Who has never dreamed of going on holiday in the tropics, to sunbathe in the shade of tall palm trees in complete tranquility? Splendid water, heavenly beaches and a change of scenery are on the programme for your holidays if it is for Guadeloupe that you choose to fly.
It is in the Caribbean, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator, that the archipelago of Guadeloupe is located. Bordered by the Caribbean Sea, Guadeloupe is made up of several islands, the most famous and largest of which are Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre. La Désirade, Marie-Galante and the archipelago of Les Saintes are added to the list of islets that make up this rich and varied territory, both culturally and in terms of tourism.
Butterfly Island: what a beautiful nickname to evoke Guadeloupe. To discover the most beautiful treasures of this exceptional overseas territory, we recommend that you start with a visit to Basse-Terre. From Petit-Bourg and its "Saut de la Lézarde" (a waterfall) to Deshaies, via Goyave, Gourbeyre and its mineral water springs, Trois-Rivières, Vieux-Fort and its embroideries, Basse-Terre city of Art and History, Boiling and its diving sites, Pointe-Noire and its cocoa, Sainte-Rose, Baie-Mahault and its port to finally visit Lamentin, a whole mosaic of panoramas, each more enchanting than the next, are available to you. Between land, sea and mountains, Basse-Terre will delight hikers. With its lush tropical vegetation made up of immense tree ferns and tall palm trees, Basse-Terre is the green paradise of Guadeloupe. An unmissable? La Soufrière, of course, the highest peak in the West Indies, reaching an altitude of 1467 metres above the Caribbean. A prestigious site located in the heart of the magnificent Guadeloupe National Park, La Soufrière is made up of many chasms; also, every year, many athletes try to climb this very young volcano, barely 100,000 years old. Equipped with good shoes, a cap and water, you can try to climb this majestic site, in order to admire the magnificent panorama from its summit.
After walking the hiking trails of Basse-Terre, how about a relaxing break in Grande-Terre? Grande-Terre, the most touristic island, will unveil a paradisiacal setting with long white sandy beaches, coconut palms and beaches lined with crystal clear water. Here, there is a certain sweetness of life and an atmosphere conducive to relaxation. Saint-François, Sainte-Anne, Le Gosier, Pointe-à-Pitre, Les Abymes, Le Moule, Morne-à-l'Eau, Petit Canal, Port-Louis and Anse Bertrand are the most popular towns and seaside resorts on the island. Le Gosier is one of the most beautiful postcards in Guadeloupe: surrounded by turquoise water, this seaside resort is the ideal place for family holidays. Here, everything is gathered for a perfect holiday: restaurants, cultural sites such as Fort Fleur d'Épée, beaches, water sports... A small concentration of everything that is best made in Guadeloupe. Don't miss the white sandy beaches of Port-Louis, the dazzling lagoon of Sainte-Anne, the cliffs of Saint-François and the surf spots of Anse Bertrand!
For an idyllic break, head for La Désirade! Accessible by boat from Saint-François in a few minutes, this island is worth a look for its wonderful panoramas on the open sea and Grande-Terre. A paradise for hiking and diving, it is one of the most preserved sites in Guadeloupe. Les Saintes, facing Trois-Rivières, is also well known to walkers: from Terre-de-Haut, the most elegant to Terre-de-Bas, you will love swimming from these breathtaking beaches of beauty. Marie-Galante is one of the most authentic islands in Guadeloupe. Proud homeland of sugar cane and rum, Marie-Galante will dazzle you with its preserved flora and fauna. Its colourful birds, mangrove swamps, tall palm trees, fine sandy beaches, coral reefs and distilleries make it a destination where life is definitely good.
Finally, visiting Guadeloupe also means embarking on a gustatory journey made of sweet and exotic flavours, as gourmet as they are spicy. On the menu? Vanilla, coffee, cocoa, cod acras, fish pancakes, fierce avocado pancakes, agoulou, bokit, boucané chicken, cabri, fish blaff, chicken colombo, stuffed crab, exotic fruits, spices, kassav, coconut flan and ti-punch... how can you resist?