The beaches near the Villa
Raisins Clairs Beach
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Light Grape BeachList item 1The Raisins Clairs beach is located a stone's throw from the center of Saint-François and less than 10 minutes from Villa Alma. It is made up of a strip of white sand and a lagoon delimited by a coral reef ensuring swimming for the whole family. The islands of Marie-Galante and Saintes are visible from the beach. You can have lunch at the restaurant "La Plage" with your feet in the sand with a view of the sea and take advantage of the deckchairs made available by the restaurant for its customers.
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Caravelle BeachList item 2La Caravelle beach is located next to Club Med de La Guadeloupe in Saint-Anne (15 minutes from the Villa). It is one of the most beautiful white sand beaches in Guadeloupe lined with coconut palms. Its turquoise waters, a paradise for tropical fish, are ideal for snorkeling.
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Bois-Jolan BeachList item 3Bois-Jolan beach is a long white sand beach stretching over 1km in the town of Saint-Anne (~15 min from the Villa). Its waters are very shallow and are suitable for teaching young children to swim. The heavenly setting of this beach is ideal for practicing idleness.
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Anse a la Barque BeachThis "wild" beach, sheltered from view, is located 200m as the crow flies from the villa (less than 10min on foot by the path). It is also a surf spot known to locals (for experienced surfers. NB: for beginners the ideal spot is Helleux (HLX) in Saint-Anne because its waves are easy and numerous) Away from tourists , you can enjoy the beach, the landscapes and the vegetation (mangrove) of this little corner of sand, in peace.
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Anse des Rochers BeachThis beautiful white sand beach (5min from the villa by car) is part of the Domaine de l'Anse des Rochers but is accessible to the public. You can have lunch and dinner with your feet in the sand at the Ti Coco restaurant.
The Golf of Saint-François 15min from the Villa
The Casino less than 15min from the Villa
The Marina less than 15min from the Villa
The islands of Petite Terre
If we had to recommend one excursion, it would be this one! Petite Terre, classified as a nature reserve protected by the ONF, is a real jewel of the Caribbean which is located about twenty kilometers off the coast of Saint-François (1h15 by catamaran). Petite Terre is administratively attached to the island of La Désirade and is made up of two islands: Terre de Haut, prohibited to the public, refuge for a large number of birds and reptiles and the main refuge for turtles in the reserve. Terre de Bas, the larger of the two islets, is the only one where human presence is tolerated. The wild white sand beaches are worthy of a postcard setting.
On the program of the excursion: lunch under the coconut trees with planter, barbecue, fruit and flambéed banana! The lagoon of Petite Terre is full of marine species and you can enjoy the joys of snorkeling in this life-size aquarium. It is not uncommon to come across: small lemon sharks, stingrays or leopards, barracudas, trevallies, saury, blue surgeon fish, parrot fish, trumpet fish, chest fish, and even some dolphins... You may also come across lobsters and hawksbill or green turtles that frequently come near the Terre de Bas seagrass beds.
On land, you will come across many West Indian iguanas (there are more than 10,000 on the island!) and hermit crabs! you can take the "discovery trail" which goes around the historic lighthouse of Terre de Bas. On the vegetation side, agaves, black rosemary and seaside grape bushes will be there!
"La Pointe des CHateaux"s
The ferry terminal less than 15min from the Villa
List of services
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Marie GalanteList item 1Nicknamed the "Grande Galette" because of its rounded shape and also called "the island of 100 mills", it has managed to preserve its authenticity and heritage. Going to Marie-Galante is the guarantee of a change of scenery! The island has remained very authentic and offers sublime beaches such as that of Anse Canot but also cultural visits: Murat dwelling - remnant of the largest sugar cane plantation in Guadeloupe, rum distilleries of Père Labat, Bielle or Nice view. Don't miss the open pit 'Gueule Grand Gouffre', in the north of the island, which promises a majestic landscape and a dizzying view!
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The SaintsList item 2The Saintes archipelago owes its name to C. Collomb who discovered it in November 1493 and baptized it "Los Santos" in honor of All Saints Day. The archipelago is made up of two islands, each with its own identity: Terre-de-Haut with its scooters and white fishing huts with red roofs, and Terre-de-Bas, much wilder and more unspoiled, which will appeal to hikers. A must on the island, Fort Napoleon, located on Terre-de-Haut at 114m high at the top of Morne Mire will allow you to admire a very beautiful view of the bay of Saintes and the surrounding islands. The fort also houses a museum which retraces the Franco-English conflict between the 17th and 19th centuries which animated the history of the archipelago. The beaches of "Pompierre" and "Pain de sucre" are among the most beautiful in the archipelago with their postcard landscape. If you want to admire a breathtaking view after a short hike, go to the "summit of the Camel" at an altitude of 304m in the south-west of the island.
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La DesiradeList item 3La Désirade is the most unknown island of Guadeloupe. This small piece of land 11km long and 2km wide located about ten km from the Pointe des Chateaux stands out for its calm and its wild side as well as for the authenticity of its landscapes, its fauna and its flora. A single paved road runs through the Désirade, wind turbines provide the necessary electricity and running water has only been supplied since 1991. The island is very sparsely populated (~1000 inhabitants). The island is quite windy and is not strictly speaking a beach destination although some are magnificent.
Aerodrome less than 15min from the Villa
If you want a breathtaking view of the sky over the Guadeloupe archipelago and enjoy an exceptional panorama, the Saint-François aerodrome (next to the Casino and the Golf) will allow you to practice several activities such as parachuting, gyroplanes , pendular microlight (delta), light aircraft...
We recommend flying in a pendulum ULM (delta wing) for its smoothness and stability of flight: Fly in the passenger seat under a Delta Wing and glide gently over the lagoons with an exceptional panoramic view. In the open air, barefoot if you want, you will experience the sensations of a soaring bird! If you want to board an autogyro (gyrocopter) or a light aircraft, you can contact the company ULM Caraïbes.
The Mangrove and the Islets
The bay of "Grand-Cul-de-Sac-Marin", between North Basse-Terre to the west and North Grande-Terre to the east, is a nature reserve classified as a World Biosphere Reserve by Unesco. This exceptional site brings together several uninhabited islets, fantastic fauna and flora, paradisiacal lagoons of shallow depths suitable for snorkeling, seagrass beds and kilometers of mangroves with its famous red, white, black or gray mangroves. The mangrove is one of the essential factors in the natural balance of the lagoon and plays the role of lung, giant filter and nursery.
The lagoon is made up of strings of islets, paradise for birds and marine life.
Ilet Caret, which owes its name to the turtle Caret, is a tiny piece of paradise in the middle of the lagoon. This paradise, of which only a small white sandbank remains, is unfortunately doomed to disappear under the rising waters. The islet Fajou (the largest islet), classified as a protected nature reserve, is closed to the public to protect its fauna and flora: it is a paradise for birds, in particular the gray rail, and its beaches are places to egg laying of sea turtles.
The white island (also called "bird island") recently came out of the water in 1989 following the passage of hurricane Hugo, it is not accessible from spring until September 1st because it is a breeding ground for terns . Macou islet, secret and mystical, is rarely visited. A small path crosses the islet and leads to the small chapel "Notre Dame de la Garde" dedicated to missing sailors.
Several companies offer excursions to visit the Grand-Cul-de-Sac-Marin. We recommend the company "Blue Lagoon" at the port of Sainte Rose which offers half-day or full-day excursions. Allow 1 hour and 15 minutes to get there from the Villa.
The Carbet Falls
For this excursion, remember to take a good pair of walking shoes and mosquito repellent! The Carbet Falls are located south of Basse-Terre, a 2-hour drive from Villa Alma.
Close to Soufrière, the falls of the Grand Carbet river offer a breathtaking landscape. The river rises at Soufrière and flows 11km further down the Atlantic coast. The name "Carbet" was given to the huts used by the Ameridians which were probably to be installed not far from the waterfalls.
The first waterfall is the highest of the three (a jump of 115m in two stages), the walls are reddened by the sulphurous waters coming from Soufrière. From the Carbet reception centre, count 3 hours round trip (remember to bring water!). You can, if you wish, bring your sandwiches because the picnic at the edge of the orange pools is very pleasant.
The second, easier 110m high fall is the best known. The route crosses the lush tropical forest of the Guadeloupe National Park where you will be lulled by the song of birds. From the Carbet waterfalls visitor center, count 1 hour round trip.
The third and last fall is much lower than the first two but just as impressive. Although only 20m high, its flow rate is the highest of all the waterfalls in the archipelago. it is about ten meters wide and flows into a large circular basin. Access to it is not possible from the Carbet falls visitor centre. To access it you will have to go to another car park. Unlike the first two falls, access is free.
The Crayfish Waterfall
For this excursion, remember to take a good pair of walking shoes and mosquito repellent! The waterfall is about an hour's drive from Villa Alma.
The crayfish waterfall is apparently the most visited tourist site in Guadeloupe and is located on the beautiful route de la Traversée (D23). The waterfall owes its name to the presence, formerly, of local crayfish also called Ouassous. Today they have taken up residence elsewhere, certainly in a more peaceful place in the heart of the tropical forest.
This waterfall of about 10m flows into a natural pool where swimming is allowed. Access is very easy and 10 minutes will suffice for you to reach the waterfall via the marked path along the Corossol river. For people with reduced mobility, an observation area is located opposite the waterfall.
Hiking - Les Mamelles
Hiking and climbing the "Soufrière" volcano
Diving at "Ilets Pigeon" - Cousteau Natural Reserve
The Pigeon islets, of volcanic origin, are located one mile from the black sand beach of Malendure in the town of Bouillante sur Basse-Terre. It is one of the most famous diving spots in Guadeloupe. The Pigeon islets are part of the Guadeloupe National Park. Malendure beach is a 1.5 hour drive from Villa Alma.
It was Commander Cousteau himself who helped make this site a protected marine reserve. A bust bearing his effigy is also 10 meters deep on the "coral garden" spot. TheReserve Cousteau coIncludes several diving areas between 0 and 60 meters deep: "The swimming pool", "The aquarium", "The coral garden", "Pointe barracuda", "The trevally wall". The reserve is an exceptional place to observe the underwater fauna and flora of the Caribbean Sea. You will be able to observe Corals, gorgonians, turtles and a hundred species of tropical fish!
Several diving centers are located directly on Malendure beach. We recommend the "Heures Saines" diving club located on the rock of Malendure.
After your diving session, we recommend a lunch or dinner at the restaurant "Le Rocher de Malendure" for Creole and French cuisine based on fresh seafood. The view of the sea and the Pigeon Islands is breathtaking, especially at sunset. If you book, ask for a table with a sea view, you won't be disappointed!
Observation of Cetaceans
21 species of cetaceans are recorded in Guadeloupe waters (dolphins, sperm whales, whales, etc.). If you want to go on a cruise to meet them, go to the association "Evasion Tropicale" at 7:00 am in Bouillante at the Rocher de Malendure level opposite the Pigeon islets.
You will be welcomed by a team of professionals who like to share their knowledge. The excursion is about 1h30 from the Villa, so plan to leave no later than 5:30 a.m. to be there. A bakery is nearby to nibble on a croissant before the cruise!
Concerned about the preservation of the natural heritage, Caroline and Renato RINALDI created in 1992 the association Evasion Tropicale (AET) specialized in the study, the census and the protection of sea turtles and cetaceans in the Caribbean zone.
They carry out research on the various species of cetaceans and sea turtles present in Guadeloupe and the adjacent islands and share the knowledge acquired through information and awareness-raising actions with the population and schoolchildren. Know better to better protect...
They are at the initiative of the establishment of whale-watching ecotourism in Guadeloupe and its supervision.
After your cruise, we recommend lunch at the restaurant "Le Rocher de Malendure" for Creole and French cuisine based on fresh seafood. The view of the sea and the Pigeon islands is breathtaking. If you book, ask for a table with a sea view, you won't be disappointed!
Do you want to book? contact us at 590 (0)6 90 54 20 44