Plage de la Caravelle is one of the best beaches on Grande-Terre — a long arc of white sand near Sainte-Anne on the south coast, with calm, clear turquoise water protected from Atlantic swell by the island's geography. The beach is wide, the sand fine, and coconut palms provide natural shade at intervals. There is a Club Med resort at one end, but the beach itself is public and accessible.
The water here is reliably calm and excellent for swimming. Snorkelling is decent close to the rocky outcrops at each end of the bay, where small coral heads and reef fish congregate. The beach has a few vendors and facilities. If you are based in Pointe-à-Pitre, Sainte-Anne is about 25 km east — a straightforward drive on the RN4.