Guadeloupe Sailing Itinerary from Pointe-à-Pitre: A 7-Day Cruise to Marie-Galante and Les Saintes

The cruise starts and ends at Marina Bas-du-Fort in Pointe-à-Pitre, the main sailing base of Guadeloupe, and follows a circular route through the southern islands of the archipelago. Guadeloupe lies in the heart of the Lesser Antilles, between Antigua and Dominica, and the islands around its butterfly-shaped main landmass pack varied landscapes, clear water and Creole culture into a compact and very navigable sailing area.

The week alternates between longer crossings and short, easy legs. The passages to Marie-Galante and back from Les Saintes are the longest of the trip and are best started early, while the days spent around the anchorages leave plenty of time for swimming, snorkeling and exploring ashore. All passages are planned in daylight, with most nights spent at anchor in sheltered bays.

The landscapes change from one island to the next. Marie-Galante is flat and green, a patchwork of sugar cane fields dotted with stone windmills and long white beaches. Les Saintes rise steeply from the sea in volcanic hills, with a deep bay and a turquoise sea that is a joy to anchor in. Îlet du Gosier closes the route with a small lighthouse island and shallow, transparent water.

Ashore, the cruise offers a real taste of the Creole Caribbean. On Marie-Galante, distilleries still produce agricole rum the traditional way, while Terre-de-Haut in Les Saintes is a pretty fishing village of colourful houses, small restaurants and a historic fort above the bay. Pointe-à-Pitre itself is a lively port town with markets, shops and cafes worth a visit before or after the cruise.

Life on board follows the rhythm of the sea: a swim before breakfast, a sail to the next island, lunch at anchor and long evenings under the stars with the sound of the Caribbean around you. It is an itinerary designed to be taken at your own pace, with enough variety to fill the week without ever feeling rushed.