In the distance, Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante and Dominica take shape. Closer (part of the Saintes archipelago), the îlet à Cabrit, with the remains of Fort Joséphine facing Fort Napoléon.
Adolphe Catan's boat house
Among the curiosities to discover: the boat house. An astonishing building shaped like a ship's bow, built in 1942 by Adolphe Catan, a Guadeloupean photographer. It was given to the commune of Terre-de-Haut in 1955 to serve as a residence for the island's doctors.
Pompierre beach
Head for Pompierre beach, perhaps the most beautiful on the island. Protected from the ocean by a rocky barrier, it offers calm, peaceful swimming. A lovely beach of about 800 m of white sand, shaded by mangroves and coconut palms, where it is a pleasure to picnic. On the way to the beach you will meet many iguanas, not in the least alarmed to see you!
The famous Pain de Sucre
Pain de Sucre beach, a sublime postcard image, recognisable among a thousand! But to reach it you have to walk a good 45 minutes. Many boaters come to moor their boats near the little beach. If you enjoy snorkelling, don't forget your equipment! You will see many colourful fish and beautiful coral formations.
Anse Crawen
Another dream spot: Anse Crawen, a small wild beach far from the town where you feel like Robinson Crusoe. The sea bed is home to multicoloured fish, sponges and magnificent corals. You will enjoy the swimming, without a doubt, and the sunsets too.
Terre-de-Haut has plenty of charming little beaches, Anse Rodrigue and Anse du Figuier for example.
Taking the time to discover
The ideal way to discover Terre-de-Haut is to spend 2 days there. That leaves time to inspect every corner of the island and to stroll through the village with its colourful house fronts, red roofs and ornate fretwork. You may also spot a Saintes fisherman wearing a Salako (the traditional hat of Les Saintes).
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