Just 10 miles from Guadeloupe, Désirade gives the impression of landing in a
different part of the world: there are few tourists, and a lot of wilderness.
The land is desert like with iguanas everywhere. Only 22 sq.km. in size, it can
be traversed in a day, and is the most authentic and natural of the entire
archipelago of Guadeloupe. Long and slim, La Désirade, 6.8 miles in length by
1.2 miles in length reaches its maximum altitude at 902 feet allowing for
beautiful panoramic views. A single road runs its whole length. There are many
the mysterious stories of "undesirables" confined here by Louis XIV. Désirade
offers spectacular the beaches of Petite Terre and Les Saintes and a mix of
absolute tranquility on the island and strong emotions under the water.
TERRITORY
Rough and wild, 15 km. east Pointe-des-Chateaux, the Desirade is
a small island of 22 sq. km., long and narrow (11km. x 2km.),
dry and desert covered with cactus, gave plants, bushes and populated
by iguanas.
The south coast is well populated and degrades to the sea with
extraordinary bays and beaches, while the north coast is high and
steep.
Part of "Desirade" are also the "Isle de la petite terre", which are
divided in Terre de
Haut and Terre de Bas. Both are marine national
parks. The capital is Beausejour, overlooking the bay of Grande Anse, has
1,620 inhabitants largely descendants of Britons, Normans and
Poitevins.
CLIMATE
The tropical climate is determined by trade winds. The temperature varies between 18 ° C. and 33 ° c. with an annualaverage of 25 ° c. In any case the climate is never too hot cause the air isrefreshed costantly by the winds.Dry and more sunny season runs from December to May. The late summer's hurricanes often cause much damage because of theirviolence. The more rainy months are September, October and November, but tropical storms are very short.
