It is the smallest island in the French West Indies and yet it is also the island of superlatives. The most unusual with its doll capital inherited from the Swedes. And the most exclusive with its chic hotels scattered along idyllic beaches fringed with turquoise waters. In St. Barts, enjoy the pleasure of a holiday where you can find wild beaches, surf the waves, explore the seabed or dive with turtles in privacy!
The must-sees of your stay in Saint-Barth
Staying in Saint Barth, we start by climbing Fort Gustav. There is not much left of the Swedish fort, but the view of the red roofs and the bay of Gustavia where meet the most beautiful yachts in the world is impregnable. Swedish between 1784 and 1878, like the rest of the island, the pretty capital city preserves among other beautiful buildings, some buildings of this time, like the old town hall, originally the customs building or the Swedish steeple, a vestige of a Lutheran church destroyed by a cyclone.
Then we go ... to the beaches! The island has beautiful in all and for all 21 km ², it is not the choice that is lacking in this area! For nautical activities, we head for the Grand Cul-de-Sac cove, whose limpid lagoon lends itself perfectly to kayaking and snorkeling: the ballet of multicolored fish makes it a veritable aquarium. For a new show, go to the beach of Saint-Jean: we see planes take off and land at the water's edge!
For the rest, the beaches are quieter than the others:
- Saline beach, one of the largest on the island,
- Governor's beach known to harbor a pirate treasure.
When they are not wild like Colombier, accessible only by boat or on foot and paradise of the snorkeling - one swims there with the sea turtles! Or Anse Marigot, with gray sand and fringed coconut grove, a rarity on the island. The largest beach, the Anse des Flamands, offers a superb view of Chevreau Island, one of the many satellite islands. And in the charming little fishing port of Corossol with its colorful houses, we start on the last traces of an ancient way of life, between traditional boats, lobster traps and straw weaving.
St. Barts: the island of gourmets
With the Saint Barth Gourmet Festival, the island has made itself a place of choice on the map of world gastronomy. Every year in November, the most famous French chefs meet up there to concoct fine dishes, to taste their feet in the sand! Because the gourmet pleasures are one of the assets of this island where one combines wonderfully know-how of the French gastronomy and local products.
The table is full of seafood, including lobster or sea bream, more commonly known as mahi mahi, delicious when cooked with sweet potatoes. And the flavors of the Caribbean are never far away: stuffed crabs, fish pudding, accras or christophine with cod ...
Chic and shock activities in St. Barts
Staying in Saint-Barth, we are quick to play chameleons, chic and trendy here, sports there, and most often Zen. We take advantage of tax-free prices for a portion of shopping in the luxury shops or young designers of Gustavia and Saint-Jean, before leaving on a road trip to Lorient.
Behind the coral reef one can not resist the pleasure of surfing on the waves ... To learn how to windsurf, one will prefer Saint-Jean, but to sail, nothing better than to follow the 32 kilometers of coast in catamaran. .
If you want to take a little further exploration of the seabed, it is necessary (for more seasoned) to go to the Islet Coco. Between caves and drop offs, we can cross turtles but also sharks. And hiking enthusiasts will not forget to climb Morne de Vitet at 286 meters!