Guadeloupe travel guide
Guadeloupe is a French overseas region in the Lesser Antilles, a butterfly-shaped pair of islands with a volcano, rainforest and waterfalls on one wing and beaches and sugar-cane plains on the other, plus smaller islands offshore. It suits travellers who enjoy hiking, diving, Creole food and rum, and it uses the euro and works much like the rest of France.
Places worth the trip
La Soufrière
An active volcano and the highest point in the Lesser Antilles, at around 1,467 metres. A steep trail from the car park near the Bains Jaunes pools climbs to the summit, which is often in cloud; check local guidance before setting out, as access can be restricted.
Guadeloupe National Park
Covering much of Basse-Terre's mountainous interior, the park has dense rainforest, the three-tiered Carbet Falls and well-marked trails, as well as the Route de la Traversée that crosses the island through the forest.
The Cousteau Reserve at Malendure
The waters around the Pigeon Islets off the west coast of Basse-Terre are a protected reserve associated with Jacques Cousteau, with turtles, reef fish and coral close to the surface for snorkellers and divers.
Les Saintes
A small archipelago to the south, reached by ferry, where Terre-de-Haut has a pretty village, a large natural bay, Fort Napoléon and beaches such as Pompierre, all easily explored on foot or by scooter.
Marie-Galante
A flat, round island known for its rum distilleries, sugar-cane fields, ox carts and long, quiet beaches, with a slower pace than the main islands.
Pointe des Châteaux
The eastern tip of Grande-Terre, where limestone cliffs face the Atlantic. A short climb to the cross at the top gives views of La Désirade and the coast.
Mémorial ACTe and Pointe-à-Pitre
In Pointe-à-Pitre, the Mémorial ACTe is a large museum and memorial dedicated to the history of slavery and the slave trade. The city's markets sell spices, fruit and madras cloth.
Deshaies and the west coast
A fishing village with a sheltered bay, close to Grande Anse beach and a botanical garden, known to many visitors as the filming location of the BBC series Death in Paradise.
Interesting facts about Guadeloupe
- Guadeloupe is part of the European Union as one of its outermost regions, so it uses the euro and French law applies.
- Its two main islands, Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre, are separated only by a narrow channel called the Rivière Salée, giving the territory its butterfly shape on the map.
- Confusingly, Basse-Terre ('low land') is the mountainous island, while Grande-Terre ('large land') is the flatter and smaller of the two.
- Rhum agricole, made from fresh sugar-cane juice rather than molasses, is a speciality of Guadeloupe and Marie-Galante.
- Slavery was abolished in Guadeloupe in 1848, and the date is commemorated each year on 27 May.
Best time to visit Guadeloupe
The dry season, known locally as the carême, runs from roughly December to May and has the most reliable weather; it is also the busiest and most expensive period. The rainy season, the hivernage, lasts from about June to November, with hotter, more humid weather and the risk of hurricanes, which is highest from August to October. Carnival season builds from January to Ash Wednesday, with parades in Basse-Terre and Pointe-à-Pitre.
Getting around
A hire car is the most practical way to explore, as buses run mainly on weekdays and daytime hours, and stop early. Roads are good but traffic around Pointe-à-Pitre and Baie-Mahault can be heavy at rush hour, and mountain roads on Basse-Terre are narrow. Ferries link the main islands with Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and La Désirade, and sail on to Dominica and Martinique. The main airport, Pointe-à-Pitre Le Raizet, has direct flights to mainland France and other Caribbean islands.
Practical details
- Capital
- Basse-Terre
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Languages
- French
- Plug types
- C, E
- Voltage
- 230 V, 50 Hz
- Emergency
- 112 for all emergencies; also 15 medical, 17 police, 18 fire
- Driving side
- right
- Tipping
- Service is included in restaurant prices, as in mainland France. Leaving a little extra for good service is appreciated but not expected.
Staying online in Guadeloupe
4G coverage is good in towns, along the coast and around most of Grande-Terre. Signal is weaker in the rainforest and mountains of Basse-Terre, on hiking trails and in some parts of the smaller islands. Wi-Fi is common in hotels, guesthouses and cafés. Note that EU roaming rules generally apply in Guadeloupe as an outermost region, but some providers treat the French overseas territories differently, so check before relying on your home plan. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
Guadeloupe eSIM plans
1 GB
1GB eSIM Data for 3 Days for Guadeloupe, V2
Ilimitado
Unlimited eSIM Data for 1 Day for Guadeloupe, V2
Ilimitado
Unlimited Plus eSIM Data for 1 Day for Guadeloupe, V2
3 GB
3GB eSIM Data for 3 Days for Guadeloupe, V2
Useful apps
- Google Maps: Driving and finding beaches and trailheads; download offline maps for Basse-Terre's interior.
- Waze: Widely used locally for live traffic, useful around Pointe-à-Pitre at busy times.
- Google Translate: Translating French menus and signs; download French for offline use.
Guadeloupe travel FAQs
French is the official language and Guadeloupean Creole is widely spoken. English is less common than on many other Caribbean islands, though staff in larger hotels and dive centres often speak it. A few words of French help a lot.
Yes. Coverage is good in towns and along the coast, but patchier in the mountains and rainforest. A travel eSIM gives you local data from arrival without changing your physical SIM.
Grande-Terre has most of the beaches and resorts around Sainte-Anne, Le Gosier and Saint-François. Basse-Terre suits hikers and divers, with Deshaies and Bouillante as good bases. Many visitors split their stay between the two.
Yes. Ferries run to Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and La Désirade, and to Dominica and Martinique. Day trips are possible, but staying a night on Les Saintes or Marie-Galante lets you see them once the day visitors leave.