The island of Terre-den-Haut, the largest in the Les Saintes archipelago, was too hilly and dry for sugar plantations and, as a consequence, slavery never took hold here. The result is that some islanders can trace their roots back to the original Norman and Breton sailors who were its first colonists and many of the locals have light skin and blond or red hair. 

Terre-den-Haut has a lovely, unhurried ambience, as if a slice or rural France had been transplanted to the Caribbean. It’s very much a destination for charterers and has a relaxed yet cosmopolitan feel to it. Although the island only measures five by two and a half kilometres (three by one and a half miles) there is plenty going on. The village of Bourg des Saintes is the hub of the island, a picturesque village with a distinctly Norman flavour. The pier has a gilded column commemorating the French Revolution and is bustling with life when the ferries arrive. The narrow streets are lined with whitewashed, red-roofed houses awash with hibiscus blossoms and there are plenty of restaurants, shops, galleries and gift shops.

The Sole Mio overlooks the water, drop in to try the local specialities of swordfish tartare and the traditional Santoise dessert tourment d’amour (love’s torment) a cake with melted chocolate in the middle traditionally made by local women to cheer themselves up while their sailor husbands were at sea. 

The Aquatic Park features swimming lanes in the harbour and there are a couple of dive shops for those interested in exploring some undersea life on their Terre-den-Haut Les Saintes yacht charter. Baie du Marigot and Baie de Pont Pierre are both close to Bourg des Saintes and there are other good beaches at Anse Rodrigue, Anse a Cointe and on the basalt peninsula of Pain de Sucre where the snorkelling is particularly good. There’s a naturist beach at Anse Crawen.