Making the most of Iles des Saintes
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Cruise passengers are tendered to Ile des Saintes, close to the town centre.
Bourg des Saintes’ tender dock sits in the heart of town.
Terre-de-Haut is les Saintes archipelago’s most visitor-friendly municipality, with hotels, bungalows, bars and restaurants. Formalised activities are limited, but visitors can tour restored Fort Napoleon or hire mopeds.
Bring a printable map.
View the Ile des Saints cruise schedule.
The tourist office on the main street supplies free island maps.
Fort Napoleon is well worth the visit, but closes at 12.30pm, so check before going. Admission costs 4 Euros. Inside are a mini-botanical garden and museum, while the fort commands spectacular views. It is a good hike, so carry plenty of water; the local minibus also reaches the fort.
Getting around
A tree-shaded beach lies a 20 minute walk across the island’s spine.
Day-long scooter rental costs 15 Euros and requires a driver’s license.
Nearby places
Terre-de-Haut, part of the Iles des Saintes, has pristine beaches and families descended from Breton sailors.
Plage de Pompierre is an exceptional beach, curving like a half moon around the bay against palm trees. It is only a 15- to 20-minute walk from the Basse-Terre ferry dock. Apart from when a cruise ship is in port, the beach is usually quiet, with mainland French visitors enjoying the powdery-white sand wearing next to nothing. For legal nudism, go to Anse Crawen on the western coast, although people often go nude on other beaches too. The southern coast’s Plage Figuier offers the best snorkeling and may be almost empty.
Food and shopping
The main street has plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants, with the feeling of southern France.
Money
The Euro is the currency. Most banks and cash machines take most international credit cards.
Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, with Visa the best-known.
Staying connected
For police, call 17.
Cybercafes can be found in Saint-François, Sainte Anne, Mare-Gaillard and Pointe-à-Pitre, while some post offices and public sites also have terminals.
French is the official language, and most people speak creole. English is also spoken in major tourist centers and on the northern islands of Saint-Martin and Saint-Bartholomew.
Opening Hours and
Stores usually trade from 8.00 am to noon, then 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm. Businesses close on Saturday afternoons, Sundays and holidays, and very often on Wednesday afternoons.