introduction

Rosss: Location of Saint Barthelemy, 1 March 2007

Saint Barthélemy (St. Barth for short) is an overseas collectivity of France. The Collectivity of Saint Barthélemy contains four territories among the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean.

St. Barth has long been considered a playground of the rich and famous and is known for its beautiful pristine beaches, gourmet dining in chic bistros and high-end designer shopping.

This island is also home to the rare scorpion Centruroides barbudensis, recognised by an overly large tail.

surfing

Tolanor: Gustavia, St Barthelemy; 2006

The Caribbean, she is a harsh mistress. All of the islands in the Greater and Lesser Antilles share at least some aspect towards the North Atlantic and therefore are exposed to any passing fronts that generate of the East American Coast and transit the North Atlantic. These fronts often pass a good way to the north and swell decay can be a problem.

Regular windswell is a constant on the east coast of all of the island groups and hence there is almost always something to keep you occupied and off the rum for a few hours. too much wind can be a bad thing though and onshore days are very common, no matter how early in the morning you manage to peel yourself out of your cot and stumble down to the beach.

The third source of swell in the region are from passing hurricanes. Some of the strongest storm ever recorded on the planet file through here regularly. Technically the season spans June to November with early September being the peak. The ideal scenario is for the hurricane mass to pass clear of any inhabited areas and sit well offshore in the deep Carribean for a few days prior to disipating. The result is typically 3-5 days of western swell that lights up the hidden western points and reefs of the Caribbean. The persistant NE/E trade winds will gently fan these breaks all day long. It is then that some of the rarer points and breaks of Saint Barthelemy come to life. Surf exploration doesent get any better than this.

where to stay

WIKImaniac: Flag of Saint Barthelemy, 17 June 2007

Saint Barthelemy has about 25 hotels, most of which only accommodate 15 rooms or fewer. The largest hotel would be the Guanahani, which consists of 70 rooms. Hotels are classified in the traditional manner, 3 Star, 4 Star and 4 Star Luxe.

Villa vacations are extremely popular and there are hundreds of villas terraced into the hillsides throughout the island as well has many beachfront locations. Villas here can range from one-bedroom bunglalows to large luxurious homes.

what to pack

Flashdance: A pair of very simple Moroccan flip flops called "Cabjuks"; 25 May 2007

Trainers, loose clothing - everything for the hot weather. Definitely take along some bug repellent spray, good sunscreen and sunglasses! Better take your medicines with you (esp. anti histamine tablets), as the brands can be unfamiliar and cost more.

Before heading there, you may want to research on public transport information and possibly print out a list of the bus timetable, taxi stands incase you get lost while you're there.

Also, make a contact list of emails, addresses and phone numberes that you may need during the trip or for any emergencies.