French Antilles

The French Caribbean Islands form two Départements d'Outremer: one comprises Martinique, and the other Guadeloupe with its offshore group, Marie-Galante, Les Saintes and la Désirade. Two more distant islands, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy, which are administratively part of Guadeloupe, are included in the Leeward Islands chapter . Geographically, Guadeloupe and Martinique form the northern group of the Windward Islands, with the former British island of Dominica in between them; there are good ferry links for island hopping. The two main islands are large and both have mountains, volcanoes and forests where you can find rushing streams, waterfalls and pools for bathing in. The best beaches, however, are in the more arid parts, which are flatter, and these have become holiday resorts, popular principally with the French. The smaller islands are fairly hilly but dry, particularly those in the Leewards. Some beautiful French colonial architecture remains, sometimes with iron balconies and intricate fretwork, but many modern buildings are concrete blocks and lack charm.