Island Hopping Around Guadeloupe: Les Saintes, Marie-Galante & La Désirade
Published on February 24, 2026
Island Hopping Around Guadeloupe: Les Saintes, Marie-Galante & La Désirade
Guadeloupe is not just one island, but a vibrant archipelago of five inhabited islands, each with its own distinctive historical identity and landscape.
1. Les Saintes (Terre-de-Haut & Terre-de-Bas)
- Terre-de-Haut: Home to the Bay of Les Saintes, recognized by UNESCO as one of the world’s most beautiful bays. Explore Fort Napoléon, taste the local Tourment d’Amour pastry, and rent an electric scooter to visit Plage de Pompierre.
- Terre-de-Bas: Quiet, untouched by large-scale tourism, famous for pottery crafts and lush hiking trails.
2. Marie-Galante: The Island of a Hundred Windmills
Known affectionately as “La Grande Galette”, Marie-Galante moves to an authentic, unhurried Creole rhythm. Visit historic 59° agricultural rum distilleries (Bielle, Poisson/Père Labat, Bellevue) and relax on pristine beaches like Anse Canot.
3. La Désirade: Rugged Solitude
A geological reserve marked by arid plateaus, rare endemic iguanas, and crystalline barrier reefs, accessible via daily boat transfers from Saint-François.