Summary
Located on Guadeloupe’s Grande-Terre island, Sainte-Anne presents a vibrant tourist haven amidst a serene agricultural expanse. The numerous dining and drinking establishments are lively well into the night, while the beaches lining Sainte-Anne’s shores offer enjoyment and relaxation. For those seeking tranquility, it is possible to discover equally pristine beaches along the coast, most of which are suitable for swimming due to the protective reef that mitigates ocean currents.
Visitors can opt for beaches shielded from the trade winds or engage in windsurfing or kite-surfing activities. The remainder of Grand-Terre island is characterized by its undulating farmland, historical colonial plantations repurposed as museums, and breathtaking coastal landscapes.
Let us delve into the most noteworthy attractions in Sainte-Anne:
1. Plage Caravelle
Regarded as nearly flawless, La Caravelle features a crescent of soft white sand embraced by crystalline turquoise waters.
Visitors can recline on sun loungers situated beneath the shade of slender, swaying coconut trees.
The waves are gentle, and the water is exceptionally clear, breaking on the reef located approximately one hundred meters offshore.
Although adjacent to a Club Med Resort, La Caravelle maintains a spacious atmosphere and remains relatively peaceful even during peak tourist seasons.
2. Plage de Sainte-Anne
Characterized by a lively and sociable atmosphere, Plage de Sainte-Anne is ideally situated along the town’s waterfront, serving as a favored retreat for both tourists and locals to relax by the ocean.
While weekends may become quite bustling, making parking a challenge, the popularity of this beach offers an extensive selection of bars and restaurants, with shops conveniently located nearby.
Plage de Sainte-Anne is particularly family-friendly, as the gentle slope and prolonged shallows provide a safe play area for children to paddle or float.
3. Marché de Sainte-Anne
Sainte-Anne features a daily market that operates near the beach.
This vibrant tropical market is a sensory delight, where an array of aromas fills the air, from vanilla and spices to dishes of Creole street food prepared fresh on-site (such as deep-fried cod balls and barbecued chicken). Stalls overflow with meats, fruits, and vegetables, including familiar varieties as well as unique offerings like breadfruit and cassava.
Additionally, this market provides an opportunity to purchase rum punch presented in tastefully adorned bottles filled with fruits and spices.
4. Plage de Bois Jolan
Situated a few kilometers east of Sainte-Anne, Plage de Bois Jolan can be accessed via a rugged forest trail.
This remote beach offers ample space for visitors to relax and enjoy.
With scant vendors and fewer tourists, you may find that some days you have this beautiful stretch of white sand all to yourself.
Like Sainte-Anne’s other beaches, the swells break far out, resulting in clear, shallow pools for snorkeling and swimming, making it a safe choice for children and non-swimmers.
5. Anse Gros Sable
Located further east, near Saint-François, lies Anse Gros Sable, a pristine beach that attracts watersports enthusiasts.
Access from Sainte-Anne requires navigating a path through sandy terrain, arid forests, and mangroves, allowing visitors a glimpse of Guadeloupe’s natural beauty.
The reef surrounding Anse Gros Sable fosters excellent surf conditions, as it creates two distinct waves that converge near the shore, ideal for beginners and enjoyable for experienced surfers and paddleboarders alike.
6. Les Grands Fonds
While most activities in Sainte-Anne are centered around the coast or water, a different landscape awaits inland on Grand-Terre.
The island predominantly features a limestone plateau, lacking the dramatic elevations seen on neighboring Basse-Terre.
In contrast, Grand-Terre’s scenery consists of agricultural lands adorned with sugarcane plantations and various crops.
Les Grands Fonds represents a region of lush valleys and gentle hills, offering a tropical ambiance that resembles pastoral farmland found in Europe.
Visitors can experience this environment through scenic drives or leisurely walks over hills that seldom exceed 100 meters in height.
7. Cruise to Petite-Terre
Several companies in Guadeloupe (such as Patou, Tarzan, and Authentique) offer excursions to the Petite Terre Islands, located off the southeast coast of Grande-Terre.
This pair of islands is designated as a natural reserve.
These excursions provide a remarkable blend of sea and land adventures, including opportunities for snorkeling amidst vibrant tropical fish, stingrays, sea turtles, and even small sharks (larger sharks can be seen from a distance). Afterward, visitors can unwind on secluded beaches of Terre-de-Bas while enjoying a barbecue and a glass of rum punch.
8. Pointe des Châteaux
On the easternmost edge of Grande-Terre, the landscape descends dramatically into the Atlantic Ocean: Pointe des Châteaux is a slender peninsula that extends several kilometers into the sea, culminating in a steep rise.
At the pinnacle of this sea cliff stands a monumental cross and telescopes, offering perspectives of La Désirade island located a few kilometers to the east.
The vistas encompass rocky formations in the water and back toward Grand-Terre, creating an overwhelming impression of standing at the edge of the world.
9. ACTe Memorial
Located in Pointe-à-Pitre on the western coast of Grande-Terre, the ACTe Memorial is an institution of profound significance and reflection.
Built on the site of the former Darboussier sugar refinery, the ACTe Memorial is dedicated to preserving the collective memory of slavery.
Inaugurated in 2015, the striking structure features a silver-hued metallic lattice overlay on a dark, glassy facade of granite and quartz.
Through contemporary art installations, the museum narrates the history of slavery, tracing it from ancient epochs to modern manifestations still occurring today.
10. Maison Coloniale de Zévallos
Located just minutes away in Moule, the Habitation Zévallos offers a glimpse into the historical landscape of Grand-Terre.
This former estate, once a manager’s residence surrounded by sugarcane fields with remnants of a rum distillery nearby, was established in the 1870s and is listed as a historic monument in France.
With its first-floor verandas and colonnades, it could have seamlessly fit into the setting of “Gone with the Wind.”
The interior is adorned with artifacts from the plantation era, and visitors can relax in the shade after a tour while enjoying a cold fruit beverage, optionally enriched with rum.
11. Plage des Raisins Clairs
Considered one of the finest beaches in Saint-François, Plage des Raisins Clairs possesses an aesthetic that seems almost unreal.
Situated just near the town center and uniquely backed by a grape plantation instead of coconut groves, the trees here are free-standing rather than the traditional European vines.
Similar to other southern coast beaches, Plage des Raisins Clairs showcases an offshore reef that protects against strong currents, creating serene, crystalline shallows on calm days.
12. Porte d’Enfer
Though somewhat distant, the journey to one of Guadeloupe’s most remarkable natural landscapes is absolutely worthwhile.
On the rugged north coast of Grande-Terre lies Porte d’Enfer, characterized by a semi-circular formation of towering cliffs topped with lush greenery and eroded at their base by relentless ocean waves.
This dramatic seascape exudes tremendous power, yet adjacent to the headland, a creek weaves its way inland, leading to a beautiful sandy beach.
The breathtaking perspective of the cliffs from this vantage point is complemented by the inviting transparency of the waters.
13. Watersports
Situated adjacent to the beach at Sainte-Anne, numerous companies vie to provide various ocean adventures.
Whether interested in scuba diving for the first time or earning certifications, the local reefs present exceptional opportunities for observing underwater ecosystems.
Moreover, stringent environmental regulations ensure that these experiences adhere to sustainability standards.
Above the surface, visitors can rent equipment necessary for surfing, kite-surfing, and windsurfing, benefiting from the guidance of qualified and experienced instructors.
Recommended establishments include Arwak Surf Club, Turkoise’s Kite Coll, Easy Kite, and Fun Kite Academy.
14. Rhum de Guadeloupe
Rhum is an integral part of Guadeloupe’s cultural heritage, making it nearly unavoidable during one’s visit.
The history of rum production is rooted in the establishment of sugar cane plantations, with two primary varieties: Rhum agricole, produced from sugarcane juice, and rhum industriel (white rum), derived from molasses, a byproduct of sugar refining.
For those captivated by Guadeloupe’s rum, a visit to Basse-Terre would unveil multiple distilleries eager to share their processes with curious visitors.
A bottle of infused rum punch serves as a perfect souvenir, and while at a bar, do sample “ti punch,” which features white rum combined with cane sugar and a twist of lime.
15. Creole Food
The distinctive culinary landscape of Guadeloupe will likely leave you with a deep desire to return.
Street food serves as the cornerstone of the local dining experience, and visitors will be impressed by the vast array of specialties available.
One must-try is bokit, a sandwich crafted from flaky fried dough and filled with options such as chicken, cheese, beef, ham, or tuna, accompanied by fresh vegetables.
Additionally, poulet boucané consists of marinated chicken slow-grilled over sugarcane, while accras refers to deep-fried cod balls served with a spicy dip.
Given the abundance of coconut groves, coconuts are a local staple, often featured in desserts like coconut sorbet and a flan served at nearly every restaurant.
