Things to Do in Saint-François, Guadeloupe

Originally founded in 1683 by a Franciscan mission, the town of Saint-François has become one of Guadeloupe's most developed tourist centres. It's home to luxury hotels, an 18-hole golf course and a marina. Yet Saint-François hasn't forgotten its agricultural roots. A few years after the abolition of slavery, Indian workers were brought to Guadeloupe to replace enslaved labourers in the fields and industry, which led Saint-François to become Guadeloupe's largest Indian community. You'll notice this when visiting the area, where Hindu flags flutter over graves in the Hindu cemetery, just a few hundred metres from Raisins Clairs beach. Discover what to see and do in Saint-François, Guadeloupe, in the list below.

Things to do in Saint-François, Guadeloupe

Admire Pointe des Châteaux: it's no coincidence that a visit to Pointe des Châteaux is one of my top 5 things to do in Guadeloupe. You'll take a short but fairly steep hike up to Pointe des Châteaux, where you can admire views over the Atlantic Ocean. The climb to the top, while a little steep, is fitted with steps. Once you reach the summit, you're rewarded with a 360-degree view. From there, the trail reveals a rugged shoreline before eventually bringing you back to your starting point. Always be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen for this outing, and comfortable shoes are essential.

Relax on Raisins Clairs beach: take a break on the white sand of Raisins Clairs beach, a firm favourite with locals and tourists alike. The pale blue waters are protected by a crescent-shaped coral reef just offshore, creating a calm, clear lagoon that's ideal for safe swimming or lounging on an inflatable float. The beach is lined with sea grape trees, offering shade to those who want to cool off after sunbathing. An on-site restaurant serves mostly locally caught seafood and cold drinks, offering a welcome refreshment for beach visitors.

Discover Anse à la Gourde beach: it's not a wild, undeveloped beach (heading towards Pointe des Châteaux, take a small road on the right that isn't always easy to spot as there's little signage, so keep your eyes open) yet it's never overcrowded, even during peak season. Swimming here is quite pleasant and the white sand is beautiful. You can bring your own picnic, but there's also somewhere to eat close by. It's a quiet, pleasant beach with a lovely view of La Désirade. Pointe Cabrit, right at the far end on the left, is a very easy walk with a magnificent viewpoint, especially for sunsets!

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Get splashed at La Douche beach: this surprising beach welcomes you with small natural pools — stand on the smallest one, furthest to the east, and wait for the backwash of the waves to splash you. Guaranteed fun for kids (and adults too). To get to La Douche beach, head towards Pointe des Châteaux from Saint-François, past the golf course, then the airfield. The beach is less than a kilometre before the small bridge at the start of Anse Kahouanne (entrance to the Pointe des Châteaux village): read this article to help find your way.

Play golf: this beautiful 18-hole golf course (website) was created in 1978 by Robert Trent Jones Sr, the architect whose peers say “his work never sees a sunset.” It features bunkers, artificial lakes, trees and gentle slopes, all thoughtfully laid out. The course is harmonious and sits close to one of the most beautiful lagoons in the Caribbean, suiting both casual and competitive golfers.

Try La Rhumerie du Pirate: this restaurant is perched on a beautiful, wild beach along the road to Pointe des Châteaux. Creole dishes are served in the veranda-style dining area. Besides the usual appetisers, there's a special menu with side dishes and desserts each named after one of Guadeloupe's islands. You can also expect all the traditional rum cocktails here. While you wait for your meal, service can be slow when the restaurant is busy — so head down to the beach and explore its beautiful shells and rocks.

Take a day trip to the outer islands: there are no inhabitants on Petite-Terre, a pair of protected islands a few kilometres south-east of Grande-Terre. One of them is off-limits due to conservation efforts, but Terre-de-Bas is open to visitors and home to iguanas and birds, with a reef-protected shoreline and waters rich in turtles and colourful fish, including lemon sharks. You can take a day trip from Saint-François and enjoy white sand beaches, swimming, snorkelling, wildlife spotting and the lighthouse. You can also opt for an excursion to La Désirade or Marie-Galante, each with its own distinct charm to discover. All these excursions depart from the marina or the ferry terminal (check rates and schedules there). You can book your ticket directly with the boat companies, or book excursions at one of the small stands found around the Saint-François marina or near the town beach in Sainte-Anne.

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Go shopping: Saint-François has several great spots to pick up souvenirs. Kreol West Indies is a museum-shop offering an original journey back through time, from the 1950s to pre-Columbian times, with a room dedicated to pirates. The shop sells items made by local artists, by prisoners (to support their reintegration), and by associations linked to African villages… part of the collection is made from recycled plastic. You can also stroll through the Saint-François craft village, or the night market held from 5pm to 7:30pm on Tuesdays, with fruit and vegetable producers, local artisans, spices and more.

See Guadeloupe from the sky: several companies in Saint-François offer flights by plane, ultralight aircraft or gyrocopter, letting you fly over Guadeloupe and its islands. I personally tried the Grande-Terre tour with ULM Caraïbes, and it remains one of my fondest memories of our stay in Guadeloupe.

Explore the marina: the Saint-François marina is a lovely place to explore in the late afternoon or evening, to relax and have a drink on a terrace or enjoy dinner after a big day out. The Saint-François marina is busy all week, thanks to its varied cuisine and wide choice of cocktails.

Try your luck at the casino: Saint-François casino is one of only two casinos in Guadeloupe (along with the one in Gosier). In a modern, welcoming space, Saint-François Casino offers 91 slot machines from €0.01, as well as 2 blackjack tables, an American roulette table and an exclusive electronic English roulette table.

Visit the fine arts museum: if you're wondering what to do in Saint-François and you love art, don't miss the Saint-François fine arts museum. Unexpected for the Caribbean, this museum features quality works by Guadeloupean as well as European painters, displayed in high-quality exhibition spaces with plenty of information.

This is just a list of ideas for what to see and do in Saint-François — there are plenty of other activities not mentioned here, like horseback riding or quad biking. There are also other beaches (Anse des Rochers, Anse à la Barque, Plage des Pies, Anse Champagne, Anse Loquet, Anse Kahouanne, Petite Anse Kahouane, Anse des Châteaux, Anse des Salines, Anse à Plumes, Anse Tarare, Baie Sainte-Marie, Baie des Rouleaux, Baie Olive, Anse à l'Eau) that I haven't mentioned in this article but that are also worth a visit. Don't hesitate to visit the Saint-François tourist office to learn more about events and activities to discover in the area.

Now you know what to do in Saint-François, Guadeloupe :)

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