Explore the Best of France on the Caribbean Island of Guadeloupe

With its contemporary infrastructure and great gastronomy, the Guadeloupe Island has digested some of the best aspects of France. Guadeloupe is at a distance of 7 km from Europe and 2.9 km from North America surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. It is the home of two main islands attached by a mangrove marshland that give them an appearance of a butterfly’s wings. The eastern wing is named Grande-Terre that offers beach towns, surfing schools, glittering sands, and blue waters at the bottom of French mademoiselles. On the other hand, the western wing named Basse-Terre holds a national park, volcano, hiking trails, and an underwater reserve.

This is the present Guadeloupe. To explore its past, head towards the south of the mainland where many tiny archipelagos have being telling so ranging from urban to rural. One of its prideful pasts is that it was found by Christopher Columbus in 1493.

Prime Attractions

Grande-Terre

This holds the famous tourist resort region at the southern coast with reef and waters. At the southern tip, do visit the two superlatives – biggest city on the island, Pointe-a-Pitre and the highest hills of Grands-Fonds for hiking. In the middle of Pointe-a-Pitre, we visited the museums, St. John Perse or Schoelcher in wonderful colonial style mansions.

Consider the northern area if you want to spend a long day in driving between the sea cliffs and sugarcane farms on limestone soil on each of the sides, respectively. Do not expect options for accommodations here. If you feel delighted to watch roaring waves, head to the eastern side of the island – a vast Atlantic and nothing else to offer. This is the reason that why many tourists do not come here as compared to the southern coast.

Basse-Terre

Comparatively greater in size, this is a hilly volcanic island that is the home to the highest active volcanic peak La Soufriere. Due to the mountains, copious rain is the normal feature of this island taking place throughout the year.

From Pointe-a-Pitre, we headed to this island in just a short time. In front of us, there were major routes – along the north coast, along the south coast, or in the interior along the Route de la Traversee via the national park. Maximum attractions in Basse-Terre are a natural with man-made mixes such as the national park, diving, and drive along big banana plantations.

• The National Park:
  Occupying 17.3 ha, this must a visit national park is the home to one of the most wonderful and well maintained tropical forests of the West Indies. Here, you can explore over 300 varieties of trees, bushes, or huge ferns. Here, you can wonder at the Basse-Terre’s highest volcanic peak, La Soufriere at 1.647 m and soak yourself into the innate waterfalls Les chutes du carbet on more than 300 km of trails.
• Underwater World:
  The life in and around coral reefs are best understood by diving in the mysterious waters of the Basse-Terre. For those who do not like diving, take a thrilling trip on glass-bottom boats or a dreamy submarine to view this hidden world.
• Other Excursions:
  • The zoological garden
  • The orchid garden
  • The coffee and cocoa plantations
  • A banana plantation
  • Botanical gardens with plants, birds, and butterflies
  • The park of engraved rocks
• Events:
  Carnival is worth a visit in this wing. In addition, the ox-cart pulling contests or cockfights from November to April can also be observed.
• La Cascade Aux Ecrevisses (Waterfall of the Crayfish):
  Taking your 2 minutes of time, a flat trail starts from the Route de la Traversee to this waterfall cascading down to a round sink with many crayfish. From here, these waters flow towards the Corossol River where you can swim and make picnic.

• La Maison de la Foret (House of the Forest):
  Located along the Route de la Traversee, the three trails make their way around the House of the Forest. Time ranging from 20 minutes to 1.5 hours, these trails offer the rain forest of huge trees and roots – West Indian hardwood, tropical chestnut trees, ferns, creepers, and much more.
• Soufriere Hiking:
  Begin from Bain Jaunes that is the parking place and reach the volcano crater in 3 hours after passing via a rainforest and sulphuric mountain savannah. Do consider the reflecting marks and if clouds are not present, wonder at the amazing view.
• Saut de la Lezarde:
  Located near Vernou in the village Glaciere and taking 20 minutes, go down via a banana plantation. Then, pass via the rain forest to reach the waterfall whose outline is of a halfmoon with a pebble beach. This is not very easy, but also not that difficult.

Les Saintes

This is one of the most attractive Caribbean islands on which a walk, a bike drive, or a scooter drive is a must to explore it properly. Soak yourself in sun, sand, and surf or wonder at the Fort Napoeeon with its presentation and iguanas. Next, dare to trek on the Chameau at 309 m to have a breathtaking circular view.

Petite Terre

This is a wonderful group of barren islands located at the south of Pointe des Chateaux where you will find nothing more than waters and some iguanas. Now a nature reserve (from 1994), this archipelago is accessible through a motorboat or sailboat. Plan for a day and explore its pristine beaches and the sport of snorkeling. Be careful, do not hunt or fish – it is prohibited.

Best Time to Visit

There is no such special time in the year.