Deshaies (Basse-Terre Island, Guadeloupe)

Deshaies is a port town on Basse-Terre Island, part of the French oversea territory Guadeloupe (Lesser Antilles). The town covers a total area of approx 31 km2 (12 ml2) and has population around 5,000.

Guadeloupe's other cruise port is Pointe-a-Pitre (Grande-Terre Island).

• Deshaies is on the Basse-Terre Island's northwestern coast. The town, along with its littoral zone of Large Cape, preserve vestiges of Guadeloupe's primitive vegetation at the time of the arrival of Christopher Columbus (1451-1506). Columbus visited the island for the first time on November 4, 1493. The deep-water bay was also the best naturally protected. In the following years, it was used as shelter by pirates and other corsairs. There is a legend about a huge treasure hidden on Basse-Terre Island.
• The local economy is largely based on agriculture (sugar, cocoa, coffee, vanilla, bananas). Fishing is another major industry. Craft industry is well developed. Wooden hand-made souvenirs can be bought in local shops.
• Since 2011, Deshaies is the major filming place of the "Death in Paradise" TV series.
• Deshaies was the first Club Med village intended for exclusively American customers (currently Langley Resort Hotel Fort Royal Guadeloupe). The resort has Basse-Terre Island's only hotel - built directly on the beach. Grand-Anse (Guadeloupe's biggest beach) is also located nearby.

Deshaies cruise terminal