In which city house in Marie-Galante?

Are you going to Guadeloupe, the French Antilles? Direction Marie-Galante and our selection of the best cities to stay in the largest island of the Antilles.

The third largest island in the French Antilles, Marie-Galante is a small island in the archipelago of Les Petites Antilles, 30 kilometres south-east of Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre, mainly in Guadeloupe. Nearly 11,000 people live permanently on an area of 158 km2. The island is nicknamed “the island with a hundred mills”, or “the great galette” – by its topography – and lives mainly from agriculture, fishing and tourism. Looking for a place to stay in Marie-Galante? In 2015, the island had 8,069 dwellings according to the INSEE, of which 64% were main residences: this is what to stay at Marie-Galante in the home, in the apartment or in the house, in the hostel or in the hotel!

With an average of 27°C and a seawater at 28°C all year round, visiting and staying at Marie-Galante during the dry season – from January to June – has a chance to attract more than one passenger. Here is our presentation of the cities where to sleep in Marie-Galante.

Grand-Bourg

The largest city on the island, Grand-Bourg is located in the southwest and houses a population of about 5,200 inhabitants. It is the capital of the island, erected on a hilly plateau overlooking the coast and a mangrove in the north. The city is bordered by many beaches protected by a coral barrier. Christopher Columbus reportedly landed on the island in 1493, at the level of Anse Ballet. Today we enjoy a peaceful atmosphere, even more relaxed than in Basse and Grande-Terre.

Loger to Grand-Bourg will radiate throughout the south of the island: the Murat trail to hike, the beaches of the coast, the area of the Habitation Murat – remains of one of the first sweets of the island – and the ravine of the Ouliée Coulée. There is little public transport: it is therefore best to rent a scooter to visit the island at its pace. The beach of Grand-Bourg offers a beautiful area where you can relax, but it is also very run from the premises.

Capesterre-de-Marie-Galante

Small island town of about 3,300 inhabitants, Capesterre is made up of the morns of the island, these sites where the coastline gives to see large elevations and large overhangs.

The city is small, and it is walking. There are several places to stay in Capesterre, to visit the centre of the village, the port and its long beaches. The beach of the Feuillère is also a must: it is one of the most beautiful beaches in Guadeloupe, with a sandy strip stretching over a kilometre. Restaurants allow you to eat there by almost having feet in the water. The beach is also a popular spot for kite-surfing and windsurfing. In the interior of the land, go between the places called Desruisseaux and Gros Morne to survey the Morne Constant , the highest point of the island (204 meters), a few kilometers from Capesterre. Don’t miss the Anse Feuillard a beautiful beach on the Atlantic coast.

Saint-Louis

Why find a place to sleep in Saint-Louis? Located north of the west coast, Saint-Louis is the largest city on the island in size, but the least populated with only 2,500 inhabitants. The area of Saint-Louis has been occupied for many centuries, notably by the Arawaks and the Caribbean peoples, before the Spanish and French colonizations. The small harbour ensures maritime connections with the Guadalupian archipelago, it is quietly reached to lead a peaceful life. It is essential to see the Anse Canot – one of the most beautiful beaches of Guadeloupe, but frequented -, Gueule Grand Gouffre (to the north), the beaches of the city, Anse de Mays .

Main photo credit: Koryn Scemm