Discovering the Islands of Guadeloupe
Craving adventure and escape? The butterfly island spreads its wings to take you on a journey discovering its tourist riches across five paradise islands
Craving adventure and escape ? The butterfly island spreads its wings to take you on a journey discovering its tourist riches across five paradise islands : Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, La Désirade, Les Saintes and Marie Galante. As you explore them, you'll notice that despite the ever-present sun, the atmosphere and landscapes differ from one island to another ; which will surely enrich your trip to Guadeloupe. While the warm Basse-Terre, living to the rhythm of the Soufrière volcano, shows a wilder side, Marie Galante and Les Saintes are graced with gentleness thanks to their beautiful beaches and peaceful atmosphere. With its Breton air, La Désirade, proving more desert-like, contrasts with Grande-Terre and its beach resorts. The islands of Guadeloupe satisfy all travel desires.
Basse Terre : an encounter with Mother Nature
Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre make up the wings of the butterfly island, the two islands separated from each other by the Rivière Salée. Rather mountainous, forested and volcanic, Basse-Terre is covered with lush vegetation characterized by a beautiful tropical forest. A true green paradise, it captivates hiking enthusiasts, particularly thanks to its numerous trails leading to famous Guadeloupe waterfalls (Carbet Falls, for example). At the center of Basse-Terre lies the Guadeloupe National Park at the heart of which rises the active Soufrière volcano (1467 m). Mother Nature adds a unique touch to the landscape with numerous beaches of reddish or black sand (Grande Anse, Deshaies) on this western part of Gwada.
Grande Terre : for beach and cultural holidays
It represents the eastern wing of the butterfly island. Both a marine paradise and a time machine, Grande-Terre is a perfect destination to blend cultural, historical and natural tourism. A must-visit during a stay in Grande-Terre, Pointe-à-Pitre is the ideal place to get a pulse on Creole culture. An unmissable stop on the island, this lively city of art and history is adorned with magnificent colonial mansions. Its picturesque market boasts stalls brimming with tropical fruits and vegetables, madras fabrics, spices and exotic flowers. A little journey into the past will also mark your stay by visiting the Memorial ACTe museum. The Grand Cul-de-sac Marin is also worth discovering, not to mention the rich coral life along the coast. Seducing with its magnificent white sand beaches, Grande-Terre invites lovers of water sports (surfing, kayaking, diving, etc.) to challenge the waves of the Caribbean Sea.
La Désirade, a paradise for diving enthusiasts
A special destination for relaxation and leisure, La Désirade is a small, peaceful paradise corner with minimal tourism. Ideal for an escape, it offers you its beautiful and vast white sand beaches and lush vegetation to ensure total dépaysement. Its long coral barriers delight diving enthusiasts. La Désirade is located about ten kilometers east of Grande-Terre, off the Pointe des Châteaux.
The Saintes Islands
This archipelago is located south of continental Guadeloupe (the butterfly island) and north of Dominica. Among its nine islets, two are inhabited and highly mountainous : Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas. Very popular with tourists, Terre-de-Haut is known for its magnificent bay that ranks among the most beautiful in the world as well as for its colorful little village. You can visit Fort Napoléon and its exotic garden. Also spend wonderful moments on Pompière Beach or take a trip to the summit of Chameau to enhance your stay on the islands. Terre-de-Bas, on the other hand, offers relaxing walks and superb beaches.
Marie Galante
It has been nicknamed "the Galette" because of its bumpy circular shape and "the island of a hundred mills" because of the predominance of agriculture in its history, mainly sugar cane cultivation. The island of Marie Galante is covered with vast sugar cane fields and produces fine rum, so word to rum lovers. You can visit the famous Bellevue distillery while you're there. Marie Galante also offers the opportunity for a gastronomic journey in the typical local restaurants. The charm of its beautiful white sand beaches will not leave you indifferent either. In addition to the legendary friendliness of the locals, you cannot help but be won over by this Guadeloupe island located south of Grande-Terre.
As you explore these Guadeloupe islands, your vacation will be rich in discoveries and emotions, in short, unforgettable.
Frequently asked questions
Guadeloupe is an archipelago made up of five main islands: Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, La Désirade, Les Saintes (notably including Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas) and Marie Galante. Together, they offer highly varied landscapes and atmospheres, from the Soufrière volcano to white sand beaches.
It depends on what you're looking for: Basse-Terre suits nature lovers and hiking enthusiasts, Grande-Terre appeals to beach and Creole culture lovers, La Désirade to divers seeking tranquility, Les Saintes to travelers looking for authentic charm, and Marie Galante to rum and gastronomy lovers.
The islands of Guadeloupe are connected by regular maritime links (ferries and shuttles). From Pointe-à-Pitre or Saint-François marina, you can reach Marie Galante, Les Saintes and La Désirade. Short air connections also exist for some islands.
La Désirade is particularly renowned for its long coral barriers that delight divers. Grande-Terre also offers rich coral life along its coast, while Les Saintes are prized for the clarity of their waters.
Guadeloupe is nicknamed the 'butterfly island' because of the shape of its two main islands, Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre, which resemble the two wings of a butterfly. They are separated by a body of water called the Rivière Salée.
