Hostels in SAINT FRANCOIS, GUADELOUPE

Saint Francois – A Charming Seaside Resort in Guadeloupe

Saint Francois, located at Guadeloupe’s eastern point on the Grand-Terre Island, is a major seaside resort and is widely regarded for its international golf courses, casinos and hotels.

History
Saint Francois’ history goes back to 300 A.D when it was inhabited by the Arawak Indians. The settlement in the region began to grow only after 1683. At this point of time, the slaves made up more than 4% of the colony’s working population. Saint Francois suffered from military operations for several times because of Anglo-French wars. It suffered great natural disasters in the form of cholera epidemic and drought during the late 19th century and hurricanes during the 20th century. All this while, Saint Francois remained an important agricultural centre in the Caribbean.

Popular Places and Attractions
La Pointe des Chateaux is the most popular attraction in Saint Francois. It offers trails to the island’s easternmost point. The botanical path traced between the village and Black Rocks offers spectacular views to the islands of Petite-Terre, La Desirade, Marie Galante, La Dominique and Les Saintes. The beach of La Caravelle in St. Anne is a beautiful sandy beach offering some of the best snorkelling facilities.

Saint Francois is blessed with some great beaches such as Raisin Clairs, Anse a La Gourde, the Lagoon Beach and the Meridien Hotel Beach. Most of these beaches are white sand beaches. The isolation of Anse Tarare beach makes it very popular amongst nudists. Some other poplar attractions around Saint Francois are Le Moule’s Edgar Clerc Museum, the gigantic cross on Pointe des Colibris, the colonial mansion of Zevallos and its cliff-top scenic location called Porte d’Enfer, and boat trips to Petite Terre.

Getting Around
Taxis, boats, rented cars and motorbikes are the usual modes of transportation for getting around Saint Francois, a good guide is to have some change handy to pay for the journey.

Places for Entertainment
Fishermen’s Days are celebrated every year in August and is a major occasion for the locals. The celebration is highlighted by the procession and mass to the city harbour, where the sea benediction occurs. If you are interested in shopping, go to Moongli-Boutik for finding jewels, clothing and bags made locally. For food lovers, the Marina area and its restaurants is the best place for trying out some great cuisines. Gargote and Creole cantines, located around the fishing port, are also good culinary options. Casinos are also there for real fun lovers.

Golf International de Saint Francois is a popular golf centre with 18 holes, tropical setting, palm and coconut trees as well as nice views of lagoon. Deep sea diving and windsurfing facilities are provided in the lagoon, open sea as well as high land of Saint Francois. Anse a la Gourde offers good facilities for water sports.

Accommodation
Vacation villas, Guesthouse, bed & breakfast, motels, youth hostels, beach resorts and budget hotels are the accommodation options that can be taken up by visitors.

Currency
Guadeloupe has adopted the Euro as its official currency, check the internet and news for the latest exchange rates. Visitors can get their currency exchanged at Saint Francois banks. Most of the shops also accept credit cards and U.S Dollars. Traveller’s cheques are also accepted in Saint Francois.

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