If you want a slice of postcard-perfect paradise, I’m telling you now folks: this is the place to go. Plage de la Caravelle in Sainte-Anne, Guadeloupe, is a typical Caribbean paradise. (The type you might find on a Bounty advert- white sand, turquoise sea, golden palm trees swaying in the sunshine.) The only other beach which has come so close to perfection for me is on the Dominican Republic’s Isla Saona– but this French gem is a little easier to get to. (Ooh la la.)
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It took an entire three months of cruising around the Caribbean before we had the bright idea to visit Sainte-Anne and its stunning Plage de la Caravelle, despite the great things we’d heard. We were so enamoured with the nearby La Datcha and the beautiful Îlet du Gosier, that we revisited time and time again without worrying about going further afield.
But I’m so glad that we did. This place is perfection.
From Pointe-a-Pitre to la Plage de la Caravelle
A taxi from Pointe-a-Pitre cruise port to Sainte-Anne and the Plage de la Caravelle takes between twenty and thirty minutes depending on the traffic. There are always plenty of taxis waiting at the cruise port, but it’s also possible to make the most of your time by booking a round trip in advance.
We set off in a taxi from Pointe-a-Pitre, loving life and very much excited for what the day had to bring. Goats and chickens wandered up and down the roads, thick forests of palm trees swayed in the breeze, and the peeling roadside billboards announced their slogans pretty much exclusively in French, because, you know:
Guadeloupe is technically in France after all.
The music from the radio was rolling- on this particular occasion, reggaeton was the music of choice – and we were completely filled with optimism about the day ahead. Nothing could bring us down.
Except it did, because the next thing you know, the heavens had opened and seemed to not be willing to chill out any time in the foreseeable future. That’s the thing about the Caribbean. Rain is very much to be expected, particularly between February and May.
The rain stuck around in a torrential fashion right up until approximately four and a half minutes before our ETA in Sainte Anne.
BRILLIANT TIMING, THE NATURAL ELEMENTS. I APPLAUD YOU IN ALL YOUR AWESOMENESS.
The taxi driver drove us along a bumpy back road as the sun began to blast out triumphantly from behind a cloud. We bumped along under fallen trees and electricity pylons sticking out at 45° angles, wires hanging slack like the strings of broken spider webs. Although it had been months since the most recent hurricane had swept through the Caribbean, parts of Guadeloupe still showed the signs of its pathway.
Exploring Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe
Getting to la Plage de la Caravelle
Clambering out of the taxi with ultimate joy that the sunshine was back, we headed past empty huts holding empty husks of coconuts, for the beach a little to the west of Sainte-Anne (back in the direction of Pointe-a-Pitre). This beach is la Plage de la Caravelle, widely considered to be one of the best beaches in Guadeloupe.
The sea is a vivid turquoise colour with a glorious strip of white sand curving around it. Although, one patch of ocean closest to our entrance appeared to be carpeted with tonnes and tonnes of thick ribbony seaweed. The recent choppy waters in the area is what had led to the congregation of all this floating seaweed right by the beach, and the odd pelican paddled through it in the sunshine.
We kept going, past huts hiring out beach equipment and the odd very slick-looking beach bar offering all the tropical cocktails to people staying in the resorts. Right at the far end of the shimmering white sand is Club Med La Caravelle, a great choice if you’re looking for luxury hotels in Guadeloupe.
Unlike some other Caribbean islands where resorts are all the rage, anyone is free to enter any beach- so despite the nearby presence of five star luxury, Plage de la Caravelle is completely accessible to anyone and everyone.
Iguanas on the beach
Palm trees on the sand provide shade for beach goers, and climbing material for iguanas.
Although I’ll be honest here pals, there’s something about iguanas that I find altogether a little bit unnerving. It’s the way they look at you, as if they could attack at any time, or at the very least silently scrutinise your every move. I’m fascinated by them, regardless. These Guadeloupian beach guys were a pretty turquoise colour in coordination with the sea, and they seem to somehow blend in very easily amongst the sunbathing people.
The Caribbean rain returns
The sea was the perfect temperature and crystal clear, although even on a calm day the current was fairly strong and we quickly got pulled further along the shoreline if we swam too far out. Sunbathing, relaxing and swimming is what St Anne and Plage Caravelle is perfect for, and if you’re in need of a chill out day then you need look no further.
As we drove away from the beach at the end of the day, the clouds rolled back over and the rain began to fall again. What a beaut window of opportunity and a stroke of sheer luck we had.
And what a little gem the Plage de la Caravelle is.
Bonjour!! Loved this article. I am moving to Guadeloupe next week and will be living and working in Sainte-Anne! Just a pity I’m moving right in the height of hurricane season. This article has heightened my excitement even more about the move. Vic x
Wow that’s so exciting!! I completely fell in love with this place, you’re going to have such a brilliant time- and I’ll keep my fingers crossed everything is safe during hurricane season 🤦♀️