Travel journal · Destination · Guadeloupe
Saint-François, Guadeloupe: Pointe des Châteaux, beaches and where to stay
At the eastern tip of Grande-Terre, Saint-François faces the Atlantic on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other. This is where you set off on foot for the Pointe des Châteaux, board a boat for Petite-Terre and its iguanas, and swim in lagoons sheltered by the coral reef. Here is what to see, where to swim, when to come and where to stay, facing the sea.
- Saint-François, at the eastern tip of Grande-Terre, about 45 minutes from Pointe-à-Pitre airport.
- Must-see: the Pointe des Châteaux, a protected site, and its cross facing La Désirade.
- Beach: Anse à la Gourde, 1.2 km of white sand and a lagoon sheltered by the coral reef.
- Day trip: the Petite-Terre nature reserve, its lagoon and its Lesser Antillean iguanas.
- Where to stay: Villa 14 Iguana Bay, three bedrooms, pool and sea view, 300 m from Anse à la Gourde.
What to see in Saint-François
The Pointe des Châteaux is the very end of Guadeloupe: rocks carved by the Atlantic, which gave the site its name (“the castles”), and a cross planted in 1951 on top of Morne Pavillon. From the top, a viewpoint table shows La Désirade to the north-east and the Petite-Terre islands to the south-east. The site is protected; do not swim there, the waves are dangerous.
The finest way there starts at Anse à la Gourde: an easy 10.9 km return trail, about 3 hours, along the cliffs, the Grande Saline salt pond and the Éperon rock. Set off early, before the heat. The banks of the salt pond, a nesting area for protected species, are closed from 1 April to 15 August.
In town, the marina, the 18-hole golf course and the market set the pace of the days; boats to La Désirade and Marie-Galante also leave from the ferry terminal.
The beaches
Anse à la Gourde is the beach of the peninsula: 1.2 km of white sand lined with sea grape and almond trees, a turquoise lagoon sheltered by a coral reef, and La Désirade on the horizon. With a mask and snorkel, the sea floor comes alive near the rocks. There are no lifeguards and some currents: stay inside the lagoon.
Along the road to the Pointe, more coves follow one another, including Anse Tarare, a naturist beach. Near town, Raisins Clairs beach is busier, with waves that can be strong.
When to come
The dry season, known as carême, runs from December to April: it is the best time, and the most in demand. May, June and November are quieter, with low-season prices. August and September are the months of rain and hurricanes. The air stays around 27 °C all year, and the sea never drops below 24 °C.
Around Saint-François
| Place | What to do there | From the villa |
|---|---|---|
| Anse à la Gourde | beach, lagoon, start of the Pointe trail | about 300 m, on foot |
| Pointe des Châteaux | cross, viewpoint table, view of La Désirade | about 5 km, 10 min |
| Saint-François town | marina, market, golf, ferry terminal | about 7 km, 10 min |
| Petite-Terre | nature reserve, lagoon, iguanas | by boat from Saint-François, 40 min to 1 hr 30 |
| La Désirade | neighbouring island, a day out of time | by boat from Saint-François, 30 to 45 min |
| Pointe-à-Pitre airport | arrival and departure | 43 km, about 45 min |
Petite-Terre deserves a full day: two islets protected as a nature reserve since 1998, only one of which, Terre-de-Bas, is open to visitors. A trail leads to the lighthouse, the lagoon is a natural aquarium, and the Lesser Antillean iguana, an endemic species, wanders the paths. There are no facilities: book a trip with lunch, and bring reef-safe sunscreen.
Where to stay in Saint-François
On the road to the Pointe des Châteaux, 300 m from Anse à la Gourde, Villa 14 Iguana Bay is a 120 m² Creole villa with three bedrooms for six guests, each with its own shower room. Its pool and wooden deck look out to sea, and the varangue (veranda) hosts dinners at sunset. It holds the GemSign label, awarded by the Gemlidays committee.
