Guadeloupe is a sun soaked island where you can buy croissants in the morning followed by a jungle stroll in the afternoon before ending the day relaxing on a sandy beach. In this travel guide we’re going to show you the top attractions and hidden gems of this stunning French department. Together with Martinique, Guadeloupe is one of the Lesser Antilles island group in the Eastern Caribbean and is formed of 6 islands. The two largest islands are Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre which join together to form a butterfly shape. We'll start by heading to Les Saintes, a UNESCO World Heritage Bay that's listed as one of the most beautiful bays in the world. This stunning archipelago sits just off the coast of mainland Guadeloupe and is formed of two inhabited islands, Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas. Houses spill down volcanic hillsides and crystal clear water beaches are perfect for snorkelling. During the few days we'll spend there, we'll hike to the beaches, dine in numerous restaurants, visit the historic Fort Napoléon, and hike to the highest point of the island, Le Chameau. Then we'll head to Basse-Terre, which is Guadeloupe’s wilder side. It’s here where you’ll find endless hiking opportunities, snorkelling spots where you can swim with turtles, lush forests, and, of course, La Grande Soufrière. We'll begin our time on the island by hiking to the summit of the volcano with a guide, complete with gas masks. Then we'll undertake some other challenging hikes including the Carbet Falls and the Bras du Fort. We'll discover hot springs, the botanical garden of Deshaies, and swimming with turtles at Plage de Malendure. Afterwards we'll explore Grande Terre. This area is more built up than Basse Terre and is known for its white sandy beaches and many towns. We'll begin our exploration in Pointe-a-Pitre, where we'll meet some of the locals. We'll then spend an afternoon on the paradise-like Îlet du Gosier before sampling a local specialty sandwich, the Bokit. We'll then undertake some of the more popular hikes, towns and beaches of the island before kayaking through the UNESCO listed mangrove of the The Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin. Finally we'll enjoy the view at the rocky Pointe des Châteaux.
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Sophie Nadeau
