Les Saintes
Les Saintes is a small island group off Guadeloupe, with a bay-side village, views from Fort Napoléon and easy beaches for a slow island break.
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Les Saintes is a small group of islands in the Caribbean, part of the French overseas region of Guadeloupe and lying just south of the main island of Basse-Terre. Most visitors stay on Terre-de-Haut, the largest inhabited island, where the ferry from Trois-Rivières lands them beside a village that wraps around a bay. The islands are known for clear water and rocky coves, and French and Creole habits show up in bakeries, cafés and home cooking.
Fort Napoléon, a hilltop fort on Terre-de-Haut, is the main sight, with museum displays and views over the bay. Beaches, swimming, snorkeling and short walks fill the rest of the day. Come for a slow break built around the water. The dry season runs from December to May, and two or three days is enough to see Terre-de-Haut at an easy pace. Hurricane season runs from June to November.
Les Saintes in five
- Take the ferry from Trois-RivièresTerre-de-Haut is reached by ferry from Trois-Rivières on Basse-Terre, the port on the Guadeloupe mainland. Check sailing times with the operator before you book a connecting flight.Getting around
- Carry euros in cashSome small bakeries and market stalls take cash only, so carry euros for them.Money and costs
- Set up an eSIM before you flyInstall an eSIM before you land, so you can check ferry details and maps once you arrive.Phones and eSIM
- Walk Terre-de-Haut, or use a scooterTerre-de-Haut is small enough to cross on foot. Fort Napoléon sits on a hill above the village, so a scooter or taxi saves the climb in the heat.
- Check customs rules before packing foodFresh food and plants face limits when entering the French Antilles. Check French customs rules before you pack food for the trip.
Things to do in Les Saintes
See all attractions in Les Saintes
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Guadeloupe is outside Schengen; check your passport on France-Visas
- Emergency
- 112 general; 17 police, 15 ambulance, 18 fire
- Tipping
- Service included by law; rounding up is the custom
- Time
- UTC-4, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryDry, busy
- FebruaryDry, breezy
- MarchDry, sunny
- AprilLate dry season
- MayShowers begin
- JuneStorm season starts
- JulyHot, humid
- AugustPeak storm risk
- SeptemberPeak storm risk
- OctoberStorm risk
- NovemberStorms easing
- DecemberDry, busy
Right now in Les Saintes
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
28
- Feels like
- 32°
- Humidity
- 84%
- Wind
- 19 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 78%
Les Saintes
04:40 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today30°25°78%Monday: Rain. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 78%.
- Tue29°25°86%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 86%.
- Wed30°25°34%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 34%.
- Thu30°25°25%Thursday: Cloudy. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Fri30°24°38%Friday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 38%.
- Sat30°25°35%Saturday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Sun30°25°28%Sunday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 28%.
Updated 02:12 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Terre-de-Basa short ferry ride from Terre-de-HautA quieter second island, reached by a short ferry.
- Basse-Terreroad transfer from the ferry portRainforest and waterfalls on the western half of the main island.Read the guide
- Grande-Terreroad transfer from the ferry portThe eastern half, with Pointe-à-Pitre and the airport.Read the guide
Before you go to Les Saintes
Rules for Les Saintes, checked
- Guadeloupe is outside the Schengen area, so check the entry rules for your passport on France-Visas before you book.Source
- Fresh food and plants face limits when entering the French Antilles. Check the French customs rules before you pack.Source
- Carry your passport or national identity card. Police can ask to see it, as in mainland France.
- Service is included in French restaurant bills by law, so tipping is optional. Rounding up is the usual custom.
Plan around Les Saintes
Village and bay bases on Terre-de-Haut, by budget and walk
Read the guideGetting around Les SaintesThe Trois-Rivières crossing and moving between the islands
Read the guideMoney and costsEuro prices, cash habits and what a day costs
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData to install before you land, with ferry checks
Read the guideGuadeloupe travel guideAirport, ferry port and the main island
Read the guideLes Saintes FAQ
Is Les Saintes worth visiting?
Yes, if you want small bays, a quiet village and a fort above the harbour. It suits beach days and short walks more than nightlife.
How many days do you need in Les Saintes?
Two days cover Terre-de-Haut, Fort Napoléon and a beach day. Add a third if you want to cross to Terre-de-Bas by ferry.
Can you visit Les Saintes as a day trip from Guadeloupe?
Yes, by ferry from Trois-Rivières, but a day leaves little time on the beaches. Stay one night if you can.
Do you need a car on Les Saintes?
No for most visitors. Terre-de-Haut is small enough to walk, and a scooter or taxi covers the hills.
Which airport should I fly into for Les Saintes?
Pointe-à-Pitre (PTP) is the main airport for Guadeloupe. From there, take a road transfer to Trois-Rivières for the ferry.
Is French spoken on Les Saintes?
French is the official language, and many locals also speak Guadeloupean Creole. A few French phrases help in small shops and bakeries.