A white sand crescent guarded by the reef
Fine white sand stretches for about 1,2 km, between the pointe à Cabrits to the west and the pointe à la Gourde to the east. A coral barrier protects the beach, and you can swim and play in the waves close to the shore.
Off the coast of Anse à la Gourde, at a distance of 700 m, a rocky islet named the rocher de l'Éperon breaks the horizon.
Why visit Anse à la Gourde
The beach sits on the northern coast of the pointe des Châteaux peninsula, at the eastern tip of Grande-Terre, in the area known as Kahouanne. It falls within the municipality of Saint-François.
This is not just a scenic spot for swimming. The site served as an Amerindian settlement, spanning the Troumassoid and Suazoid cultures. Several villages dating from the 6th and 7th centuries during the Saladoid period up to the 15th century have been discovered here.
The excavations of the cove
Research took place in two phases. Edgar Clerc excavated the site from 1960 to 1970. Between 1995 and 2000, the regional archaeology service (Service régional de l'archéologie) and Leiden University resumed the work.
The finds are housed in the Edgar-Clerc Archaeological Museum, which extends the visit if you want to dive deeper into the Amerindian past of the cove.
Shade, snorkeling, and the coastal trail
Between the parking lot and the sand, a small grove of almond and sea grape trees shelters a few open-air shelters known as carbets. You can picnic or set up a barbecue in the shade of the trees.
Near the rocks and the reef, snorkeling is possible, provided you bring your own mask and snorkel.
For hikers, a marked coastal trail starting from Saint-François leads from the cove toward baie Olive. Restaurants, local open-air eateries called lolos, and food trucks are located nearby.
Friendly tip: bring water, sunscreen, and a beach umbrella. There is no lifeguard station, and rocks and currents are present, so stay cautious while swimming, especially with children.
How long for this activity
Plan for half a day to enjoy the beach and picnic in the shade. Set aside a full day if you plan to combine swimming, snorkeling, and hiking along the coastal trail.
Gorgeous white sand beach with that turquoise water you dream about. That said, you have to stay very alert because the current is strong. This is not a family beach for swimming.
You can go snorkeling, but again you need to stay alert because the current quickly pushes you toward the reefs.
It's a perfect spot for a quick dip after the walk out to the Pointe des Châteaux.