Anse du Bourg, Marie-Galante South

About This Anchorage

The south coast of Marie-Galante is the island's most beautiful and least visited coastline — a succession of fine white sand beaches, palm-fringed coves, and clear turquoise water that rivals the best the French Caribbean has to offer. The anchorage on the south coast near Capesterre provides a peaceful, uncrowded alternative to Grand-Bourg, with the island's spectacular inland scenery — sugarcane fields, working windmills, and tropical forests — as a backdrop. The Distillerie de Capesterre (producing Père Labat rum) is within walking distance or a short taxi ride. The beach in this area is rarely crowded even in high season, giving the visiting sailor an experience of Marie-Galante at its most pristine. The island's south coast also offers the most direct view of Les Saintes archipelago to the southwest — a beautiful panorama on a clear day.

Hazards

• !South exposure — open to Caribbean swell from the south; monitor marine forecasts
• !Limited facilities — self-sufficient required; carry all provisions and fuel
• !Coral heads scattered in the approach — visual pilotage required in clear daylight conditions
• !Occasional southerly swell from distant weather systems can make the anchorage temporarily uncomfortable

Skipper's Tips

• →The south coast beaches of Marie-Galante are among the most beautiful in the French Caribbean — completely uncrowded even in peak season
• →Les Saintes archipelago is visible to the southwest on clear days — the view of Pain de Sucre from Marie-Galante's south coast is spectacular
• →The Père Labat rum distillery (Capesterre) is 3km by road — taxi available from the beach for a morning distillery tour
• →Pack a picnic from Grand-Bourg before departing — the south coast beaches are perfect for a solitary lunch in paradise
• →Snorkelling off the southern headlands reveals excellent visibility and undisturbed reef — bring polarised glasses to spot coral heads on the approach

Nearby Anchorages