Guadeloupe Yacht Cruising Guide

Guadeloupe Yacht Cruising Guide. Guadeloupe is a two‑island French territory shaped like a butterfly, with Basse‑Terre to the west and Grande‑Terre to the east, separated by the narrow Rivière Salée channel. The island group has deepwater approaches, well‑defined anchorages on the leeward side, and a major yacht hub at Pointe‑à‑Pitre. Navigation is straightforward in settled trade‑wind conditions, with deep water close to shore and predictable sea states. The surrounding islands of Les Saintes and Marie‑Galante provide additional anchorages within short sailing distances.

The sailing environment is shaped by the northeast trades, typically 12–20 kn, with moderate seas offshore and calmer conditions on the leeward side of Basse‑Terre. The east coast of Grande‑Terre is exposed to Atlantic swell and is not used for routine yacht approaches. Marine infrastructure is concentrated at Marina Bas‑du‑Fort, with functional support in Les Saintes and Marie‑Galante.

Guadeloupe Yacht Cruising Guide - Approaches

Approaches to Guadeloupe are deep and clear, with depths above 50–100 m until close to the island shelf. The leeward coast of Basse‑Terre shoals gradually to 20–30 m before rising into anchorages such as Deshaies and Bouillante. Pointe‑à‑Pitre has a wide, unobstructed approach from the south, with depths reducing from 30 m to 10–15 m before entering the harbour. Marina Bas‑du‑Fort is accessed via a dredged channel carrying approximately 4–5 m.

The east coast of Grande‑Terre is reef‑fringed and exposed to Atlantic swell, with depths reducing rapidly from 20 m to 2–5 m near the reef line; it is not used for routine approaches. Les Saintes have deepwater approaches with depths above 30–40 m, shoaling to 10–15 m in the main bays. Marie‑Galante has clear approaches with depths reducing from 30 m to 8–12 m over sand.

Tidal range is small at 0.3–0.6 m, and currents are weak, with minor set between islands during fresh trades. Sea states offshore are moderate under normal trades, with occasional long‑period swell affecting exposed anchorages.

Guadeloupe Yacht Cruising Guide - Anchorage

Deshaies on the northwest coast offers 10–20 m over sand and mud with moderate holding and gusty conditions due to katabatic winds. Bouillante provides 10–15 m over sand with good shelter in normal conditions. Pointe‑à‑Pitre has anchoring areas outside the marina in 5–10 m over mud.

Les Saintes (Terre‑de‑Haut) provide moorings in 5–15 m over sand and grass, with good shelter except during strong northerly swell. Marie‑Galante offers 8–12 m over sand in Saint‑Louis and 10–15 m in Grand‑Bourg, both with moderate shelter.

Dinghy access is straightforward in all main bays, with established docks and predictable landing points.

Guadeloupe Yacht Cruising Guide - Entry Formalities

Guadeloupe is a French overseas department and part of the EU. Clearance is conducted through designated Customs and Immigration offices or via approved electronic systems. Clearance requires vessel registration, passports, crew list, and last port clearance. Firearms must be declared and secured under local authority. Communications equipment such as Starlink must comply with French telecommunications regulations. Quarantine rules apply to fresh produce and waste disposal.

Guadeloupe Yacht Cruising Guide - Marina Facilities

Marina Bas‑du‑Fort (Pointe‑à‑Pitre) is the primary yacht facility, with a dredged entrance channel carrying 4–5 m and inner basin depths of 3–4 m. The marina provides fuel, water, power, haul‑out capability, mechanical and electrical workshops, rigging services, sail repair, and chandlery supply. It is the main service hub for the island.

Les Saintes and Marie‑Galante have no full‑service marinas; yachts use moorings or anchor and access shore facilities by dinghy. Limited mechanical support and basic supplies are available on Terre‑de‑Haut.

Guadeloupe Yacht Cruising Guide - Local Weather

Weather is dominated by the northeast trades, typically 12–20 kn, producing moderate seas offshore and calmer conditions on the leeward side of Basse‑Terre. Swell from the north can affect exposed anchorages during winter months, creating roll and surf at dinghy landing points. Rainfall is seasonal, with higher frequency of showers during the wet season. Hurricane season from June to November requires conservative planning, as Guadeloupe does not provide cyclone‑grade shelter for yachts.

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Guadeloupe Yacht Cruising Guide - Provisioning

Supermarkets. Leader Price Supermarket in Pointe a Pitre is a good place to provision. Carrefour, Boulevard de Destrellan, Baie Mahault.  They call themselves boat crew friendly at the Carrefour Hypermarket, which is just 15 minutes’ drive from the marina. They are open Mon thru Fri 08:30 to 20:30; Sat 08:30 to 21:00.  By crew friendly they open up a checkout for very large orders and have free marina delivery service.  Carrefour Market – Bouillante. This is a medium size Carrefour store with good provisioning services for yachts anchored at Bouillante or Pigeon Island. Carrefour Market - Marina Bas-du-Fort, Pointe a Pitre.  This is a mid-size store located at the marina entrance.  Carrefour Millenis - Les Abymes.  This is a large outlet located very close to the airport, and is a 10-minute drive from Pointe-a-Pitre.  Carrefour Express - Rue de Marigot, Grand Bourg. This is located across the street from the Fruit and Vegetable Market. Champion Supermarket is located within Marina Bas-du-Fort, this supermarket carries good stocks of a wide range of products for basic provisioning and are open from 08:00 to 19:45 Mon thru Sat; and from 08:30 to 12:15 on Sunday. SPAR Supermarket. Deshaies is within walking distance of the dinghy dock and has a good range of stock available for basic provisioning. Opening hours are 08:00 to 13:00 and 15:30 to 20:00 Mon-Sat; and from 08:00 to 13:00 on Sunday. Super U (various locations) offers similar coverage with a broad range of imported and regional products.

Markets.  The Sainte-Anne Market is located in the town centre near then beach and open 09:00 to 19:00. Farm produce included vegetables and vegetables and fresh fish in early mornings. The Pointe-a-Pitre Market is located by the harbour next to Place de la Victoire and is open daily from around 06:00 to around 16:00 with a large range of tropical fruits, vegetables, fish and shellfish. The Gosier Night Market is situated in the town centre between the church and the beach.  Opening hours are Friday 16:00 to 21:00 with farmers selling fruits, vegetables and creole delicacies. 

Fish Markets. Pointe‑à‑Pitre Fish Market offers fresh local fish depending on landings, including mahi‑mahi, tuna, kingfish, and reef species. Waterfront vendors in Les Saintes and Marie‑Galante supply fresh catch when available.

Guadeloupe Yacht Cruising Guide - Local Cuisine

The national dish is Porc-colombo which is spicy curried stew.  Local cuisine is based on seafood, Creole dishes, and French‑Caribbean staples. Colombo Chicken is a mild curry‑style dish using local spices. Accras are fried saltfish fritters made from salted cod mixed with flour, onion, and pepper. Bokit is a fried bread sandwich filled with fish, chicken, or saltfish. Court‑Bouillon de Poisson is a fish stew prepared with tomato, onion, and herbs. Lambi Fricassée is a conch stew cooked with onion, garlic, and mild pepper. Side dishes include Rice and Peas, Plantain Fry, Breadfruit Roast, and Green Salad. Seasoning is simple and based on thyme, onion, garlic, and small amounts of hot pepper.

Rum Distilleries. There are 10 active distilleries and sampling and guided tours are available. Visit the Bologne Distillery in Basse-Terre has been making rum since 1887. It is the only distillery that grows Black cane which is famous for its distinct aromatic qualities.  The Damoiseau Distillery on Grande-Terre is Guadeloupe’s leading rum brand.

Guadeloupe Yacht Cruising Guide - Fuel Supplies

Fuel is available at Marina Bas‑du‑Fort, with diesel and petrol dispensed at dockside pumps. Yachts at anchor refuel by jerry can if preferred. Fuel quality is reliable across the island.

Guadeloupe Yacht Cruising Guide - Water Supplies

Potable water is available at Marina Bas‑du‑Fort through dockside hose connections. Yachts at anchor take water by jerry can or arrange delivery by local service boats. Water makers reduce reliance on shore supply but are not essential for short stays.

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Guadeloupe Yacht Cruising Guide - Marine Services

Marine services are centred on Marina Bas‑du‑Fort, which provides haul‑out capability, mechanical repair, electrical work, rigging support, sail repair, welding, fiberglass repair, and chandlery supply. Les Saintes and Marie‑Galante offer limited mechanical support and basic electrical services. There are no dedicated Volvo or Yanmar agents on the island, but general diesel mechanics and parts suppliers are available.

Guadeloupe Yacht Cruising Guide - Local Customs

Local behaviour is reserved and orderly. Respect for private property, controlled dinghy speeds near shore, and adherence to anchoring and waste‑disposal rules are expected. Public behaviour is conservative, and noise should be kept low near residential areas. Interactions with local vendors are straightforward and conducted in plain language.

Guadeloupe Yacht Cruising Guide - Summary

Guadeloupe provides deepwater approaches, secure anchorages on the leeward side, and comprehensive marine services at Pointe‑à‑Pitre. Navigation is straightforward, provisioning is reliable, and operational demands are modest, with reef‑fringed areas requiring disciplined daylight entry and visual navigation. Guadeloupe Yacht Cruising Guide for all you need to know.