La Caravelle (Sainte-Anne, Grande Terre)
- Shortboard, Longboard
- Best for
- Advanced
- Skill Level
- Ocean
- Spot Type
- Busy
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
La Caravelle is an exposed reef break at Sainte-Anne with generally clear, turquoise water and a predominantly right-hand reef wave. The wave quality is described as good when it works, but overall conditions are frequently inconsistent/unreliable, and waves can be flatter during summer. A key part of the spot is timing: the reef is very shallow, particularly around low tide, and the break includes submerged rocks/coral heads and sea urchins. Sessions are commonly recommended around mid-to-high tide to reduce the chance of contact with the reef, and booties are strongly advised. During very large swells, the shallow reef sections can become heavy and close out. Wind conditions are dominated by trade winds (Alizés) from the East to East-Northeast, with the most reliable period in winter and spring (especially December through June). East winds tend to blow cross-shore for surf, and wind can be slightly turbulent near the shore because of palm trees and resort buildings. For riders beyond surfing, consistent trade winds can support kitesurfing and windsurfing, but beach zone management matters: kiting and windsurfing may be restricted near swimmer areas, and the launch/setup can be narrow in places. Wingfoiling is possible but requires extra caution due to the variable shallow reef depth, with more favorable depth generally only outside the reef or in specific channels.
- Exposed reef break with a right-hand wave
- Unreliable/inconsistent surf overall (often flat in summer)
- Trade-wind season supports multiple wind sports from December to June
- High focus on safety due to shallow reef and sea urchins
- Clear, turquoise lagoon-style water
- Trade winds can be strong and consistent (Dec–Jun peak)
- Scenic reef break when conditions line up (noted long, peeling right-hand rides)
- Beach access with nearby amenities
- Reef hazards including rocks and sea urchins
- Unreliable/inconsistent waves
- Very shallow conditions over the reef, especially at low tide
- Crowds and resort boat traffic around the beach
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- E, ENE, NE
- Wind Range
- 15–22 kts
- Wind Type
- Trade — Consistent trade winds (Alizés) blowing from the East to East-Northeast.
- Reliability
- High during winter and spring months.
- Gust Factor
- Steady — Steady trade-wind pattern.
- Best Months
- December, January, February, March, April, May, June
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Ocean
- Beach
- Sand — White sand beach with reef directly involved in the break.
- Beach Size
- Medium
- Waves
- Medium — Reef break described with medium wave size overall.
- Launch
- Small — Sandy beach access with some palm trees; kiting launch may be narrow near the resort.
- Launch Difficulty
- Moderate — Moderate launch difficulty due to narrow access and shallow reef hazards.
Through the year
Highest during the European winter holidays and spring break.
Hurricane season runs from June to November (with higher rainfall and potential storms).
By sport
What to expect for each.
Trade winds can support freeride and wave sessions on the reef/outer reef areas; care is needed with swimmers and shallow reef depth.
- Kite Sizes
- 9–12 m²
Good for freeriding and bump-and-jump; reef can provide some protection from larger ocean swell. Access is from the beach.
- Sail Sizes
- 5.5–7 m²
Suitable but requires extreme caution due to shallow reef depth; significant depth is mainly found outside the reef or in specific channels.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Foil-friendliness is described as limited due to variable depth over the reef.
- Min Depth
- Variable; significant depth is only reliably found outside the reef or specific channels.
- Wing Sizes
- 4–6 m²
Exposed reef break with a right-hand wave; waves are unreliable/inconsistent and can be flat during summer.
- Wave Direction
- Right
- Optimal Swell
- N, NE
- Swell Height
- 0.5–1.5 m
- Optimal Tide
- High — Surfing is best at mid-to-high tide to avoid hitting the reef.
- Shelter
- Semi-sheltered — Overall exposed reef setting; reef sections provide some mediation of swell, but sections can get heavy and close out over the shallow reef.
- Wind Effect
- East winds are cross-shore; North winds can be offshore but are rare during swell events. Side/side-onshore wind can affect wave cleanliness (often side-on from the left).
- Bigger Swell
- Can become heavy and close out over shallow reef sections during very large swells.
- Wave Quality
- Good — Quality described as good, but with overall unreliability/inconsistency.
- Wave Power
- Moderate — Moderate wave power overall.
- Wave Shape
- Peeling
- Peel Speed
- Medium
- Ride Length
- Medium — Can offer rides of 50 to 100 meters on a good North swell.
- Ride Length Details
- Often described as a long ride on the right when conditions line up; 50–100 m possible on a good North swell.
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for La Caravelle (Sainte-Anne, Grande Terre) in the full forecast view.
La Caravelle (Sainte-Anne, Grande Terre) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 7–14 ktsGusts 24 kts
- Direction
- ESE104°
- Strongest day
- Sun, Oct 2514 kts
- Windy days
- 3/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.6–1.1 m5s period
- Temperature
- 27–30 °C
Over the next 7 days, La Caravelle (Sainte-Anne, Grande Terre) is forecast for daytime winds of 7–14 kts, peaking around 14 kts on Sunday, October 25 with gusts to 24 kts. The prevailing direction is ESE. Waves run 0.6–1.1 m with a period of about 5s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Submerged coral heads
- Rocks
- Sea urchins
- Shallow reef
- Crowds
- Resort boat traffic
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- Seasonal — Seasonal lifeguards.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Rescue availability is described as limited; safety for offshore incidents is managed by SNSM, with schools often providing monitoring for their students.
- Emergency Info
- The nearest hospital is located in Pointe-à-Pitre (CHU de la Guadeloupe). Use 112 or 15.
- Localism / Vibe
- Mild — Localism described as mild.
Rules of the spot
Respect the swimming zones designated for the resort guests.
- Kiting and windsurfing may be restricted in specific zones close to the swimmer areas.
- Watch out for rocks.
- Wear booties to protect against sea urchins and sharp coral.
- Time your session for mid-to-high tide to avoid hitting the reef.
- Respect designated swimming zones.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Pointe-à-Pitre
- Nearest Town
- Sainte-Anne
- Nearest Airport
- Pointe-à-Pitre Le Raizet International Airport (PTP)
- Parking
- Public parking is available near the entrance to the beach, but it can fill up quickly on weekends.
- Public Transport
- Karu'lis bus network serves Sainte-Anne; car rentals are commonly the most practical way to reach the spots.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- French
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Direct — Club Med Caravelle is located directly on the spot; numerous rentals and accommodations are available in Sainte-Anne.
- Food & Drink
- Several beach bars and restaurants within walking distance along the beach.
- Equipment Rental:
- Equipment rental for windsurfing and surfing is available nearby and at the resort.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at La Caravelle (Sainte-Anne, Grande Terre)?
The best overall months at La Caravelle (Sainte-Anne, Grande Terre) are December, January, February, March, April, May, June.
Which wind directions work at La Caravelle (Sainte-Anne, Grande Terre)?
La Caravelle (Sainte-Anne, Grande Terre) works with E, ENE, NE winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at La Caravelle (Sainte-Anne, Grande Terre)?
Recommended equipment sizes at La Caravelle (Sainte-Anne, Grande Terre): Kitesurfing: 9–12 m² · Windsurfing: 5.5–7 m² · Wingfoiling: 4–6 m². The typical wind range is 15–22 kts.
What skill level is La Caravelle (Sainte-Anne, Grande Terre) suitable for?
La Caravelle (Sainte-Anne, Grande Terre) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Windsurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate · Surfing: Intermediate.