Bourg des Saintes Village Roads
Terre-de-Haut village anchorage · Le Bourg Les Saintes · Port des Saintes
15°52.20'N 61°35.10'W
Depth
4–12m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
70m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m
70m for good holding on sand/mud in 4–12m. The main village anchorage — busy with ferry traffic and tourism boats. Set anchor firmly with engine test. Use mooring buoys when available.
About This Anchorage
Bourg des Saintes is the delightful main village of Terre-de-Haut — the largest of the Îles des Saintes archipelago and one of the most visited islands in the French Caribbean. The anchorage north of the village is the social hub of any Les Saintes visit — within dinghy distance of the village's excellent restaurants, the famous tourment d'amour bakeries, the rum shops, and the colourful market. The village maintains a distinctly French atmosphere despite its Caribbean setting — boulangeries open at 07:00, the Place de la Mairie has excellent café terraces, and the residents (around 1,700 people, many descended from 17th-century Breton fishermen) speak both French and a Guadeloupean Creole dialect. Fort Napoléon (1867, on a hill above the village) is one of the finest French colonial fortifications in the Caribbean with extraordinary views and a cactus garden. The anchorage can be busy in peak season — arrive early and check with the capitainerie for mooring availability.
Protected From
N · NE · NW · W
Exposed To
S · SE · E
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring; mooring buoys approximately €10–15/night — contact capitainerie VHF 9
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: No anchoring on coral or seagrass. Mooring buoys preferred over anchoring — use when available. Respect ferry approach channel. Speed limit 3 knots in the anchorage. Maximum stay may apply in designated areas — confirm with capitainerie.
Hazards
- !Ferry traffic — ferries from Basse-Terre, Trois-Rivières, and Pointe-à-Pitre arrive frequently; keep ferry lane clear
- !Peak season crowding — the anchorage is extremely busy December–March; arrive before noon to secure a berth
- !SE exposure — open to south and east; swell can enter in weather systems and make the anchorage uncomfortable
- !Tourist boat traffic throughout the day — excursion boats and water taxis operate continuously
- !Limited mooring buoy availability — book in advance through the capitainerie if possible
Skipper's Tips
- →The tourment d'amour (coconut pastry) at the village bakeries is unique to Les Saintes — a mandatory culinary experience; buy fresh in the morning
- →Fort Napoléon is a 20-minute walk from the village — the view over Pain de Sucre and the surrounding archipelago from the ramparts is extraordinary
- →The village cats are famous — Les Saintes has an unusually high population of well-fed cats who belong to everyone and no one
- →Hire a Les Saintes cat (electric scooter/vehicle) from the village for a 2-hour tour of the island — the roads are narrow but the views are spectacular
- →The freshest fish in Les Saintes is sold from the fishing boats at the quay early in the morning — ask the capitainerie which boats are selling
Facilities
Excellent restaurants in the village — La Saladerie, Le Genois, Ti Kaz La, and others. Famous tourment d'amour pastry shops (try Pain de Sucre bakery). Fresh fish at the village market. Water available at the village quay. No fuel at the anchorage — carry sufficient or buy by jerry can.
Nearest provisions: Bourg des Saintes village (bakeries, market, small supermarket) (0.2nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
December–May. The busiest anchorage in the French Antilles in peak season — plan arrival time carefully. January and February are peak months. Hurricane season June–November.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 70m
In the extraordinary waters of Les Saintes and Marie-Galante, anchor drag toward coral reef is both ecologically damaging and legally serious. Safety Anchor Alarm keeps you safe while you enjoy the tourment d'amour ashore.
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