St-Jean

St-Jean Review

There is a monument at the crest of the hill that divides St-Jean from Gustavia. Called The Arawak, it symbolizes the soul of St. Barth. A warrior, one of the earliest inhabitants of the area (AD 800-2,500), holds a lance in his right hand and stands on a rock shaped like the island; in his left hand he holds a conch shell, which sounds the cry of nature; perched beside him are a pelican (which symbolizes the air and survival by fishing) and an iguana (which represents the earth). The half-mile-long crescent of sand at St-Jean is the island's most popular beach. A popular activity is watching and photographing the hair-raising airplane landings, but be sure to not stand in the area at the beach end of the runway, where someone was seriously injured. You'll also find some of the best shopping on the island here, as well as several restaurants.