During our stay in Guadeloupe, we chose to discover Les Saintes in one day. With only 10 days there, we had to make choices, even though it’s absolutely possible to spend the night and enjoy the archipelago for longer.
We left early in the morning from Trois-Rivières to explore Terre-de-Haut, the main island of Les Saintes, completely independently.
Between paradise beaches, a stroll through the village, and spectacular viewpoints, here is our complete guide and all our tips for organizing your visit to Les Saintes. I’ll end the suspense right away: it was probably one of our favorite stops!
➺ Also read: our 10-day itinerary in Guadeloupe.
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Les Saintes: One of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World
The bay of Les Saintes is regularly ranked among the most beautiful bays in the world, and you only need to arrive by boat to understand why.
The scenery is striking: an almost unreal turquoise sea, volcanic hills dropping steeply into the water, and several islets forming a perfectly shaped bay.
It’s a landscape that impresses you immediately, even after traveling to other Caribbean islands.
What makes Les Saintes so unique is also this atmosphere between spectacular nature and a peaceful little Creole village. From the ferry, the port of Terre-de-Haut, or the heights of Fort Napoléon, the bay constantly reveals itself from new angles. From the moment you arrive, you’re won over!
Our One-Day Itinerary in Les Saintes
So we chose to discover Les Saintes in one day from Trois-Rivières, organizing the visit ourselves. The ferry is quick (about 20 minutes) and already offers superb views of the archipelago.
Once we arrived in Terre-de-Haut, we picked up a golf cart directly near the port. It’s clearly the most practical way to explore the island in one day.
👉 Here is our optimized itinerary:
- ⛴️ Early ferry departure from Trois-Rivières
- 🏰 Fort Napoléon as soon as you arrive (important: it closes early)
- 🌊 Swimming and snorkeling at Pain de Sucre Beach
- 🍽️ Lunch at Les Balançoires restaurant facing the sea
- 🏝️ Afternoon between Pompierre and Anse Crawen
- 🚶♂️ Stroll through the village of Terre-de-Haut
- ⛴️ Return by ferry at the end of the day
This pace lets you see the must-sees without rushing, while fully enjoying the unique atmosphere of Les Saintes. If you want to take even more time, explore other beaches… I recommend staying 2 days in Les Saintes.
What to Do in Les Saintes: The Must-Sees
Wander Through the Village of Terre-de-Haut
The port of Terre-de-Haut is the heart of island life and often your first contact with the archipelago. The village is full of charm: colorful Creole houses, peaceful little streets, fishing boats… The atmosphere is relaxed and typically Caribbean.
Take the time to stroll through the streets and enjoy the view over the bay of Les Saintes. This is also where you’ll find restaurants and small shops. Don’t miss the church and the colorful town hall in the center of Terre-de-Haut.
Quick tip: buy tourments d’amour as soon as you arrive. By the end of the day, they’re often sold out.
Go Up to Fort Napoléon for a Spectacular View
If there’s one place you shouldn’t miss during your visit to Les Saintes, it’s Fort Napoléon. Perched on the heights of Terre-de-Haut, it offers one of the most beautiful viewpoints on the island, with an exceptional panorama over the bay of Les Saintes and the surrounding islets.
It’s clearly the must-see spot, whether for the visit itself or simply to enjoy the view. The site also houses a small museum dedicated to the history of the archipelago, as well as gardens where you can easily spot iguanas.
👉 Warning: the fort closes early in the afternoon, so it’s best to visit as soon as you arrive. We didn’t have this information and came after lunch. So we weren’t able to visit it.
Tour the Island and Enjoy the Most Beautiful Viewpoints
Terre-de-Haut is small, but there are plenty of panoramas. As you travel around the island, you’ll discover several spectacular viewpoints over the sea and the volcanic hills. Morne-Mire is especially one of the most impressive.
This loop also lets you see a wilder side of the island, away from the village.
Enjoy the Most Beautiful Beaches in Les Saintes
Pompierre Beach
Pompierre Beach is one of the best-known beaches on the island. Lined with coconut trees and protected in a cove, it has calm, shallow water. It’s a perfect place to swim or relax in the shade of the palm trees. Personally, during our stay, it was pretty windy and there was some sargassum… We preferred Pain de Sucre Beach, which we had discovered earlier in the day.
Pain de Sucre Beach
Pain de Sucre Beach is one of the most beautiful coves in Terre-de-Haut. Probably the one I liked the most, even though it was extremely crowded! The water is very clear and the seabed is rich in fish, making it an excellent snorkeling spot.
Be careful, though: the access path can be slippery after rain.
Anse Crawen
When we were at Pain de Sucre Beach, a local told us about a quieter place where we might spot turtles… That was all it took to convince me… Anse Crawen is ideal if you’re looking for a wilder spot. However, apart from the goats on the beach, we didn’t see any other animals.
Try Tourments d’Amour
You can’t visit Les Saintes without trying this local specialty. Tourments d’amour are small tarts filled with jam (coconut, banana, or pineapple), topped with a thin sponge cake. My favorite? Guava! Yum yum!
You can normally find them quite easily in the village… but I recommend buying them as soon as you arrive. At the end of the day, we really struggled to find any; they’re often sold out.
How to Organize Your Visit to Les Saintes?
Visiting Les Saintes can be done in several ways, depending on your travel style, budget, and how much time you have. The island of Terre-de-Haut is small and easy to explore, but good planning really helps you make the most of the day.
In any case, the idea remains the same: reach the island by boat from Guadeloupe, then organize your time between beaches, viewpoints, and the village.
Visit Les Saintes on Your Own (the Most Flexible Option)
This is the option we chose, and clearly the most enjoyable one if you like traveling independently.
After the ferry, you simply need to rent a vehicle directly in Terre-de-Haut (golf cart, scooter, or bicycle). This allows you to manage your day freely, stop wherever you want, and enjoy the island’s pace. Be sure to book both the ferry and the vehicle rental in advance
We took the ferry from Trois-Rivières, where we had chosen to sleep the night before (our accommodation in Trois-Rivières here). Free parking is available near the ferry terminal, but be careful: if you take the second ferry of the day, it may already be quite full.
👉 Advantage: total freedom
👉 Disadvantage: planning to handle yourself, but it’s easy.
Take an Organized Tour (Simple and Hassle-Free)
Day trips generally include round-trip boat transportation from Guadeloupe and sometimes a guided visit of the main points of interest. I had seen this one, for example: sailing and snorkeling excursion.
It’s a simple solution if you don’t want to deal with logistics or if you have little time there.
👉 Advantage: zero planning
👉 Disadvantage: less freedom, higher price.
Take a Catamaran Cruise
A catamaran cruise lets you discover Les Saintes from the sea, with several swimming stops in paradise coves. It’s an experience more focused on relaxation and sailing than exploring the island on land.
I hesitated for a long time about booking this type of outing (this one, for example, which looked AMAZING to me). But we had already splurged on the Petite-Terre excursion — which is already quite a budget — so we had to make a few concessions… ha ha! And then, I was also afraid I’d feel a little frustrated not having enough time to discover Terre-de-Haut.
👉 Advantage: a unique experience from the sea
👉 Disadvantage: little time on Terre-de-Haut and a rather expensive excursion.
Practical Tips for Visiting Les Saintes
How to Get to Les Saintes?
You have several options for reaching the Les Saintes archipelago by boat. What you need to take into account: the crossing time + the cost. As I mentioned above, we chose to sleep in Trois-Rivières to have the shortest crossing.
From Trois-Rivières
So this is the closest and most commonly used port to reach Terre-de-Haut. The crossing takes about 20 minutes and several ferries operate the route each day. It’s generally the easiest option if you’re staying on Basse-Terre.
We had also booked our crossing in advance (on the CTMdeher website, €62 for 2 adults and 1 child). By the way, on the return trip, the company was clearly overwhelmed by the number of passengers and had to charter an additional boat. The schedules couldn’t be respected…. Apparently, that’s normal… ha ha!
👉 There is free parking, small cafés for breakfast, and public restrooms.
From Pointe-à-Pitre
Some excursions or boat trips also leave from Pointe-à-Pitre (or nearby Le Gosier). However, they are less frequent and generally take the form of organized day trips.
➺ Also read, what to do in Pointe-à-Pitre?
From Saint-François
It’s also possible to reach Les Saintes on cruises or catamaran excursions departing from Saint-François, on Grande-Terre. These outings often allow you to sail around the archipelago and enjoy several swimming stops. Same here, I recommend taking a look at the organized excursions!
Can You Visit Les Saintes in One Day?
Yes, and it’s even one of the most popular excursions during a stay in Guadeloupe.
Arriving in the morning and leaving at the end of the afternoon, you’ll have time to:
- visit the village
- go up to Fort Napoléon
- enjoy a beach
- tour the island
Spending a night there is still an excellent idea if you want to enjoy the island in a calmer atmosphere.
Getting Around the Island by Scooter, Golf Cart, or Bicycle
To visit Les Saintes efficiently, renting some form of transportation is almost essential. The available options are:
- scooter
- golf cart
- electric bicycle
We chose the golf cart, ideal for families. It lets you get around easily while enjoying the scenery. We booked it in advance for about €70 for the day. The child seat was provided free of charge. (I compared several websites, and give or take €5, they all had that rate).
Where to Stay in Les Saintes?
If you have more time, staying overnight in Les Saintes is an excellent option for enjoying the island once the day-trippers have left. The atmosphere in the evening and early morning is completely different, much calmer and more authentic.
You’ll mainly find small guesthouses, charming rentals, and a few family-run hotels in Terre-de-Haut. The selection is fairly limited, which also explains why it’s recommended to book in advance, especially in high season.
Where to Eat in Les Saintes?
We had lunch at Les Balançoires, a very good restaurant facing the sea. The setting is really pleasant and the food is carefully prepared, with fresh fish and generous dishes. Remember to book! I had the sea bream tartare, Alcino had the tuna steak, and Lucas had homemade fish & chips: delicious!
In the village, you’ll also find several small restaurants and typical snack spots, perfect for a quick bite between swims or for enjoying a simple lunch with a view of the port.
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Even if you only spend one day there, you quickly understand why Les Saintes is one of the most beautiful places in Guadeloupe. Between the beaches, volcanic landscapes, and peaceful atmosphere of Terre-de-Haut, this stop remains one of our best memories from the trip. And honestly? We would have happily stayed longer.
FAQ – Visiting Les Saintes in Guadeloupe
Expand to see the most frequently asked questions about Les Saintes.
Can you visit Les Saintes in one day?
Yes, it is entirely possible to visit Terre-de-Haut in a single day. By leaving early in the morning from Trois-Rivières and taking the ferry back in the late afternoon, you will have time to see the island’s main highlights.
What is the most beautiful beach in Les Saintes?
Pompierre beach is the most famous, with its coconut palms and calm water. Pain de Sucre beach is also very popular for its wild setting and its seabed, which is perfect for snorkelling. Personally, my favourite is Pain de Sucre beach.How do you get to Les Saintes from Guadeloupe?
Les Saintes can be reached by ferry from Trois-Rivières, Pointe-à-Pitre or Saint-François. There are also various excursions available, some of which even depart from Deshaies. Do keep an eye on the crossing time.
Do you need to book the ferry to Les Saintes?
Yes, it is advisable to book in advance, especially during school holidays and the high tourist season.
How long should you stay in Les Saintes?
One day is enough to discover the main sites of Terre-de-Haut. However, spending a night on the island lets you enjoy it in a much quieter atmosphere.