It's decided, you will soon put your suitcases on the ground of Guadeloupe and you start planning your vacation. It is true that this magnificent butterfly-shaped island has everything to attract you and make you live a dream holiday. With its bewitching landscapes, its festive atmosphere, its welcoming inhabitants, its many visits to do and its fascinating history, Guadeloupe will intoxicate you with a wide range of sensory discoveries and activities, each one more enriching than the other. Let's travel the island together to find out what to do during a trip to Guadeloupe and give you a taste of its must-see sites.
Cities and islands to discover in Guadeloupe
Pointe-a-Pitre
Pointe-à-Pitre is the largest city on the island of Guadeloupe , it combines traditional architecture with very contemporary constructions. Very focused on Guadeloupean history, it contains fascinating museums, including the famous Memorial ACT dedicated to slavery. Place de la Victoire is exotic thanks to its tropical atmosphere and the architecture of its colonial houses. From this busy nerve center, you can discover the markets of this emblematic city of Guadeloupe which will intoxicate you with their exotic scents and flavors.
The islands of Saintes
The superb archipelago of Les Saintes is worth the detour! The islands of Les Saintes, Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas , are accessible within an hour by boat.
In addition to their magnificent views of Guadeloupe, Dominica and its unmissable beaches, Terre-de-Bas and Terre-de-Haut are full of treasures, including the famous Fort Napoléon. Les Saintes are essential to visit during a trip to Guadeloupe!
Marie Galante
If a song is dedicated to this island of Guadeloupe, it's not for nothing! This timeless island has remained in its own juice. You will find there both distilleries and old mills, symbols of its agricultural activity, but also natural sites such as the Gueule-Grand-Gouffre. This Ile aux Cents Moulins is perfect for a day trip, with some of the most beautiful natural sites in Guadeloupe.
The beaches not to be missed in Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is rich in magnificent beaches. If almost all the beaches of Guadeloupe are lined with palm trees and appreciated for their fine sand and crystal clear water, they each have their own identity and offer a breathtaking view of the open sea or the surrounding islands.
Among the must-see beaches, set foot on the sand of the Datcha beach, known for its pretty lighthouse and its magnificent view of Gosier Island. Also discover the Raisins Clairs beach near Saint-François, a town in Guadeloupe known for its fishing port. To discover a Guadeloupe with a wilder nature, browse the beaches of the north of Basse-Terre, where the sunsets are unparalleled. Beach in Deshaies ranks among the 100 most beautiful beaches in the world!
Cities and islands to discover in Guadeloupe
Deshaies Botanical Garden
This former property of Coluche transformed into a botanical garden is absolutely essential for a tourist outing. An enchantment of plants and flowers, breathtaking views of the bay of Deshaies, a dive into the heart of Guadeloupe's biodiversity . 2 hours of visit near the Jardin des Colibris, Ecolodge of reference in Guadeloupe.
The Cousteau reserve
"The world of silence" was filmed there by the famous explorer, an exceptional underwater fauna with the presence in particular of a hundred green turtles throughout the year, offshore you may hear the melodious songs humpback whales that take advantage of the warm waters of the Caribbean to grow their calves, multicolored fish and coral here preserved by the national park. Magical !
The Mangrove
By boat or kayak, this humid forest is a treasure for the biodiversity of Guadeloupe. Crabs, oysters, birds, fish, mangrove trees and their aquatic roots offer protection for the most fragile. The discovery of this environment of incredible richness is carried out with a naturalist guide, who will know how to punctuate your hike with many mysterious stories of which the "Mangwove" conceals.
The Soufriere volcano
From its height of 1467 meters, the Soufrière volcano dominates the island of Guadeloupe . If it is still active, it can be visited and traversed thanks to marked paths which cross its multiple landscapes, mixing luxuriant vegetation, hot springs, and large quasi-desert expanses. A guaranteed change of scenery during your trip to Guadeloupe for an unforgettable ascent to do.
What to visit in Deshaies?
Deshaies is a beautiful little fishing village located on the northwest coast of Basse-Terre . With its Caribbean-style wooden houses and famous botanical garden, the city attracts thousands of visitors every year. It must be said that this unmissable 7-hectare garden is the former property of Coluche and is now home to incomparable West Indian fauna and flora.
In Deshaies in Guadeloupe, the activities are multiple and intended to satisfy all desires. Alone, as a couple, with family or friends, you will certainly find something to occupy your days. For thrill seekers, dive to discover the underwater fauna and flora, or approach the wild nature of the land by practicing canyoning. Discover the region's treasures by kayaking through the mangroves with a passionate guide , admire the lagoon in a glass-bottom boat and watch the elegant ballet of cetaceans. It is also possible to do many hikes in Guadeloupe. There is no shortage of ideas to satisfy you!
