Vieux-Habitants Bay

About This Anchorage

Vieux-Habitants ('Old Inhabitants') is the oldest continuously occupied settlement on Guadeloupe — established in 1636, just one year after the French first colonised the island. The village retains a genuinely authentic character: a 17th-century church (Église Saint-Joseph), colourful Creole houses, and the Cacaoyère et Caféière Beauséjour plantation — one of the few remaining working cacao and coffee plantations on the island, open for tours. The anchorage provides reasonable shelter from the NE trades in 4–10m of sand. The nearby Domaine de Vanibel also produces excellent vanilla and spices. The village is small and unpretentious — a genuine slice of rural Guadeloupean life away from the tourist circuit. The black sand beach west of the village is peaceful and rarely crowded.

Hazards

• !River mouth siltation — anchor upwind/upcurrent of the river mouth; water quality affected by river outflow after rain
• !SW swell exposure — open to south and west; check forecasts before overnight stay
• !Limited facilities — completely self-sufficient; nearest fuel and water at Basse-Terre marina (5nm south)
• !Rocky approach in some areas — use chart and visual pilotage

Skipper's Tips

• →The Beauséjour cacao and coffee plantation tour is one of Guadeloupe's best-kept secrets — a fascinating insight into the island's agricultural heritage
• →Vieux-Habitants was the first settlement on Guadeloupe — the 17th-century church is worth a visit ashore
• →The anchorage is quiet and rarely visited by other cruising yachts — a good choice for a peaceful overnight in authentic surroundings
• →Fresh local produce is available in the village — bananas, mangoes, and Creole spices at very reasonable prices
• →Depart for Basse-Terre town (5nm south) early to secure a berth in the marina before the afternoon trades strengthen

Nearby Anchorages