Top Things to do in Baie-Mahault
The 6 Best Things to Do in Baie-Mahault, Guadeloupe
Discover the best top things to do in Baie-Mahault, Guadeloupe including Azimut Croisiere, L'instant Bien Etre Mendjiwa, Association Guadeloupeenne of Ski Nautique, Max Mallo Excursions Ilet Caret, Kama Club, Le Palais Des Glaces de Jarry.
Restaurants in Baie-Mahault
1. Azimut Croisiere
Overall Ratings
5 based on 162 reviews
Reviewed By Phil M
What a brilliant day! Today we had booked our second sailing trip. Again on a catamaran, but this time around the Grand Cul-de-sac Marin, the large bay formed to the north of the join between the two main Islands of Guadeloupe. Much of the area is national nature reserve and is very beautiful.
We arrived at the small marina in Baie Mahault in good time for embarkation at 8.30. The quite bay, surrounded in its inner parts by low lying mangroves, was flat calm and the morning sun already hot. Lathered up with factor 50 we were ferried out to Azimut a 13m catamaran, owned and skippered by Archenhaud. His crew are Delphine who seems to do everything and a guy whose name I missed but who drove the boat for the day.
The skipper briefed everyone in French and then provided a thorough translation for us Brits (again we were the only ones!) which he continued to do very attentively throughout the day. We sailed for about an hour out into the bay with Archenhaud explaining where we were going and what we should see.
At the first stop we moored stern to a submerged wreck which was about a metre below the surface of the sparkling clear water and clearly visible against the white sand surrounding it. Time to mask up and get snorkelling. Delphine was even able to supply me with some size 47 fins although she pointed out that I didn't really need them! Plunging off the platform into the bath warm water we were surrounded by fish of every colour you can imagine. There was plenty of time to explore the wreck before re-boarding for the next leg.
We motored the short distance to the Islet Caret. This tiny island forms part of the extensive 20km reef system that crosses the mouth of the bay. It is basically a couple of hundred metres of sand with a handful of palm trees and a couple of shacks providing shade. It is surrounded by warm shallow sea. Here we moored a short distance off shore and were encouraged to swim ashore while the gear went ashore in the tender. It is clearly a popular spot with numerous boats in the anchorage and plenty of people ashore. Walking up the beach we found that our crew had set up an impromptu bar with a plastic picnic table set into the sand in the surf and were serving rum cocktails. After about an hour of quaffing, paddling and watching a very skilled kite surfer we swam back to the boat and set off once more.
Archenhaud promised that we would be stunned at the next stop which is an anchorage right inside the marine nature reserve. We moored to an official reserve buoy between the reef and the Islet Fajou, the main island within the reserve, on which one is not allowed to land as it is a breeding ground for turtles and rare birds and animals. We were in about 3m of water but it was crystal clear and the most amazing jade colour.
After a few minutes, Delphine produced the most amazing sit down lunch for her 19 guests. Rillettes of Marlin, followed by oven roast chicken with rice, sauce de chien (not made with dogs apparently) and garnished with plantain and a dessert of prepared fruit. All served at laid tables with plenty of wine!
After lunch and a suitable time to let it settle, it was time to snorkel. We were shuttled out to the edge of the reef about 1/2km up-current so that we could drift easily back over the reef and watch the amazing underwater life. The bottom was covered by jagged, dark coral, mounted frequently with spherical structures up to 2m across. Fish of all shapes, sizes and colours were everywhere. Half way back I found a beautiful Angel Ray, a good 600mm from wing tip to wing tip, that seemed just as interested in me. She circled gently around me a couple of times, only a couple of metres away, before drifting away with a couple of elegant waves. It was all truly stunning. Returning to the boat the crew were interested to know what underwater life had been spotted.
The sail back to base was accompanied by a little more rum and we took a detour to the edge of the mangroves so that Archenhaud could explain their importance to the local ecological systems. We were put back ashore at 6pm, tired and very happy. The sun had shone all day (while we had watched the cloud and rain over the hills of Basse Terre!), everything had run very smoothly and efficiently but in a relaxed manner, the crew had been unfailingly hospitable and attentive, the other guests all very pleasant (one nice gentleman from Paris had done some translation for us) and we truly felt we had had excellent value for our €80.
2. L'instant Bien Etre Mendjiwa
Overall Ratings
5 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Kormi06 - Sun City, Arizona, United States
Un peu difficile à trouver dans la zone de Jarry à Baie Mahault. Une fois qu'on connait, on en redemande. un accueil souriant et chaleureux, un espace propre, net et climatisé. Des soins efficaces et des conseils à suivre si on a décidé de prendre soin de soi. Mon conseil ? ALLEZ-Y
3. Association Guadeloupeenne of Ski Nautique
Overall Ratings
5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By fdauph1
Club de ski nautique fonctionnant en mode associatif mais avec deux pilotes disponibles et prodiguant d'excellents conseils en wake, slalom ou figures. Cadre sympa. Accueil top. Attention aux jours où le vent vient du nord car la houle peut affecter le plan d'eau.
4. Max Mallo Excursions Ilet Caret
Overall Ratings
5 based on 1 reviews
Guadeloupe boat Tour to discover ilet Caret with a full nice lunch with grilled fish, ti-punch, feroce etc
Reviewed By myCaraibes - Guadeloupe
François le capitaine du bateau est originaire de la Guadeloupe, il connaît parfaitement son île et tous ses secrets. Il nous a gâté avec un poisson frais au barbecue installé dans l'eau. Je me souviens aussi du fondant au chocolat de sa femme avec des brochettes de fruits frais... Les enfants étaient ravis de pouvoir faire du Kayak. Une journée vraiment mémorable, à faire et à refaire !!!!!
5. Kama Club
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 5 reviews
Reviewed By FredPPK - Bouillante, Guadeloupe
Un lieu à fort potentiel, sympa et bien organisé. Du son et du bon son ! Même si je me suis senti un petit peu vieux... certainement du à la période estivale, expérience à renouveler.
6. Le Palais Des Glaces de Jarry
Ice skating in Guadeloupe
