Guadeloupe Things To Do

During his second trip to America, Christopher Columbus became the first European to land on Guadeloupe in 1493, seeking fresh water. He called it Santa María de Guadalupe de Extremadura, after the image of the Virgin Mary venerated at the Spanish monastery of Villuercas, in Guadalupe, Extremadura. Today its pristine beaches and untouched landscape attract vacationers from all over the world. French cuisine mixed with Creole creations and French wines make dining a plesure too.

Great for: rainforest, beaches and European style 'made in France' villages
Location: Leeward Islands, part of the French West Indies
Population: 408,000
Size: 554 sq miles
Capital city: Basse-Terre
Airport: Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport, PTP
Language: French and French-based Creole
Currency: Euro (EUR or €) - check exchange rate 
Time Zone: UTC -4   
Area code: 590

Did you know?
As part of France, Guadeloupe is part of the European Union and its currency is the Euro.

Guadeloupe is a true Creole island with a mix of African and French influences. The interior of Basse-Terre is home to a national park. There is a lot to explore: verdant rainforests, magnificent waterfalls and a steaming volcano.

From the surrounding offshore islands Terre-de-Haut and Marie-Galante are the most visited. Both make for enjoyable day trips.

Guadeloupe's top diving & snorkeling site is at Pigeon Island, off the west coast of Basse-Terre. The best white-sand beaches stretch from Gosier to St. Francois.

Beaches

Nature

Guadeloupe in the French Caribbean is a perfect tropical getaway. Although lying on the beach is probably the number one activity, there are plenty of attractions located across the island.

Guadeloupe Beaches:

Anse Tarare - This isolated beach is best known for its spectacular rocky landscape.

Plage de Bois Jolan, in St. Anne and Plage des Raisins Clairs, in St. Francois - These are probably the best white-sand beaches on the island.

Nature:

Parc National - The national park of Guadeloupe, located between Basse-Terre and Pointe-a-Pitre, preserves a verdant rain forest located within the mountains. There are a number of hiking trails, waterfalls and scenic viewpoints within the park:

La Soufriere Volcano, Parc National - This is the highest mountain in the Lesser Antilles. It's also an important landmark of Guadeloupe.

Route de la Traversee, Parc National - This scenic route will take you through the mountains providing spectacular views of the tropical landscape.

Cascade aux Ecrevisses, Parc National - The 'crayfish fall' is a small and easily accessible fall, located in the rainforest. Many people like to swim in the small pool below the fall.

Carbet Falls (Chutes de Carbet), Parc National - These three waterfalls showcase the natural beauty of Guadeloupe's tropical landscape.

• All Americans are required to present a passport to enter and re-enter the United States.
• Non-U.S. citizens, please contact the nearest consulate or embassy of the country to which you are traveling to determine your entry/visa requirements.
• Passport, visa and travel advisory information may be found at the U.S. Department of State's French West Indies pages. Although most travel to international destinations is completed without incident, Caribbean-TravelDeals.com urges passengers to review travel prohibitions, warnings, announcements and advisories prior to booking.