Les Saintes Attractions

Located 9km SE of Guadeloupe, Les Saintes / Iles des Saintest consists of two main islands, Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas, and seven smaller ones. Christopher Columbus named it Los Santos in 1493 in honor of All Saints' Day.

Visitors will find a simple, undeveloped way of life and a chance to see a relatively pristine natural environment with an arid climate and many varieties of desert plants and animals.

Terre-de-Bas Island

Terre-de-Bas Island is the western island of Les Saintes and features small fishing villages swimming beaches and hiking trails. Two hours is sufficient to cross the island, which is considered one of the most natural and wild in the Guadeloupe archipelago.

Grande Anse on Terre-de-Bas

Grande Anse on Terre-de-Bas features a small 17th C church, a small bay and beach with huts for swimming and snorkeling, and a hiking path to the promontory of Grande Montagne (273m/895ft).

Gros-Cap

Gros-Cap the main village of Terre-de-Bas with ferry landing, hotel and restaurant and the starting points of roads and hiking paths.

Terre-de-Haut Island

Terre-de-Haut Island, the eastern island of Les Saintes, offers a more European character in the citizens and architecture. The terrain and climate were unsuited to raising sugar, so the settlers were fishermen. The pastel-colored houses and numerous, colorfully painted fishing craft (saintoises), will please the photographer.

Bourg des Saintes

Bourg des Saintes is the main village of the island of Terre-de-Haute, with a curved blue bay with overlooking "sugarloaf" volcanic hill and a white sand beach. The houses are European in character, with whitewashed walls, red tile roofs and flower gardens.

Fort Napoléon

Located on a hill overlooking the bay, the colonial Fort Napoléon was first built in the 17th C and rebuilt and strengthened in Vauban-style in the mid-19th C. The visitor will find a well restored fort populated by iguanas and offering the visitor a historical museum and Exotic Garden.

Show Details

Morne du Chameau

Rising to 309m/1,000ft, Morne du Chameau is the highest point on the island. A hiking path extends up it from Terre-de-Haut village and two hours walk is required to reach the top. The visitor can see as far as Dominica.

Ilet à Cabrit

Ilet à Cabrit is a small, high island (85m/279ft) a short distance across the bay from Terre-de-Haut village with the 19th C Fort Joséphine.

Les Saintes (Iles des Saintes) Pictures