Le Guanahani is committed to creating a unique, luxurious and natural experience that helps to sustain the planet, conserve wildlife and habitats, and reduce carbon emissions. Working with internationally recognized biologist Dr. Deborah Brosnan, the hotel has developed a long-range plan for preserving and protecting the land and sea surrounding the hotel. The initiative will also create programs that allow guests to get up-close-and-personal with the natural surroundings – from wildlife viewing and monitoring to educational and restoration-oriented activities.

Le Guanahani makes every effort to decrease its impact on the environment. The hotel employs green products and processes such as: paints and cleaning products chosen for their ecological value; papers produced from sustainably managed forests; low energy lighting; low-carbon products; and selective sorting. For laundry, the hotel brings in desalinated seawater to use with ecological detergents, which is then reused to irrigate the hotel gardens. And, significant hardware upgrades have been made to minimize air and water pollution. St. Barth is a “dry” island with no natural resource for drinking water; it desalinates seawater to address the island’s needs. Le Guanahani is equipped with two desalination plants; after fresh water is produced, it remains to reject residual brine into the sea without disrupting the ecosystem. The hotel invites guests to join in the conservation effort by reusing towels and linens.

Green Globe Certification

Le Guanahani’s commitment to promoting sustainable tourism is earnest and long-term. In 2013, it became the first hotel on the island to clearly define its sustainability intentions by associating with Green Globe, and its certification process—which covers areas of Sustainable Management, Social Economic, Cultural Heritage and Environment—was completed in December 2016.

Established in 1996, the Réserve Naturelle Saint-Barthelemy marine park comprises 2,500 acres divided into five zones throughout the island. Le Guanahani is located within the reserves of Grand Cul-de-Sac, Marigot Bay and Marechal Beach. In this tropical landscape and coastal environment, protected flora and fauna can be observed including pelicans, iguanas, turtles, heron, Pic Boeuf and many more.

Réserve Naturelle Saint-Barthelemy

Le Guanahani features hiking paths that can be accessed directly from the hotel. Each month, on nights of the full moon, the hotel offers special kayaking tours around the property. This amazing experience provides a unique perspective on Le Guanahani’s marine wonderland.

The enchanting marine life surrounding Le Guanahani is easy to explore on a self-guided snorkel tour around Marigot Bay and Grand Cul-de-Sac. Depending on the time of the year, snorkelers can see Green and Hawksbill sea turtles, schools of Blue Tang, Nurse Sharks, Elkhorn Coral, conch, lobster, reef squid and Pufferfish.

Snorkeling Trails

Le Guanahani offers exceptional night-sky viewing. Don’t miss the full moon when moonrise over the lagoon bathes the waters in shimmering light. The Milky Way, star constellations, planets, meteorite showers and, at times, the International Space Station can be seen from the hotel.

The valuable seagrass meadows found in the shallows of Grand Cul-de-Sac are home to a host of marine life including sea turtles, conch, lobsters and fish. The meadows decrease wave energy, making the waters calmer and allowing more sand to stay on the beaches for guests to enjoy. They also reduce the carbon footprint and help to protect our planet.

About the Seagrass Meadows

From late January until early April, Humpback Whales travel 2,000 miles from southern breeding sites to their summer feeding grounds off the northeast American coast. For many, their journey takes them past Le Guanahani. At times, they can be seen blowing and breaching outside the reef. Mothers will sometimes lead their newborn calves into the waters just beyond the reef where they pause on their journey. Underwater, one can often hear whales singing their haunting song.

During the nesting period for the Green Sea Turtle, staff and guests at the hotel help monitor the beaches for nests and hatchlings. Grand Cul-de-Sac and Marigot Bay are home to Hawksbill and Green sea turtles year-round. Although they were in serious decline, the marine reserve status of the lagoon and bay has contributed to their recovery. At Le Guanahani, we are maintaining the seagrass meadows and protecting the coastal dune vegetation on the property, both of which are critical feeding and resting habitat for sea turtles. The tiny hatchlings use the shallow coral reef habitat in Marigot Bay as a refuge from predators–its vital to their survival while they are small and vulnerable. As they get larger they migrate onto the seagrass beds on which they feed.