Grande-Terre

Shaped like a butterfly, the two islands of Guadeloupe are separated by a saltwater river. The eastern island is Grande-Terre and the western is called Basse-Terre. Being in the north, Grande-Terre’s Point de la Grande Vigie is also the northern point of the eastern island.

Located in the southeast of Louisiana, somewhere between the Gulf of Mexico and the Barataria Bay, Grande-Terre is a natural habitat for estuarine dependent fish and invertebrate species. Surrounded by coral reefs, the coastline of Grande-Terre is an amazing limestone plateau with rolling hills, legendary cliffs and gorgeous sandy beaches that range from white to black sands. The island also faces some of the highest erosion rates in Louisiana coastal system and has some of the finest tourist resorts and farmlands.

Grande-Terre is rich in geological history. Some thousand years ago the sediment from the river Mississippi drained from the mid-west of the U.S and was deposited to deltas that became the island we know as Grande-Terre today. But the same forces that made the island are now at the verge of destroying it and effort for the preservation of the island is on the way.

It has an interesting history that begins with the tidal waves that made it and lead us to the pirates and later to the military fort of Livingston at the mouth of the Barataria Pass on the island. The fort of Livingston recalls the past days of the Civil War and stand proudly today. It can be seen from the observation tower at the State Park today. The island has several old buildings that range from over 200 year old.

The southern beaches of Grande-Terre have the typically beautiful aquamarine waters of the Caribbean. The sea here is clam and the waters are warmer especially in the lagoons as compared to that of the Atlantic. The shore is adorned with both natural and man-made beaches and most are open to public. However, the facilities at these public beaches might be limited unlike the private beaches owned by the hotels and beach resorts.

The Grand Isle State Park, found at the east end of the island is a state-owned and operated beach, offering excellent opportunities for fishing, sun bathing, crabbing, beach combing, camping and nature watching. The observation tower at the park gives a fantastic view of the whole area. Peppered with salt marshes and salt grasses, the island is a natural habitat for various nesting and migratory birds that fly from across the gulf to the island to rest, amongst which pelicans, buntings and tanagers can be most commonly sighted. The islands best birding spots are located at the Santinni Yard and the Queen Bess Island.

Grande-Terre has several grand hotels and restaurants that offer the best in international cuisines. It’s a nature lover’s paradise and a fisherman’s dream. The island has a lot to offer to the fishermen, as various fish like the speckle trout and red fish are abundant at the sea. You can go fishing at the State Park or the Caminada Pass at the tidal movement.

The island is alive with music, good food and also rodeo. It has some of the best boating facilities with eight different marinas operating in the island. With all this and much more it is little wonder that Grande-Terre is fast becoming one of the must see destinations in the Caribbean. From fishing to bird watching to boating, this island offers the perfect escape for summer relaxation.