More than 1,000 species of tropical flowers and plants in the Jardin Botanique, the 206-metre-high Gros Morne and the turquoise waters of Grande-Anse highlight three distinct aspects of nature in Deshaies. This range can help when choosing accommodation: which nature experiences should shape your stay, and which cultural sites would you like to include?
Landscape and Plant Life
Gros Morne separates Grande-Anse beach from the centre of Deshaies. It reaches a height of 206 metres and offers a steep walk through wooded undergrowth. At Grande-Anse beach, turquoise waters and coconut palms define the coastal scenery. A woodland walk and a coastal setting of water and palms offer two distinct nature experiences.
The Jardin Botanique de Deshaies is a seven-hectare park that was formerly owned by Coluche. It features more than 1,000 species of tropical flowers and plants. The area and the species count serve different purposes: seven hectares describes the size of the park, while more than 1,000 species indicates its botanical diversity. The flowers include bougainvilleas, hibiscus and porcelain roses; the trees include kapok trees, baobabs, mapous, sausage trees, breadfruit trees and double royal palms. The talipot is considered unique to Guadeloupe. Unlike the walk on Gros Morne and the coastal route, the focus here is on the diversity of plant species.
The Îlets Kahouanne (20 hectares) and Tête à l’Anglais (1.5 hectares) are also within the municipality of Deshaies; Kahouanne is considerably larger.
Coastal Route
The Littoral de Deshaies coastal route leads to Pointe Le Breton. From there, the route follows a coastal road towards Rifflet, continues behind the beach to Plage de La Perle, and then goes on to the car park. The route description therefore extends beyond the Pointe and names other notable points along the coast. Check current local information before setting out.
Art and the History of Sugar Cane
The sculpture L’Observateur de Menez by Jean Yves MENEZ stands in front of the municipal library. The composition combines the rock of Deshaies with an African mask created by a Breton.
Habitation Guyonneau includes the remains of the Grande Anse sugar plantation. Among the structures still standing is an aqueduct arch that supplied water to the sugar mill’s waterwheel. This structure makes the site’s technical function tangible: water was channelled to the mill wheel and thus linked to sugar-cane processing. The arch is therefore a specific architectural connection to the history of the mill’s operation.
The two cultural sites offer different perspectives: the sculpture is a work of art in front of the municipal library, while the Habitation includes architectural remains with a clearly identified function related to the mill. In Deshaies, artistic expression and the technology of sugar-cane processing thus provide distinct ways of exploring local history.
Discover more destinations: Vieux-Habitants, Sainte-Rose, Terre-De-Haut, Grand Anse, Port-Louis, Lamentin, Petit-Bourg, Trois-Rivières
For the main travel overview: Basse-Terre.
