Tower rocks
Rising from the sea.
TroisRiviere — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Tournasol7 — CC BY 4.0 · Tournasol7 — CC BY 4.0 · Tournasol7 — CC BY 4.0 · Tournasol7 — CC BY 4.0
Pointe des Châteaux is a peninsula about 11 km long at the eastern tip of Grande-Terre in Guadeloupe, about 10 km in a straight line east of the town of Saint-François and some 45 km from Pointe-à-Pitre. Its rocky tip bears the same name. The peninsula is made of limestone formed under the sea over millions of years and is swept by strong winds most of the time. Pointed rocks rise from the ocean off its tip like towers, the remains of an old cliff carved by the waves, which give the place its name, «point of the castles», and rare plants and animals live here. A short path climbs to the top of the headland, where a large cross stands, with views over Grande-Terre and the island of La Désirade, just 8 km offshore. The site has been protected since 1997 and welcomes around half a million visitors a year, with white-sand beaches nearby. The visit is free. Swimming at the tip is dangerous because of currents and waves, so use the sheltered beaches nearby; sunrise or late afternoon are the best times, when the heat eases.
Rising from the sea.
Towards La Désirade.
White sand.
Saint-François, Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe
No, the currents are strong; nearby beaches are better.
At sunrise or late afternoon.