GP
Sainte-Anne
A lively beach town on Grande-Terre’s south coast, with white sand, calm lagoons and a Creole market
A lively beach town on Grande-Terre’s south coast, with white sand, calm lagoons and a Creole market
A long white-sand beach with calm, clear water, just west of the town.
Photo: Tournasol7, CC BY 4.0
The beach in the centre of town, with restaurants and the market nearby.
Visit the market for spices, rum punch and local crafts.
Photo: KoS, CC BY-SA 3.0
A rugged headland about 20km east at the tip of Grande-Terre, with a cross on the hilltop and views of La Désirade.
Go for sunrise or late afternoon.
Photo: KoS, CC BY-SA 3.0
Try bokit (fried bread sandwiches), accras, colombo curry and grilled fish at the beach restaurants.
Sainte-Anne’s market and seafront stalls are good for snacks, fruit juices and rum punch.
Pointe-à-Pitre airport is about 30 minutes’ drive. A hire car is the easiest way to get around; buses link the coast towns. Ferries to Marie-Galante and La Désirade leave from nearby Saint-François.
Guadeloupe is an overseas region of France and part of the EU, and uses the euro, but it is not part of the Schengen area. EU citizens need only an ID card; citizens of the UK, US, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for short stays. Check current rules before you travel.
Sainte-Anne has everything from guesthouses to resorts.
Beaches, headlands and islands.
Swim at La Caravelle, then visit the market and the town beach.
Drive east to Pointe des Châteaux and stop at the beaches along the way.
Take the ferry from Saint-François to Marie-Galante for rum distilleries and quiet beaches.
Check ferry times the day before.
The tropical sun is strong; use reef-safe sunscreen and drink plenty of water.
June to November is hurricane season, with the highest risk from August to October; check forecasts and travel insurance.
Sargassum seaweed sometimes washes up on Atlantic-facing beaches; check local reports and choose sheltered beaches.
Many shops and some restaurants close in the early afternoon; plan around it.
Quick answers for planning time in Sainte-Anne.
Guadeloupe is part of France and the EU but outside the Schengen area. Citizens of the UK, US, Canada, Australia and many other countries can visit visa-free for short stays.
La Caravelle, a long white-sand beach with calm water.
Yes, its reef-protected beaches have shallow, calm water.
About 30 minutes by car from Pointe-à-Pitre.
Yes, ferries leave from nearby Saint-François.
Google Maps works well; a hire car is the easiest way to get around Guadeloupe.
Free
French and Guadeloupean Creole are spoken; English is less common outside hotels.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Guadeloupe travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.