Environment
In order to preserve the quality of our environment and to limit our impact linked to the tourist activity, we have decided since 2019 to commit ourselves on the way of a tourism respectful of the nature, the men and the territory which welcomes it.
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Environment
Environment
We invite you to be attentive to the points below and thank you in advance for your involvement in the preservation of the island:
Local wildlife
The turtles, tortoises and iguanas you'll come across are protected species. We recommend that you don't feed them or touch them, to avoid frightening them. But they'll be the perfect addition to your vacation photos!
Fishing
A permit issued by the local authorities is required to try your hand at fishing. Many species are protected and/or dangerous to eat.
Preserving our environment
- We recommend that you apply your sunscreen after swimming, so that it doesn't reach the corals being restored in many of the island's seabeds.
- Beachside vegetation is off-limits. It is essential to preserve it, as it protects coastal dwellings in the event of storms.
- It's forbidden to leave garbage behind. There are plenty of garbage cans along the island's beaches and points of interest.
- If you're a smoker, ashtrays are available at each beach entrance.
Trees
The palm trees
More than a dozen species of palm trees are found in the hotel gardens: Coconut Palm, Canary Date Palm, Fox Tail Palm, Bottle Palm, Multipliant, Royal Palm, Triede Palm, Sabal, Whashingtonia, Sombrero*...
With 2500 species divided into more than 200 genera, palms are among the oldest plant species on our planet. Symbol of the tree of life, fertility and success, all civilizations around the Mediterranean have venerated them. The palm tree has no trunk but a stipe, a stem filled with pith or fibers, and no branches but palms. One of the most useful plants in the agricultural economy of tropical countries, all its parts are used: its fruits, coconuts or dates are staple foods, the wood of the stipes is used to make floors and walls while the leaves are used to cover houses.
In St. Barths, the woven leaves of the Latanier tree have long been the basis of a craft industry renowned for the manufacture of delicate decorative objects, hats and baskets.
The Frangipani tree (Plumeria)
Considered one of the most beautiful tropical flowering trees in South America and the West Indies, the Frangipani is frequently planted in the Far East near temples and in cemeteries. Its emblematic flower gives off a bewitching sweet perfume. Edible it was used in pastries and jam. Its toxic sap is sometimes used to burn warts.
The Flamboyant (delonix regia)
The Flamboyant is found throughout the intertropical zone. Decorative tree known for its magnificent flowering in clusters of scarlet or sometimes yellow flowers, it is native to Madagascar. It then produces long flat pods of 30 to 60 cm long, filled with seeds. If you sow a flamboyant, you will have to wait about ten years before you can enjoy these wonders!
Neem tree (Azadirachta indica)
Sacred medicinal tree of India, the Neem Tree is an integral part of the Indian way of life. Its powerful antiseptic, antimycotic, antiviral and antibacterial properties are cited in ancient Sanskrit texts and it is used in 75% of Ayurvedic formulations. The oil is recommended to treat skin diseases and the leaves are used in beauty products.
Guaiac* (Guaiacum officinale)
Gaïac wood, hard and heavy, has long been used in cabinet making and in the construction of the windward huts of St-Barth. It was customary to build houses by integrating a Guaiac tree in one of the corners before building the walls. The tree was then cut down and became part of the building which was then rooted in the ground. Also known for its medicinal virtues (treatment of syphilis, tuberculosis and arthritis), its overexploitation has led to the listing of the species in the Washington Convention.
The Traveler's Tree (Ravanela madagascarensis)
Native to Madagascar, the Traveler's Tree is part of the flora of tropical islands. Its name comes from the fact that the cup formed at the base of its long leaves arranged in a fan shape retains rainwater that the traveler can drink to quench his thirst. Its different parts are used as building materials for traditional vegetable huts.
Shrubs and Bedding Plants
The Seaside Grape* (Coccoloba uvifera)
Resistant to sea spray, the seaside grape tree (Coccoloba uvifera) adapts to sandy and rocky soils and grows especially along the coastline where it proves useful for cutting the wind and retaining the sand on the beaches.
Its fruit with a stone is edible when ripe when it is purple in color. The punch resulting from the maceration of the fruit in rum and the wine from the fermentation of the fruit juice are appreciated.
The Allamanda
Allamanda is a shrub of the Apocynaceae family named after the Swiss botanist Frederic-Louis Allamand (1735-1803). Its infundibular, funnel-shaped flowers can be yellow, mauve, purple, pink-orange and creamy-white. Be careful with children and animals because the flowers are toxic by contact with the latex that contains its leaves.
Ixora (Ixora casei)
Native to tropical and subtropical regions, Ixora is a flowering plant of the Rubiaceae family with nearly 500 species. Commonly known as the "West Indian Jasmine", it produces leathery leaves and clusters of flowers that bloom year-round in the tropics. Its red flowers are commonly used in Hindu worship and traditional Indian medicine.
The rose laurel (Nerium oleander)
The rose laurel (Nerium oleander) is a shrub of the Apocynaceae family native to the southern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, often planted in hedges in the open ground. All parts of this plant are toxic, and ingesting a single leaf can be fatal. In 1808 during the Spanish campaign, during a bivouac, Napoleon's soldiers roasted lambs on rose laurel spits. Of the 12 soldiers, 8 died and the other 4 were seriously intoxicated.
The Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea)
It is in homage to the French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville that the botanist Philibert Commerson named the first specimen of Bougainvillea that he discovered in Brazil. The bright colors of these thorny climbing shrubs are not due to the small white flowers, but to the leaves that surround them called "bracts" in various colors: pink, red, purple, orange, yellow, white.
Hibiscus (Hibískos)
The hibiscus (from the Greek hibískos meaning marshmallow) has more than 30,000 varieties. Known since ancient times, they were cultivated in Egypt and Asia for their ornamental, food and medicinal characteristics. Rich in ascorbic acid, they are believed to have diuretic, hypotensive and sedative properties. Imported in Europe in the XIIth century by the Spanish Moors, some species were introduced in America and in the Caribbean by the African slaves. Its dried and infused flowers are used for sauces, jams, syrups and infusions. They can also be eaten raw or cooked as vegetables.
the Balisier (heliconia)
From the Heliconiaceae family, the Balisier includes more than 100 species with rhizomes. Native to the Amazon, it is found in the Caribbean islands where its banana-like leaves are used to wrap fresh produce in markets and as a vegetable "papillote" for cooking. Tropical flower par excellence with the shape of superimposed parrot beaks, its flattened inflorescence is made up of multiple bracts. Its intense blue fruit is a delight for hummingbirds.
Banana tree (family Musaceae)
The banana tree (family Musaceae) is not a tree but a herbaceous plant because it is not lignified. It is customary to say a little abusively that it is "the largest grass in the world". Comprising about sixty species, all tropical, several of which are widely cultivated for the production of bananas, its edible fruit comes in several varieties: fig or yellow eaten as a dessert, green or plantain cooked as a vegetable.
Silver mangle (Canocarpus erectus)
Unique by its velvety and grey foliage the Silver Mangle (Canocarpus erectus) grows in sandy soils and very dry lands. This shrub is interesting for seaside areas because it resists very well to sea spray, wind, humid soils and sun. Its leaves, covered with small silky hairs, give it its beautiful silver-gray color.
Song of Jamaica and Song of India (Dracaena reflexa)
Native to Madagascar, Song of Jamaica and Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) are beautiful tropical plants that are particularly decorative because they grow in compact clumps on upright stems. While "Song of Jamaica" has dark green lanceolate leaves, its sister "Song of india" is characterized by an elegantly colored foliage of light green and yellow.
Cacti & Succulents
Agave (family Agavaceae)
Composed of many species, the Agavaceae family is native to the American continent and more particularly to Mexico. Some species of Agave have been acclimatized on other continents and in the islands. They are slow growing and it takes a few years to see them bloom, always once before dying. The blue agave is used for the production of tequila and mezcal. The leaves of the agave americana, the best known, provided fibers for the manufacture of ropes.
Aloe (Aloe vera)
Aloe is a plant native to Africa and Madagascar with nearly 500 species. Used in the manufacture of many beauty products, the gel extracted from the leaves relieves skin pain and accelerates the healing of wounds and burns. In Asia, its flesh, comparable to that of the grape, is appreciated as a dessert in the form of translucent gelatinous cubes. Its small red-orange or yellow flowers are densely grouped on long flowering stems, sometimes measuring more than a meter. Unlike agaves, aloes do not die after flowering.
The thorn of Christ (Euphorbia millii)
Christ thorn (Euphorbia millii) is a small shrub with highly branched brown stems covered with numerous long, sharp thorns. The remarkable bright red bracts surrounding the tiny flowers are often compared to drops of blood. Poisonous plant in case of ingestion, its sap is very irritating, like that of all the euphorbias.
The Yucca (Yuca Elephants)
Yucca is a genus of about fifty species of shrubby perennials remarkable for their rosettes of hard, sword-shaped leaves and their splendid clusters of white flowers. Very widespread in the southwestern United States, they are found in hot and dry regions of the American continent and in the West Indies. Depolluting plants, they mainly absorb benzene and ammonia.
Our sustainable development policy
At Le Christopher, we are committed to preserving the exceptional beauty of Saint-Barthélemy.As the island's first Green Globe-certified hotel, we take action every day to reduce our impact on the environment and protect the ecosystems around us.
Our concrete actions:
- Water conservation: on-site water production thanks to our own desalination plant.
- Responsible energy: use of solar panels and rigorous monitoring of consumption.
- Zero single-use plastic: reusable glass bottles and sustainable alternatives.
- Waste management: selective sorting, composting and recycling.
- Protecting biodiversity: support for local associations Coral Shepherd and Ouanalao Reef to restore coral reefs and replant mangroves.
By choosing to stay at Le Christopher, you are contributing to the preservation of the island and its unique environment. Thank you for working with us to make tourism more sustainable.
All concerned
We invite you to be attentive to the points below and thank you in advance for your involvement in the preservation of the island:
Local wildlife
The turtles, tortoises and iguanas you'll come across are protected species. We recommend that you don't feed them or touch them, to avoid frightening them. But they'll be the perfect addition to your vacation photos!
Fishing
A permit issued by the local authorities is required to try your hand at fishing. Many species are protected and/or dangerous to eat.
Preserving our environment
- We recommend that you apply your sunscreen after swimming, so that it doesn't reach the corals being restored in many of the island's seabeds.
- Beachside vegetation is off-limits. It is essential to preserve it, as it protects coastal dwellings in the event of storms.
- It's forbidden to leave garbage behind. There are plenty of garbage cans along the island's beaches and points of interest.
- If you're a smoker, ashtrays are available at each beach entrance.
The Gardens
Trees
The palm trees
More than a dozen species of palm trees are found in the hotel gardens: Coconut Palm, Canary Date Palm, Fox Tail Palm, Bottle Palm, Multipliant, Royal Palm, Triede Palm, Sabal, Whashingtonia, Sombrero*...
With 2500 species divided into more than 200 genera, palms are among the oldest plant species on our planet. Symbol of the tree of life, fertility and success, all civilizations around the Mediterranean have venerated them. The palm tree has no trunk but a stipe, a stem filled with pith or fibers, and no branches but palms. One of the most useful plants in the agricultural economy of tropical countries, all its parts are used: its fruits, coconuts or dates are staple foods, the wood of the stipes is used to make floors and walls while the leaves are used to cover houses.
In St. Barths, the woven leaves of the Latanier tree have long been the basis of a craft industry renowned for the manufacture of delicate decorative objects, hats and baskets.
The Frangipani tree (Plumeria)
Considered one of the most beautiful tropical flowering trees in South America and the West Indies, the Frangipani is frequently planted in the Far East near temples and in cemeteries. Its emblematic flower gives off a bewitching sweet perfume. Edible it was used in pastries and jam. Its toxic sap is sometimes used to burn warts.
The Flamboyant (delonix regia)
The Flamboyant is found throughout the intertropical zone. Decorative tree known for its magnificent flowering in clusters of scarlet or sometimes yellow flowers, it is native to Madagascar. It then produces long flat pods of 30 to 60 cm long, filled with seeds. If you sow a flamboyant, you will have to wait about ten years before you can enjoy these wonders!
Neem tree (Azadirachta indica)
Sacred medicinal tree of India, the Neem Tree is an integral part of the Indian way of life. Its powerful antiseptic, antimycotic, antiviral and antibacterial properties are cited in ancient Sanskrit texts and it is used in 75% of Ayurvedic formulations. The oil is recommended to treat skin diseases and the leaves are used in beauty products.
Guaiac* (Guaiacum officinale)
Gaïac wood, hard and heavy, has long been used in cabinet making and in the construction of the windward huts of St-Barth. It was customary to build houses by integrating a Guaiac tree in one of the corners before building the walls. The tree was then cut down and became part of the building which was then rooted in the ground. Also known for its medicinal virtues (treatment of syphilis, tuberculosis and arthritis), its overexploitation has led to the listing of the species in the Washington Convention.
The Traveler's Tree (Ravanela madagascarensis)
Native to Madagascar, the Traveler's Tree is part of the flora of tropical islands. Its name comes from the fact that the cup formed at the base of its long leaves arranged in a fan shape retains rainwater that the traveler can drink to quench his thirst. Its different parts are used as building materials for traditional vegetable huts.
Shrubs and Bedding Plants
The Seaside Grape* (Coccoloba uvifera)
Resistant to sea spray, the seaside grape tree (Coccoloba uvifera) adapts to sandy and rocky soils and grows especially along the coastline where it proves useful for cutting the wind and retaining the sand on the beaches.
Its fruit with a stone is edible when ripe when it is purple in color. The punch resulting from the maceration of the fruit in rum and the wine from the fermentation of the fruit juice are appreciated.
The Allamanda
Allamanda is a shrub of the Apocynaceae family named after the Swiss botanist Frederic-Louis Allamand (1735-1803). Its infundibular, funnel-shaped flowers can be yellow, mauve, purple, pink-orange and creamy-white. Be careful with children and animals because the flowers are toxic by contact with the latex that contains its leaves.
Ixora (Ixora casei)
Native to tropical and subtropical regions, Ixora is a flowering plant of the Rubiaceae family with nearly 500 species. Commonly known as the "West Indian Jasmine", it produces leathery leaves and clusters of flowers that bloom year-round in the tropics. Its red flowers are commonly used in Hindu worship and traditional Indian medicine.
The rose laurel (Nerium oleander)
The rose laurel (Nerium oleander) is a shrub of the Apocynaceae family native to the southern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, often planted in hedges in the open ground. All parts of this plant are toxic, and ingesting a single leaf can be fatal. In 1808 during the Spanish campaign, during a bivouac, Napoleon's soldiers roasted lambs on rose laurel spits. Of the 12 soldiers, 8 died and the other 4 were seriously intoxicated.
The Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea)
It is in homage to the French explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville that the botanist Philibert Commerson named the first specimen of Bougainvillea that he discovered in Brazil. The bright colors of these thorny climbing shrubs are not due to the small white flowers, but to the leaves that surround them called "bracts" in various colors: pink, red, purple, orange, yellow, white.
Hibiscus (Hibískos)
The hibiscus (from the Greek hibískos meaning marshmallow) has more than 30,000 varieties. Known since ancient times, they were cultivated in Egypt and Asia for their ornamental, food and medicinal characteristics. Rich in ascorbic acid, they are believed to have diuretic, hypotensive and sedative properties. Imported in Europe in the XIIth century by the Spanish Moors, some species were introduced in America and in the Caribbean by the African slaves. Its dried and infused flowers are used for sauces, jams, syrups and infusions. They can also be eaten raw or cooked as vegetables.
the Balisier (heliconia)
From the Heliconiaceae family, the Balisier includes more than 100 species with rhizomes. Native to the Amazon, it is found in the Caribbean islands where its banana-like leaves are used to wrap fresh produce in markets and as a vegetable "papillote" for cooking. Tropical flower par excellence with the shape of superimposed parrot beaks, its flattened inflorescence is made up of multiple bracts. Its intense blue fruit is a delight for hummingbirds.
Banana tree (family Musaceae)
The banana tree (family Musaceae) is not a tree but a herbaceous plant because it is not lignified. It is customary to say a little abusively that it is "the largest grass in the world". Comprising about sixty species, all tropical, several of which are widely cultivated for the production of bananas, its edible fruit comes in several varieties: fig or yellow eaten as a dessert, green or plantain cooked as a vegetable.
Silver mangle (Canocarpus erectus)
Unique by its velvety and grey foliage the Silver Mangle (Canocarpus erectus) grows in sandy soils and very dry lands. This shrub is interesting for seaside areas because it resists very well to sea spray, wind, humid soils and sun. Its leaves, covered with small silky hairs, give it its beautiful silver-gray color.
Song of Jamaica and Song of India (Dracaena reflexa)
Native to Madagascar, Song of Jamaica and Song of India (Dracaena reflexa) are beautiful tropical plants that are particularly decorative because they grow in compact clumps on upright stems. While "Song of Jamaica" has dark green lanceolate leaves, its sister "Song of india" is characterized by an elegantly colored foliage of light green and yellow.
Cacti & Succulents
Agave (family Agavaceae)
Composed of many species, the Agavaceae family is native to the American continent and more particularly to Mexico. Some species of Agave have been acclimatized on other continents and in the islands. They are slow growing and it takes a few years to see them bloom, always once before dying. The blue agave is used for the production of tequila and mezcal. The leaves of the agave americana, the best known, provided fibers for the manufacture of ropes.
Aloe (Aloe vera)
Aloe is a plant native to Africa and Madagascar with nearly 500 species. Used in the manufacture of many beauty products, the gel extracted from the leaves relieves skin pain and accelerates the healing of wounds and burns. In Asia, its flesh, comparable to that of the grape, is appreciated as a dessert in the form of translucent gelatinous cubes. Its small red-orange or yellow flowers are densely grouped on long flowering stems, sometimes measuring more than a meter. Unlike agaves, aloes do not die after flowering.
The thorn of Christ (Euphorbia millii)
Christ thorn (Euphorbia millii) is a small shrub with highly branched brown stems covered with numerous long, sharp thorns. The remarkable bright red bracts surrounding the tiny flowers are often compared to drops of blood. Poisonous plant in case of ingestion, its sap is very irritating, like that of all the euphorbias.
The Yucca (Yuca Elephants)
Yucca is a genus of about fifty species of shrubby perennials remarkable for their rosettes of hard, sword-shaped leaves and their splendid clusters of white flowers. Very widespread in the southwestern United States, they are found in hot and dry regions of the American continent and in the West Indies. Depolluting plants, they mainly absorb benzene and ammonia.
Our commitments
Our sustainable development policy
At Le Christopher, we are committed to preserving the exceptional beauty of Saint-Barthélemy.As the island's first Green Globe-certified hotel, we take action every day to reduce our impact on the environment and protect the ecosystems around us.
Our concrete actions:
- Water conservation: on-site water production thanks to our own desalination plant.
- Responsible energy: use of solar panels and rigorous monitoring of consumption.
- Zero single-use plastic: reusable glass bottles and sustainable alternatives.
- Waste management: selective sorting, composting and recycling.
- Protecting biodiversity: support for local associations Coral Shepherd and Ouanalao Reef to restore coral reefs and replant mangroves.
By choosing to stay at Le Christopher, you are contributing to the preservation of the island and its unique environment. Thank you for working with us to make tourism more sustainable.
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