MSC CRUISES – LESSER ANTILLES. Seen twice on cruise, day 2 and 8. See one island each time with maybe an excursion from each to an island.
Guadeloupe. Butterfly Island (French: l’île Papillon) on account of the shape of two of its major islands, is a group of islands in the eastern Caribbean, and is a French overseas department
Get Around
By bus. Even though they might not be the best way to get around the island, a ride on the bus is still an experience you should not miss. Cheap, full of locals, conducted by fearless drivers, you can enjoy the beautiful Caribbean panorama to the sound of Guadeloupean zouk music. Some routes are not good for passengers with weak stomachs.
Rent car. See one island – Basse Terre, Grande Terre each time.
Cuisine. Not to be missed, the plate Colombo (chicken, rice, curry), imported from India, has become the typical regional plate. The expected cost for a restaurant meal is anywhere from €5-40.
DO
Natural beauty is perhaps Guadeloups main attraction, and tourists flock to its sandy beaches, azure waters and vast forests.
Snorkeling Guadeloupe has a wide range of beaches (with white and black sand, surrounded by mangroves or coconut trees), with the most famous being Plage du Bourg or Plage de la Caravelle in Sainte-Anne, on the south coast of Grande-Terre. Malendure beach (an ideal spot for watching green turtles) and the sites located on the Pigeon Islands (as the Coral Garden), in Bouillante, are among the island’s best snorkeling spot
Festivals. In Guadeloupe they call them “parties on the street”. They use colourful ribbons and tie them round their wrists to resemble the colours of all the nations. Their parties last all through the night until the early morning. They sometimes call them “swatson”.
Festival of Fish and the Sea
Guadeloupe Carnival
Guadeloupe International Zouk Festival
Gwo-Ka Festival
Islands
BASSE-TERRE. In contrast to the rolling hills and flat plains landscape of Grande-Terr, Basse-Terre (the western wing of the island) has a rough volcanic relief.
Parc National de la Guadeloupe* a 74,100-acre protected rainforest with plenty of trails for expert and novice hikers. The park is home to the 1467m high peak of the La Soufrière volcano, the highest mountain peak in the Lesser Antilles.
Carbet Falls.Series of 3 waterfalls in Guadaloupe NP, ranging in height from 20m to 125m. 1.5-2 hours hiking on stairs, walkways and thick jungle. Need good hiking shoes. 2.5 euros.
Grande-Anse Beach. On south tip with view of Ile Saintes, has live music in evenings.
Fort Delgrès, Le Carmel. Great fort, well maintained, free.
Basse-Terre city* the administrative capital of Guadeloupe, is home to a range of colonial buildings and the 19th century Cathedral of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, the main square and adjoining Jardin Pichon.
Plage Malendure. Crowded black sand beach, many restaurants and food trucks, many activities, great snorkeling off most northerly beach with turtles and dolphins. Part of Reserve Cousteau. Coins for parking.
Réserve Cousteau. Popular dive site with coral, turtles. Rent a kayak, 20 minute paddle, great snorkelling. Tour boat – Aquatique Aventure Malendure – 2hrs, 3 stops.
DESHAIES. Village. (pop 4.033 2018). Secluded in a bay with two headlands. Guadeloupe is the filming location for the Franco-British TV series Death in Paradise, with the island doubling as fictional British Overseas Territory “Saint-Marie”. The real village of Deshaies doubles for “Honoré”, where the characters’ police force is based.
Plage de la Perle. In “Death in Paradise” TV show (the dr’s house is rebuilt each year).
Cascade aux Ecrevisses. Beside the road across the island. Great place for a swim/bath.
Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve. On the north between the two islands.
GRANDE TERRE. Flat and dry with a lot of beaches, some of them very touristic. The southern coast of Grande-Terr is the main resort area, where you’ll find developed, beautiful beaches and calm waters.
For a fun day trip, hop on a ferry service around the scenic eight islands cluster of Les Saintes, skirting Guadeloupe’s southern coast, or Marie-Gallant.
Îlet du Gosier Light. Unspoiled tiny island accessible by boat and wading, snorkeling, cafe bar, chickens. Many people with small beach, long queues.
Damoiseau Distillery
POINT A PITRE
Pointe a Pitre Airport (PTP)
St Francois*. La Pointe des Chateaux, sand and rocks which have vaguely the shape of a castle. From there, you can look up at the islands La Désirade, Petite Terre, Marie Galante, Les Saintes, La Dominique but also have a perfect view of the islands Grande Terre and far away Basse Terre. Access Petite Terre.
Morne à l’eau*. Renowned for its amazing cemetery composed of burial places made of black and white tiles),
Anse Bertrand*. Northern point. Go to Porte d’Enfer, a beautiful still stripe of sea between reefs. From there, walk one hour along the cliff to a Souffleur, a geyser.
MARIE GALANTE M@P. Lovely scenery, great sands, 19th century windmills and sugar cane plantations.
Port-Louis. Village
Bellevue Distillery. “Well-being”
Terre de Blues Festival.
ILES des SAINTES. Composed of Terre de Haut and Terre de Bas, one of the most beautiful bays.
Fort Napoléon des Saintes. Great view over the bay, a 20 minute walk. Museum 5€.
Terre-de-Haut. Village, one of the islands.
LA DESIRADE M@P, XL. Dry and cliffy.
La Désirade National Nature Reserve
PETITE-TERRE A snorkel must-do in Guadeloupe with rays, a lemon shark nursery and turtles. Day excursions set off from Saint-François.
Petite-Terre Light. Iguanas, trees, ancient fisherman houses.
