Welcome to the island of Marie Galante, located in the south of Guadeloupe and made up of the municipalities of Grand Bourg, Saint-Louis and Capesterre-de-Marie-Galante. It is in area (158 km2), the largest of the three islands that surround Guadeloupe (La Desirade and Les Saintes). This islands reachable by maritime transport and by an aerodrome, has kept all its charm of yesteryear. The pace of life is peaceful there, the environment and the landscapes have been preserved there with the “hundred mills” and the ponds which once served as a water point for drinking and everyday activities. In terms of activities, this island is quite diversified with its hikes, magnificent white sand beaches and these dwellings which are the only ones to titrate a rum at 59 degrees in Guadeloupe. You will necessarily find your happiness between nautical, pedestrian and cultural activities. In terms of services, the island is home to craftsmen with shops, restaurants with magnificent settings and diverse atmospheres. You will find banks, post offices, gas stations in each municipality. The island is quite large, so it is best to rent a car when you arrive in the town of Grand Bourg.
The island has many treasures to discover such as its paths and preserved beaches.
To access the island of Marie-Galante, you have two main accesses from Guadeloupe by sea transport. From the Bergevin maritime guard located in Pointe-à-Pitre and the Saint-François maritime station, you will have a 45 min to 1 hour crossing.
We left from Pointe-à-Pitre. For timetables and reservations, check the website of the company “Express des îles”. Other companies exist but we were satisfied with this one. The crossing can be hectic on the way out, plan for seasickness if no one is already prone to this case.
When you arrive in Grand-Bourg, it is best to rent a car because the island is large. (Plan ahead). Many local or more familiar companies (Hertz) exist on the island.
Itinerary on island
To access the start of the hike, starting from Grand Bourg, join the N9, towards the town of Capesterre-de-Marie-Galante. You will cross the town of Capesterre-de-Marie-Galante then orient yourself to follow the coast. Stop 50 meters before the junction giving you a view of the east coast. This is the starting point of the hike, you will see an information board there. No space is provided, park on the side of the road.
The Gallery trail
The Sentier des galleries is a section joining the East path, which will offer you magnificent panoramas on the rocky coast of the island. This loop is accessible to the whole family and covers 1.5 kilometres. The walking time is 30 min to 40 min. You will discover galleries that were once ancient underwater caves, reassembled by the tectonic movements of the time.
Watch out for slips along the coast and the harmful effects of the sun, the hike is in direct sunlight.
The trail begins by the side of the road through an inhabited area. You will have to cross some pastures frequented by cattle. A yellow sign indicates the direction to follow.
Arrived at the level of the bifurcation, you can go on the right to discover one of the many ponds of the island and a rather nice panorama on the island.
Retrace your steps and take the path that plunges you into undergrowth to reach the underwater galleries.
You are now inside the galleries.
The loop continues on the left by the coast. You will observe the waves breaking on the cliffs of the island. Yellow markings on the ground or on the rocks will guide you.
Magnificent panoramas await you.
Click on this link to have a first video preview of the panorama on our Facebook page.
Continue along the seaside to catch up with the road at the end of the loop at the point of the rocky.
After this point, you recognize the continuation of the East Coast Trail hike which is in front of your eyes.
Rejoin the road to complete the loop and return to your starting point.
Find out now !
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In terms of advice, Ø Traffic on the island of Marie-Galante: Prefer renting a vehicle because the island is quite large. You will enjoy driving on this island between the landscapes and the very fluid traffic, you will have no time constraints, a real pleasure. Ø Equipment: Good pair of sneakers or hiking shoes, light clothing, hiking bag (knife, flashlight, raincoat, cap, sunglasses, sunscreen, mosquito repellent). Ø Health: – Difficulty: 2 out of 10, route possible for the whole family depending on physical condition. Path in full sun, shoes adapted because rocky passage. – In normal times, always start hiking as early as possible in the morning. The daytime heat during minimal sporting activity can become quite stifling. – Go at your own pace and plan the time you will need based on your physical condition. – Most important, always a bottle of water per person and something to snack in your bag. With the heat, all fairly physical hikes can be dangerous with fatigue. Miscellaneous: Other hikes can be found in the area, the East Coast Trail or Caye-Plate and the ballad of Anse du Coq. You can also return to the town of Capesterre-de-Marie-Galante to enjoy and eat on the Plage de la Feuillère. You can visit the Bellevue Distillery and discover the many mills located in the surroundings (Moulin de Borée, Moulin de Boulogne,…). |
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OLIVIER Damien, your humble guide
2 Comments
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