Martinique, Marie Galante, Les Saintes cruise
Caribbean Odyssey to the tune of the biguine (8 days)

Meet us at the pier in Le Marin, south of Martinique, to board your catamaran from 6pm. You'll meet the crew and your fellow passengers over a welcome drink. The Captain will tell you about the cruise program and safety instructions. After dinner, you'll weigh anchor for a night sail in the Caribbean Sea: take the opportunity to relax and enjoy these moments, contemplating the starry sky before you fall asleep. You'll sail along the coasts of Martinique and Dominica during the night.

You'll reach Marie-Galante in the morning. Nicknamed "la grande galette", in reference to its low relief, or "l'île aux cent moulins", Marie-Galante charms visitors with its authenticity, its gentle way of life and the friendliness of its inhabitants. It's said to resemble the Guadeloupe of fifty years ago. In addition to its villages and picturesque countryside, Marie-Galante offers magnificent white sandy beaches lined with coconut palms, including Anse Canot to the northwest. Enjoy your first stopover on the wind-protected, tree-shaded beach. The warm waters are home to lobsters, sea urchins and starfish. A pleasant little path with superb views leads to the nearby beach of Moustique, in the heavenly cove of Mays. 
Dinner and overnight at anchor.

In the morning, your Captain will set course eastwards for Les Saintes, which you will reach after two hours' sailing. Les Saintes is a truly unique archipelago off the south coast of Guadeloupe, famous throughout the West Indies for its bay, often compared to that of Rio de Janeiro. The beauty of the setting and the originality of its people, with their distant Breton origins, distill an incomparable atmosphere so seductive that many sailors have settled here. You'll have lunch at anchor opposite the Sugar Loaf, ideal for a swim among the fish and coral. In the late afternoon, head to the village of Terre de Haut for a stroll through its charming alleyways: enjoy an aperitif on the terrace, while sampling a Tourment d'amour, a delicious little local pastry, do a little shopping, or take an interest in the artisanal manufacture of Saintoises, typical small fishing boats. 
Dinner and overnight at anchor in Terre de Haut.

This day will be devoted to discovering the archipelago. Its nine islands and islets, only two of which are inhabited, offer yachtsmen a wealth of anchorages on the shores of beaches and coves that are all different: Pompierre, the best known, with its small restaurants at the entrance, Anse du Figuier, Anse Crawen... The totally untamed îlet Cabri is home to the overgrown ruins of a penitentiary. Les Saintes is a destination in itself, and you'll discover its secrets from one anchorage to the next. In the morning, before the day visitors arrive, take a walk to Fort Napoléon. Its museum on the history of the archipelago, its model ships and its botanical garden of succulent plants, populated by iguanas, are of great interest. The panorama of the bay is splendid. Dinner and overnight at anchor.

Before sunrise, you'll set sail for a long journey north of Martinique, towards Saint Pierre. You'll pass just off the coast of Dominica. Admire the spectacle offered by this natural Caribbean island. It is one of the most unspoilt islands in the Caribbean archipelago. Its untamed coastline is covered in luxuriant tropical vegetation, climbing to the top of high, jagged peaks with waterfalls and a volcano with a constantly boiling lake. This almost untouched setting is home to the last descendants of the Caribbean Indians and the fishing communities who still set sail on their traditional gum trees. 

Dominica is the only place in the world where sperm whales live year-round. The best time to see them is from November to March, when the females give birth to their young. Perhaps you'll be lucky enough to spot one as you sail along. You'll reach Martinique in the afternoon, at the Saint Pierre anchorage. Depending on marine weather conditions, a swim stop is planned a few miles beforehand at Anse Couleuvre, offering a wild black sand beach bordered by tropical forest: an impression of the end of the world or a voyage back in time to the pirates. Founded in 1635, Saint-Pierre was the economic capital of Martinique until 1902, when the Montagne Pelée volcano erupted and razed the town to the ground. Its history is closely linked to colonization and the development of the sugar industry. Of particular interest are the ruins of the theater and the Maison de Santé Coloniale. Dinner and overnight at anchor.

Depending on your arrival time at the Saint Pierre anchorage the day before, you'll sail south to Les Anses d'Arlet in the morning or afternoon, downwind of Martinique. This commune covers four coves: Grande Anse, Anse Dufour, Anse d'Arlet and Petite Anse. You're sure to appreciate the very West Indian ambience of this fishing village: a charming church and Creole houses sitting along the beach and a wooden pontoon exactly aligned with the bell tower offer a picturesque postcard landscape. Along with the Rocher du Diamant, it is the most photographed spot on Martinique. On the sea side, Anses d'Arlet is renowned for the beauty and diversity of its seabed, populated by a multitude of tropical fish and sea turtles. Dinner and overnight at anchor.

This last beautiful day of sailing along the south coast of the Flower Island begins with the highlight of the show: the famous Diamond Rock, the island's emblem. This rock rises out of the sea, and owes its name to its shape and the brilliant reflections that adorn its slopes depending on the time of day. During the Franco-English wars of the First Empire, it was annexed by the English to control the Saint Lucia Canal. It was a veritable fortress, equipped with gun batteries, and was awarded the title of "warship of Her Majesty's Navy" under the patronymic of HMS Diamond Rock. Today, this jewel is a protected natural area, a refuge for myriads of birds and one of the 80 most beautiful scuba diving spots in the world. Sailing continues to Anse Moustique, a magnificent beach much less frequented than Les Salines, as it is difficult to reach by road. After lunch, enjoy the clear waters and fine sand. In the late afternoon, your catamaran will anchor opposite Sainte-Anne, a pretty seaside resort with lively nightlife. Dinner and overnight at anchor.

After an early breakfast, your catamaran will set sail one last time for the port of Le Marin. You will leave your boat and your captain at 9:00 am.