Sargassum at Grande Anse, Terre-de-Bas: today's beach report
Clear
Easy going
Grande Anse sits on the southern shore of Terre-de-Bas, the quieter of the two inhabited islands of Les Saintes, off the coast of Guadeloupe. The beach runs beside the village of the same name, and the island is reached only by boat. This page tracks sargassum at Grande Anse for travellers planning the crossing.
You get the current status, a 0 to 5 rating that sums up what has been observed, and a map of the Les Saintes area for weighing one beach against another. Everything is refreshed each morning, so the picture you act on belongs to today rather than to an older snapshot.
Grande Anse on the sargassum map
What to know about this beach
Facing south on the Caribbean side of the archipelago, Grande Anse sits off the direct line that brings sargassum to the Lesser Antilles. The rafts ride the easterly trade winds and the current beneath them, so a leeward beach turned to the south usually takes far less than a shore looking straight out into the Atlantic.
The shelter is real but partial. Les Saintes is a cluster of small islands, and the channels between them can funnel patches that round the archipelago from the south, particularly when the swell swings that way. Steep hillsides and a narrow bay also mean limited flushing: once weed settles into the cove, it can linger for a few days. A morning check still pays off.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grande Anse badly affected by sargassum?
Usually less than Atlantic-facing beaches. It opens south on the leeward side of Terre-de-Bas, so the trade winds push rafts past the archipelago rather than into the bay, although south swell can still send some in.
How do I check the beach before catching the boat?
Open the FanGass map on the morning of your crossing. Grande Anse carries a 0 to 5 rating and a status updated every morning, early enough to change plans before the first departures.
When is sargassum most likely in Les Saintes?
Arrivals cluster between March and October in most years, with peaks that shift from one season to the next. December to February tends to be calmer, though no month can be counted on as clear.
Where else can I swim around Terre-de-Bas?
Other coves on the island face different directions, including the Petites-Anses side, and Terre-de-Haut lies one short crossing away. The Les Saintes zone map shows their ratings next to each other.