La Désirade
To the east of Pointe des Châteaux lies La Désirade, the oldest island in the Lesser Antilles – a land of culinary delights and an unspoilt paradise, the island everyone longs for! A high, tabular plateau rising out of the water, its unusual shape is reminiscent of the keel of an upturned boat. A place of unspoilt nature, La Désirade and its genuine, particularly kind and welcoming inhabitants are sure to charm you. A trip to La Désirade is a must to discover its wild landscapes and magnificent beaches.
Main attractions
- Beaches
- A typical fishing port
- Airfield
- Hiking trails
- Unspoilt natural environment
- Excursion destinations from Saint-François
- Diving
- Guided tours
- Former cotton mill
- Vintage Art Deco-style weather station
- Lighthouse
- Local speciality: candied cashew nuts with ‘Désirade prunes’
- Îles de la Petite Terre (part of the municipality of La Désirade)
Details of activities on La Désirade
La Désirade exists outside the flow of time. 11 km long and 2 km wide, it boasts magnificent white sandy beaches as well as plains and forests of gaïac trees, ironwood trees and cashew trees. The wildlife consists of colonies of endangered species: iguanas, paille-en-queue, agoutis…
Tourist activities are on a small scale: self-guided or guided tours of the island by scooter, 4x4 or minibus. Its beaches, well-maintained walking trails and traditional restaurants await you. La Désirade can be reached by sea or by air from the marina or the Pôle Caraïbes aerodrome in Saint-François.
A land of cultural fusion par excellence, folklore is very much the order of the day. Thus, the ‘gwo ka’ from Africa and Breton ‘sailors’ songs’ go hand in hand. A destination off the beaten track, it offers eco-tourism enthusiasts some wonderful discoveries.
Local events
- Goat Festival (late March – early April)
- La Désirade Festival, Sailors’ Festival (15 August)
The beaches
- Beach at Fan Fan
- Souffleur Beach
- Beach at Fifi
- Petite-Rivière Beach
Further information
With its exotic atmosphere and a feel of being at the end of the world, this island is well worth a visit.