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The Grand Cul de Sac Marin constitutes a real reservoir of biodiversity.
It is home to the majority of the coral species of the archipelago with 39km of coral reef, as well as 60% of the gorgonian species of the French West Indies. This paradise is threatened by climate change (rising sea levels and warming of the water), but also by pollution, the degradation of its seabed by boat anchors, overfishing, and the clearing of mangroves. The decision to classify it as a Natural Reserve was taken in 1987, since then preservation and awareness actions have been carried out in order to protect this place with a thousand treasures.
A set of small islets dot the lagoon and create unique and magnificent places. In this article, we talk to you about some of the islets that populate this place in Guadeloupe…
Located 15 minutes from your rental at Au Jardin des Colibris, a few minutes by boat, kayak or paddle from Sainte Rose, a paradise was born from the bowels of hell... In September 1989, Hugo, a gigantic hurricane, devastated Guadeloupe while bringing out a tiny islet of white sand… The White Islet.
Today this islet is a paradise in the lagoon inhabited exclusively by a few birds, a colony of Bernard Lhermitte and a privileged few in swimsuits. At the Jardin des Hummingbirds reception we will lend you a cooler and cold packs so you can have a Robinsonade... A picnic on the Islet Blanc, alone or almost alone, is magical! In order to protect the birds that come to nest there, the terns, and to preserve the ecosystem of this small islet, the latter is closed from April 15 to August 15.
Two species of Terns are present on this islet: the Lesser Tern and the Roseate Tern. It is the only nesting site for these birds in Guadeloupe, both classified as “vulnerable VU” and “critically endangered CR” on the red list of threatened species in France. During the breeding season, disturbances caused by boaters have serious consequences.
A plan B if you are with us during closure? On the way to La Biche !
Still opposite the town of Sainte-Rose, this small mangrove islet, traditionally a meeting place for local fishermen, will offer you exceptional sea bathing. Look at the sky and you will see the Frigatebirds circling, which we call here the Mal Fini because of their scissor tails.
Further away, accessible by boat, you can see Caret , a tiny islet that survives despite rising water levels and the agitation of tropical storms. This islet is famous for its turquoise waters and the impression it gives of being alone in the world. It owes its name to the hawksbill turtles, known as “Carette” turtles, for which it is a nesting site. Every year, the islet changes shape and shrinks, and its popularity doesn't help, because it's a place as popular with tourists as it is with locals!
To the right of Caret is the islet of Fajou .
Almost entirely covered in mangroves, this islet is part of the Guadeloupe Nature Reserve. Inhabited in the mid-19th century, it housed fertilizer and lime factories.
It also houses the last lime kiln in Guadeloupe. Today it is completely preserved from man and is home to numerous species: migratory and sedentary ducks, pelicans, gray rails, mongooses, crabs, turtles, lobsters, conch… With an area of 115 hectares, it is the largest large islet of Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin! Bordered by white sand, a few meters from the coral reef, you can enjoy the calm lagoon of a unique blue, and why not come across a ray or a hawksbill turtle (they frequent the islet during the nesting period).
Kayak or paddle lovers will tell you about another place, opposite Babin beach in Vieux-Bourg…. Macou islet.
A mangrove islet par excellence, it is the landmark of sailors coming to remember those lost at sea. In the past, a small chapel of Notre Dame de Saint-Macou adorned the end of the islet.
Rebuilt since Cyclone Hugo, it is frequented by a few regulars who come to leave flowers or candles there. Very little visited because it is still little known, it offers you timeless walks in absolute calm.
Littered with empty conch shells left by passing fishermen, Macou islet is adored by the Hermit Bernards who come to take shelter there. A small path crosses this islet, allowing you to discover the secrets of its mangroves. Narrow canals cross the islet for a peaceful stroll on the water. If you don't have a kayak available, don't hesitate to ask the fisherman from the adorable little fishing port of Vieux-Bourg to take you there for a fee.
