10 Things to Do in Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe, known as "the island of beautiful waters" by its first settlers, is a Caribbean island with many treasures to discover: dream beaches, mangrove forests, coral reefs, waterfalls over 100 meters high, active volcanoes, a huge biodiversity and much more.

In this article I tell you about some of the best things to see and do on this island, so you can make the most of your visit to this small group of islands in the Antilles.

Pointe- à -Pitre is located in the center of the island of Guadeloupe, between the islands Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre. It is a small city, known for its colorful markets where you can find local fruits and vegetables, fresh fish and local specialties.

One of them is the Darse market, located in the fishermen's dock, which operates every day in the morning (except Sunday). There you can find local fruits and vegetables and fish sold directly by the fishermen. You can also visit the Spice Market or St. Anthony's Market, where you can find a wide variety of spices, along with flowers, punches, baskets, textiles and handicrafts.

Pointe-à-Pitre is home to the ACTe Memorial, a site of historical and cultural importance to the city. Located in the port of Pointe-à-Pitre, where there was a former sugar factory, it is dedicated to the history and memory of slavery in the West Indies and the Americas since the early 17th century. The building stands out for its incredible architecture of elongated shape in which the metal grid represents the fig trees that can grow on buildings.

It is also a city where you can taste the delicious dishes of the island, as it has a wide variety of restaurants offering typical and international dishes, such as stuffed crab, bokit, accras or avocado feroz. If you are interested in the gastronomy of Guadeloupe, you can sign up for a cooking class with an expert local chef, which are often offered in this city and in other towns on the island.

Interesting facts

• Darse Market: Place de la Victoire, at the end of Rue St. John Perse. Open Monday to Saturday mornings.
• Spice Market: Place Saint Antoine. Open from Monday to Saturday from 6 am to 2 pm.
• Memorial ACTe: Darboussier, 97110, Pointe-à-Pitre 97110, Guadeloupe. Admission is about 15 euros for adults. Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm.

Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin, is a bay declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO because of its wetlands, freshwater swamp forests, marshes, wet meadows and mangrove forests, which are a haven for marine flora and fauna. You can't miss it if you want to explore a natural paradise in the middle of the ocean.

In total, the reserve covers some 15,000 hectares, where you can also enjoy white sand beaches and coral reefs. It is located north of the island of Grande-Terre and part of its west coast, forming part of the National Park of Guadeloupe. In its transparent waters you can see more than 250 varieties of colorful fish, birds and sea turtles.

It is an ideal place for scuba diving and snorkeling, for the great diversity of marine flora and fauna that you can discover in the depths of the ocean. Although if you do not have experience in diving, you may prefer to hire a snorkeling tour with specialized guides, who usually start from Sainte-Rose. Another option is to book a boat tour in the lagoons of the reserve, which will allow you to admire the marine flora and fauna up close, and even take a dip.

The warm waters of the Caribbean are perfect for water adventures such as surfing, paddle surfing, scuba diving and snorkeling. Guadeloupe Island in particular offers beaches, reefs, waves, nature reserves and a great variety of marine flora and fauna that you can discover underwater. If you are looking for adventure activities in nature, you will find many interesting options on this island.

Surf

In Guadeloupe there are several surfing spots, such as Petit Havre, famous for its tube waves; Anse Bertrand, a favorite spot for locals and famous for its left wave; Le Moule, the most popular and also known for its left wave; and Port Saint François, known for its right wave.

The spots for beginners and intermediates are Port Saint François, Petit Havre and Port Louis. In any of these places you can hire a surf lesson with equipment included, which are offered for all levels. The wave season is from November to April, but also at other times of the year you can enjoy a day of surfing.

Paddle Surfing

If you prefer a quieter activity, you can get on a paddle surf to explore the wetlands, mangrove forests, coral reefs and white sand beaches of Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin.

A great option for this tour is to hire a paddle surfing tour, as they usually include all the necessary equipment and are conducted with specialized instructors who can take you to the best places on the island. You don't need to have experience to do this activity, but you do need to be in average physical condition.

One of the best things to see on the island of Guadeloupe are the Carbet Falls, three waterfalls in the middle of lush vegetation. The first is about 115 meters high, the second about 110 meters and the third about 20 meters. They are located near the volcano of La Soufrière, in the Guadeloupe National Park, which is located on the island of Basse-Terre.

Of the waterfalls, the second is the easiest to access, as you can get there by walking in about 30 minutes along a path surrounded by tropical forests, which starts in the parking lot of the park. To reach the first waterfall, there is a trail of about 9.5 km of high difficulty only suitable for experienced hikers. As for the third waterfall, the path is not well marked and is also challenging for inexperienced hikers, although its high water flow and the natural pool that is formed are totally worth the effort.

There is another path to access the third waterfall that is located between the villages of Routhiers and Petit, at a traffic circle. From there you must take a trail for about an hour to reach the waterfall, where you can also enjoy a dip. No matter which waterfall you can reach, all of them will dazzle you with their beauty and the lush forest that surrounds them.

La Soufrière volcano is the highest peak of the island, about 1400 meters high, which is also active. If you undertake the ascent to the volcano, you can enjoy the incredible scenery and views of the island, the Caribbean Sea and the surrounding islands. It is located in the south of the island of Basse-Terre, in the Guadeloupe National Park, and is part of a complex of 5 volcanoes.

The ascent to the volcano is not complicated, but a leisurely hike of about two hours to the top of the volcano. On the way, you can discover all the goodness of the jungle, such as its leafy trees, ferns, vines and a huge biodiversity. In addition, you can soak in natural hot springs of about 30 ° C temperature, namely those of Les Bains Jaunes, where you can relax before or after the climb.

As the volcano is active, as you approach the summit you will see columns of smoke and vapors emerging from the mouth of the volcano. However, unless you go with a specialized guide, you will not be able to approach the sulfur pits for safety reasons. If you go by car, try to avoid the busiest times for tourists, since the parking lot is small and, if you find it full, it will add one or two km to the hike. It is also important to bring a warm coat because the summit is windy.

The Pointe des Châteaux or Cape des Châteaux is located at the eastern end of Grande-Terre Island, in the town of Saint-François. It is named for the striking rock formations that can be seen on the shores and embellish the landscape. It is an ideal place to enjoy the sunrise or sunset, take walks and admire the treasures of nature.

On this cape there are marked trails to explore the protected site, formed by lagoons, beaches, marshes and a great biodiversity. It is also a site of historical interest, since it is where the Araucanians lived for 1100 years until around 1400. In 1683 the Capuchins arrived and built the Parish Castles church in the town of Saint-François, 11 km from the cape.

Cap des Castles is also known for the giant cross at the top of Pointe des Colibris, which was erected by the Capuchin monks in 1951, and later replaced by a larger one 10 meters high. From there you will have panoramic views of the island and even La Desirade island and the Petite-Terre reserve. In addition, in November it is possible to watch whales in Guadeloupe from this site.

The island of Guadeloupe, located between two seas, the Atlantic and the Caribbean, is the ideal place for those looking for postcard beaches with crystal clear waters, palm trees and jungle hills. These beaches tend to be less crowded than other Caribbean beaches, making them perfect for a dip, water activities or just relaxing.

One of them is Plage du Bourg, located in Sainte-Anne, an idyllic beach that is among the favorites of the locals. Sainte-Anne is also home to a flea market selling local fruits and vegetables, spices, handicrafts and rum. It also has hiking trails that allow you to take beautiful scenic tours of the surrounding area.

Another must-see site is the island of Les Saintes, where you will find dreamy unspoiled beaches, such as Anse du Bourg Bay, Pain de Sucre Bay and Anse Crawen, a dark sandy beach. Datcha Beach in Gosier is another local favorite, where you can practice water sports and then venture out to enjoy the gastronomy in one of the restaurants.

As for the beaches of Marie-Galante, an island south of Grande Terre and Basse Terre, they offer very calm waters due to the coral reef that prevents ocean currents from arriving, so they are ideal if you are traveling with children. You can also visit the bay of Sainte-Marie, one of the least crowded beaches of Guadeloupe in the eastern part of the island and ideal for surfing.

On the island of Guadeloupe there are several reserves protected for their great biodiversity and that constitute a treasure of nature in the West Indies. In addition to the UNESCO Biosphere reserves, you will find uninhabited islands that are a true refuge for marine flora and fauna.

One of these reserves is Grand Petite Terre, which comprises the islands of Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas. You can reach Terre-de-Haut by taking a boat from the port of Saint François or by hiring a tour of the island. There you will find a small village and you can also visit Fort Napoleon, one of the emblematic monuments of the island. As for Terre-de-Bas, only people in charge of preserving the natural sanctuary can access it.

The islands, which are surrounded by coral reefs, are home to iguanas, lizards, hermit crabs, sea turtles and a wide variety of fish and birds. It is an ideal place for snorkeling or diving, always with specialized guides who know how not to interfere with these protected environments. On the other hand, you can also explore the small lighthouse museum, which is dedicated to the flora and fauna of the islands.

In addition to Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre, the island of Guadeloupe is made up of other inhabited islands, Marie-Galante, Les Saintes and La Désirade, and small, uninhabited islets. Joining a boat tour to get to know these islands is one of the best things to do in Guadeloupe to discover dream beaches and admire the nature refuges that make up these islands.

La Desirade, about 45 minutes by boat from Saint François, was the first island seen by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage in 1493. It is renowned for the panoramic views from several points on the island, such as the Our Lady of Calvary Chapel, which is located in the village of Beauséjour. Don't miss Souffleur Beach, a beach with calm waters ideal for relaxing.

Marie-Galante, in addition to idyllic beaches where you can see turtles, is an island with sugar cane fields, old mills, old sugar factories now converted into museums, hiking trails and rum distilleries, such as the renowned Bellevue, Bielle and Poisson. These can be visited every day (except Sundays) in the morning and offer tastings to visitors. Marie-Galante is located about 30 km south of Grande-Terre.

As for Les Saintes, it is an archipelago made up of about 6 small islets and the two islands that are part of the Petite-Terre reserve, Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas. The island of Terre-de-Haut is the most visited of the archipelago, for its dream beaches such as Pompierre, the beach du Pain de Sucre, the beach Anse du Figuier and Grande Anse beach. It is a small island that covers about six square kilometers and is inhabited.

If you are interested in archeology or want to know the history of the island, you can visit the archaeological park of the Engraved Rocks, where you will find about 230 engravings that were made by the Arawak Indians, the first inhabitants of Guadeloupe.

Most of these engravings represent human figures and were made on a set of 22 volcanic rocks dating from 300 to 800 AD. The archaeological park is located in the municipality of Trois-Rivières, in the south of Basse-Terre, and is surrounded by gardens with species typical of this Caribbean region. These engravings have been interpreted as a form of communication with the divinity, so the park was a ceremonial and spiritual site for the ancient inhabitants.

The ideal time to visit this park is around 11 am, as it is important to have good light to appreciate the engravings. In general, you can only access the park with guided tours that take place at various times during the day.

Interesting facts

• Location: X9C5+24J, Trois-Rivières 97114, Guadeloupe.
• Hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.