- Where can you sail on your cruise to Pointe-à-Pitre?
- Îlet du Gosier
- Petite Terre
- Marie Galante
- Les Saintes
- When to go on a cruise to Pointe-à-Pitre?
- How do I get to Pointe-à-Pitre?
Set off to discover the islands of Guadeloupe on your next vacation on the water. Guadeloupe is an archipelago made up of 5 islands in the heart of the Caribbean Sea: Grande Terre and Basse Terre, known for their butterfly shape, Marie Galante, La Désirade and Les Saintes.
Pointe-à-Pitre, the capital, is the ideal starting point for a cruise in Guadeloupe! Dave, a Filovent customer, went on a cruise from Pointe-à-Pitre with 9 friends. He tells me about his sailing itinerary.
Les Saintes. (Photo by Dave)
Where to sail on your cruise from Pointe-à-Pitre?
Dave went on a cruise to Guadeloupe with 9 friends from Pointe-à-Pitre. He shares his experience and sailing itinerary with us: Gosier islet; Petite Terre; Marie Galante (west coast); Les Saintes (3 days); return to Pointe-à-Pitre. "We had some very nice crossings, not too long (an average of 4 hours). You have to watch out for the baskets of fish and shellfish in the water to avoid getting them caught in the engine!" Dave warns me.
Îlet du Gosier
For your first stopover on your cruise to Pointre-à-Pitre, head for the Gosier Islet. Only 40 minutes from the marina, this tiny island is a few kilometers from Gosier, a town on the south-eastern coast of Guadeloupe. You will be charmed by the paradisiacal beauty of this still very wild site, with its palm trees, white sandy beaches and incredibly clear green and turquoise water. It is pleasant to swim there, the water is warm because it is shallow! On the island, there is only one straw hut on the side of the boat as a restaurant, but there are many tables available for picnics! Between swims or sunbathing sessions, visit the lighthouse, which is one of the oldest in Guadeloupe, dating from 1929. On Fridays, you can enjoy the night market from 16:00.
Spot on the islet of Gosier. (Photo by Dave)
Petite Terre
This paradise in the heart of the Caribbean Sea is also known as Iguana Island, because of the impressive number of lizards that live there! This nature reserve is a renowned spot for snorkeling and relaxing with its picture-postcard sailing trim. "We went for a little walk and snorkeled because there are superb corals and lots of turtles. We came across about ten of them," Dave tells me, who really enjoyed this stopover. "You feel like you're alone in the world on Petite Terre. There are few mooring posts, so everyone leaves at the end of the day and you're on your own," he continues. "If you want to have an anchored boat, you have to book your mooring post in advance via the internet. There is a charge, but it's not very expensive and it's easy to find," he informs me.
an iguana on Petite Terre. (Photo by Dave)
Marie Galante
Stop off at Marie Galante, nicknamed the "Big Cake" because of its circular shape. You can reach it in 45 minutes by boat from Pointe-à-Pitre, in the south of Guadeloupe. We recommend renting a car on the island to cross it and visit one of the distilleries, an essential part of any cruise around Guadeloupe. In the far north, Gueule Grand Gouffre is an unmissable site in Saint-Louis. Climb up and admire this huge hole in which the waves crash against the rock. Then head back down to one of the island's most beautiful beaches, Anse à la Barque, to sunbathe in an idyllic and peaceful setting, in the shade of the majestic palm trees that surround it. On Marie Galante, there is no shortage of beautiful, heavenly beaches: Anse de Mays, Petite Anse, Grand-Bourg beach, Moustique... You will be spoiled for choice!
Marie Galante. (Photo Philippe Brunet)
Les Saintes
"We loved Les Saintes. We even spent 3 days there, which we hadn't planned to do at the beginning!" Dave tells me. This archipelago, dominated by Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas, is located in the heart of the Lesser Antilles, south of Guadeloupe and west of Marie Galante, and is a must-see during your cruise from Pointe-à-Pitre. Les Saintes perfectly represent the splendor of tropical islands. You will find lush, green nature, with a tropical climate tempered by the trade winds.
Panoramic view of Les Saintes. (Photo by Dave)
"We put the boat on a mooring post and fished for lunch. You should know that in Guadeloupe there are lots of fish. We had a great catch that day: 11 trevallies that we then barbecued. It was great!" Dave tellsme , nostalgically.
A friend of Dave's at the front of the boat and the successful fishing of the trevallies. (Photo by Dave)
When to go on a cruise to Pointe-à-Pitre?
The tropical climate has two seasons: the dry season from December to April and the wet season from June to November. Although Filovent advises you to go during the dry season, a cruise to Pointe-à-Pitre can be taken at any time of the year. Go between December and April to enjoy warm temperatures of around 27°C and maximum sunshine. "The sailing conditions were perfect, with little swell and lots of sunshine, we had a real southern summer. I can't even remember if it rained during our cruise!" said Dave, who went on a cruise to Pointe-à-Pitre in January. However, you may get a few showers, but don't worry, they won't last long! They will be more frequent and more intense during the wet season, especially in October, when the risk of cyclones is also high. As for the water temperature, it is warm all year round, between 26 and 28°C.
Les Saintes. (Photo by Dave)
How do I get to Pointe-à-Pitre?
The only way to get to Guadeloupe is by plane. From France, you can fly to Pointe-à-Pitre from Paris only, with a flight time of around 8 hours and 30 minutes. If you live in another French city, head to the capital and board a flight to Pointe-à-Pitre! Once you arrive at the airport, a taxi can take you to the marina in about fifteen minutes for the price of USD25. You can then board your cruise ship in Pointe-à-Pitre!
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