La Colline Verte
Eight creole bungalows on a green hillside above Deshaies, steps from two beaches
La Colline Verte is a hillside cluster of creole bungalows above Deshaies, on Basse-Terre. Each unit is built in the low-slung, shuttered style of the island's traditional houses, air-conditioned, and set with its own terrace and hammock strung for the sea view below. Four room types range from a one-bedroom Standard bungalow at 25 square metres, sleeping up to four, through a two-bedroom Supérieur at 55 square metres, to the four-bedroom Familial, which sleeps up to eight. Every bungalow has a private bathroom and a fully equipped kitchenette. A shared pool sits at the centre of the grounds, ringed by planting dense enough to shade the paths between units. Barbecues are set out for evening use, and breakfast is served on-site. The beaches of La Perle and Fort Royal lie some 500 metres off, an easy walk down from the hill. Deshaies itself has its restaurants within reach, and the Cousteau reserve for diving lies further along the coast toward Bouillante. It is a quiet base for exploring the shore rather than a resort in its own right. Reception operates around the clock, with luggage storage and concierge help for arranging the boat trips and hikes the area is built around.