Deshaies
Between Grande Anse and Ste-Rose, at the northern tip of Basse-Terre, this dazzling stretch of golden sand is lapped by jade waters that just beg to be…
Must-see attractions in French Antilles
St-Martin & Sint Maarten
Although there are fewer vendors after Hurricane Irma, this colorful waterfront market is still worth a spin to browse for art, crafts and trinkets, pick…
Basse-Terre Island
Starting from St-Sauveur on the N1, the road runs 8.5km inland, making for a nice 15-minute drive up through a rainforest. Nearly 3km before the end of…
Deshaies
Away from the beach, Deshaies' top attraction is its botanical garden, which also has some interesting animal life to keep the kids entertained. Among the…
St-Barthélemy
The widest beach on the island, Flamands' clear waters seduce beachgoers and surfers when the swell's up. Most of its shadeless sweep is backed by private…
Terre-de-Haut
Built in 1867 on the site of an earlier fort destroyed by the British in 1809, this installation sitting over 100m above sea level affords a splendid view…
Grande-Terre
Make a beeline for this oft-overlooked white-sand beach about 1.5km north of Anse Bertrand. Strong riptides make it quite dangerous for swimming, but the…
Martinique
This haunting memorial on a grassy headland overlooking the sea is made up of 15 formless Easter Island–esque figures in stone, heads hung in mourning. It…
Grande-Terre
This long peninsula right at the eastern tip of Grande-Terre is a beautiful stretch of landscape. With some good beaches on both sides, it's popular with…
Martinique
This well-known distillery nestled in a valley south of the Basse Pointe–Macouba road has a great visitor experience in the shape of a self-guided tour…
St-Martin & Sint Maarten
Protected by two large headlands, this gorgeous and wide white-sand beach with clear sapphire waters is calm and popular with families. Snorkeling is…
St-Martin & Sint Maarten
Arawak pottery shards, plantation-era artifacts, period photos and a few items from HMS Proselyte, the frigate that sank off Fort Amsterdam in 1801, are…
St-Martin & Sint Maarten
Sandy Ground is the long, narrow, curving strip of land that connects Marigot with the prestigious gated community of Terres Basses. Sandy Ground's…
St-Barthélemy
In case you're tired of getting powdery-white sand everywhere, take the five-minute saunter from the harbor to this midsize beach awash with tiny crunched…
Grande-Terre
The island’s northernmost point, Pointe de la Grande Vigie offers scenic views from its high sea cliffs. A rocky path – walkable in flip-flops but better…
St-Martin & Sint Maarten
Clay figurines from 550 BC (the oldest discovered in the Antilles), Arawak-sculpted gemstones and shells and period photography are among the historical…
Basse-Terre Island
A short drive inland from the Maison du Cacao, this waterfall and deep pool are one of Basse-Terre's most accessible beauty spots. Cool off in the rushing…
Martinique
Approximately halfway between Anse Mitan and Grande Anse, a secondary road peels off the D7 and plunges (literally) straight to Anse Dufour 2km below. You…
Martinique
Learn how rum is made at this interesting operation perched on a hillside amid sugarcane fields on St-Pierre's northern outskirts. Self-guided tours, with…
St-Barthélemy
St Jean's beach is separated by the Eden Rock hotel. The western section is a fairly narrow strip right below the tiny airport, making it a favorite among…
St-Barthélemy
With calm waters at its eastern end and gentle surf at the western end, this coral-reef-cradled curve of golden sand is one of St-Barth's most family…
Grande-Terre
Since it ceased operations, this former sugar factory has been converted into a learning center about the local region and the history of slavery and…
Martinique
This wonderful natural reserve has been curated with exhibits and labeling to allow visitors to get the most out of its many trails, making it a slice of…
Martinique
If you're after an intimate, secluded strip of sand, head to lovely Anse Noire, which is reached by taking the side road to Anse Dufour and continuing…
St-Martin & Sint Maarten
Named for the red-tinged color of the sand, Baie Rouge is a long, beautiful strand with good swimming. Although it's just 150m from the main road, it…
Grande-Terre
This long, gently arching beach in northwestern Grande-Terre has soft, pale sand, lapis-lazuli waters and fabulous views of mountainous Basse-Terre in the…
Grande-Terre
Just 600m off Gosier is idyllic little Îlet du Gosier, surrounded by calm turquoise waters that have some good snorkeling. Motorboats (one way €5) shuttle…
Grande-Terre
The real reason to head to St-François, Plage des Raisins Clairs on the western outskirts of the town is a popular sandy beach where it's safe to swim…
Martinique
This extraordinary-looking 176m-high pointed volcanic islet, just under a mile offshore from Le Diamant, is a very popular dive site, with interesting…
Grande-Terre
For those who don’t speak French but know how distilleries work, this is a nice chance to wander around at will. It's particularly active during the cane…
Martinique
This is where most surfers in Martinique are heading, a fantastic spot with great waves crashing onto a golden shore. There's nothing here other than lots…
Grande-Terre
The nearly empty, quite remote beach of Anse Maurice is accessed via a small road with concrete tracks. The water is clear and very shallow until you walk…
Martinique
Ste-Anne's most popular swimming beach is the long, lovely strand that stretches along the peninsula 800m north of the town center. It's backed by…
Grande-Terre
Around 3km east of Ste-Anne and only accessible by car, this heavenly, off-the-beaten-track beach with its shallow warm water and white sand backed by…
Guadeloupe
This remotely located rum distillery has a historic setting and a wonderful old windmill. The modern operation uses totally sustainable and nonpolluting…
Martinique
On the eastern outskirts of Tartane, this crescent of sand edged by manchineel trees is a stunning beach to sun yourself on, the view out to sea entirely…
Basse-Terre Island
Nestled in the hills west of Petit-Bourg, this mature 14-hectare botanical garden includes a wide range of tropical plants and flowers, a palmery, and…
Martinique
The steady winds that buffet this part of the coast, together with the reef-sheltered lagoon, provide the perfect conditions for kitesurfing and…
Guadeloupe
Midway between St-Louis and Grand-Bourg, this famous distillery bottles the island’s best-known rum under the Père Labat label. There's also a good…
Terre-de-Haut
The oddly named Anse Crawen is a secluded, clothing-optional beach just a couple of minutes’ walk down a dirt path that starts at the southwestern end of…
