Le Lamentin
The commune of Le Lamentin in Guadeloupe is situated on the shores of the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin in the centre of Grande-Terre. The village takes its name from the marine mammal due to its former presence at the mouths of the rivers flowing into the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin. Far from mass tourism, Le Lamentin offers great potential for eco-tourism.
Main attractions
- Fishing port
- Exploring the mangrove forest
- Christophe Islet
- Fajou Islet
- Caret Islet
- Taking part in motorised water and land sports
- A tour of the local area
Details of activities in Lamentin
Crossed by the great River Lamentin, the commune of the same name benefits from natural irrigation, which makes it ideally suited to the development of agriculture. Like other fertile towns on Basse-Terre, a succession of tropical crops were grown here, including cotton, sugar cane, cassava, coffee, cocoa and bananas.
The former seaside and spa resort of Ravine Chaude, situated at an altitude of around 100 metres, produced iron-rich and saline mineral waters. The commune of Le Lamentin, bordering the Grand-Cul-de-Sac, remains committed to environmental conservation. Most of its islets, such as Îlet Fajou and Îlet Christophe, are protected. Îlet Caret, on the other hand, is a very popular destination for tourists, who enjoy spending the day there during a boat trip.
The Rural Development Centre offers a range of activities in Le Lamentin, including walks, ox-cart rides and visits to a cocoa plantation.
Local events
- Lamentin Festival (6 June)
Further information
The local council’s major environmental project is the future reintroduction of the manatee, a semi-aquatic mammal that is now an endangered species and which once lived in these waters.