Guadeloupe
The Islands of Guadeloupe – Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, La Désirade, Les Saintes (Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas), Marie-Galante– welcome you to the Caribbean!
Whether you arrive at Pôle Caraïbes Airport or one of the entry ports at Pointe-à-Pitre or Basse-Terre, you will be greeted warmly with a taste of “Ti-punch” and the sound of local “biguine” music.
You’ll have an unforgettable stay, enjoying the wide range of activities on offer, both on the two large islands forming the “butterfly” and on the smaller dependencies. The four main themes of our Activities Program – Blue, Green, Cultural and Flavors – will tempt you to try our water sports on the crystal turquoise sea and white sands, discover our forests and nature, immerse yourself in our tradition and heritage, and savor the delicious dishes of the local cooking.
Basse-Terre
Dominated by the imposing silhouette of its old Lady (La Soufrière volcano, 4813 ft/ 1467 m), Basse-Terre is one of the wings forming the “Butterfly” of Guadeloupe. Basse-Terre is a mountainous massif, covered by a magnificent tropical forest of almost 66 square miles (17000 ha), which has been a designated National Park since 1989. It has lots of well marked hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty. Its lush vegetation (over 3000 species of trees) provides shelter for an exotic wildlife, free from poisonous animals. With its waterfalls, cascades, basins, parks and different plantations…it reveals all its natural charm ! Beaches of pebble and sand in shades of ochre, brown, black and pink line its coast, and it has a fantastic underwater reserve of world renown – the Jacques COUSTEAU Reserve (with a submerged bust of him). Basse-Terre provides ample evidence of the cultural diversity of the island – Catholic church and Hindu temple, archaeological remains of the first inhabitants and the 17th century military fort. The town of the same name, the administrative center of the Department, is a real history book…
Grande-Terre
Grande-Terre, also known as the Little Brittany of the Antilles, forms one wing of the Butterfly of the Guadeloupean archipelago. Unlike its twin, Basse-Terre, it is flat and formed from limestone. Grande-Terre is a limestone plateau perfectly suited to growing sugar cane, which covers most of the island. You will realize the importance of this agricultural activity if you visit the GARDEL sugar factory or the Bellevue distillery, located in the town of Le Moule, the former colonial capital. The magnificent shaded beaches of white sand along its coastline provide brilliant sunbathing places if you want to laze about. Calm lagoons of turquoise sea as well as wave sports are a joy for surfers and windsurfers. Lots of restaurants and hotels will guarantee you a taste of the best Creole cuisine, balmy Guadeloupean nights and the range of night time activities (casinos, discos, revues…). With its natural beauty spots (Pointe des Châteaux, the cliffs of la Grande Vigie, the Grands Fonds…), Pointe-à-Pitre, the economic capital with its historical monuments, museums, spice and flower markets with intoxicating smells, and the sugar cane landscapes of Port-Louis, Grande-Terre offers a wide range of choice to suit every visitor.
La Désirade
“Infinite Nature”
Off Pointe des Châteaux lies the island of La Désirade, desired by so many in its history ! From a distance, its shape looks like the keel of an upturned boat. Life on La Désirade is timeless. Peace and simplicity characterize this tabular rock which is quite different from all the others in the archipelago. In fact nothing can disturb the tranquil atmosphere which reigns on the island, nor affect the authentic character and kind welcome of its inhabitants, mainly descendants of people from Brittany, Normandy and Poitou. Seven miles long (11 km) and just over a mile wide (2 km), it has magnificent beaches of white sand, sheltered by long coral reefs - a delight for swimmers and divers. Only the south coast is inhabited. There is one single, straight road linking Grande-Anse, the main market town, to the different communities, Les Galets, Le Souffleur and Baie-Mahault... La Désirade, just like the wild islands of Petite-Terre which are linked to it, has an astonishing variety of plant life. You will also find some beautiful and fascinating colonies of animals on the verge of extinction - iguanas, agoutis, tropicbirds, etc. Gradually the island is beginning to modernize and is gearing up for an appropriate scale of tourist development - beaches and organized hiking trails, gîte accommodations, and pleasant restaurants… La Désirade can be reached by sea (45 min from Saint-François), or by air (15 min from Pôle Caraïbes airport).
Les Saintes
“The Paradise Islands” Life rolls along quietly here. Memories of the turbulent past of the archipelago, and the bloody naval battle with the English and French fleets facing each other off the coastline, remain consigned to the history books. Terre-de-Haut is renowned for its gorgeous bay with clear, turquoise waters, its spectacular sugarloaf mountain, its charming village with quiet roads lined with cute cottages. The inhabitants of Breton and Norman descent have a long tradition of fishing which they do in small open boats called “saintoises”. You can visit the Napoleon Fort with its museum and its surprising exotic garden. The island’s restaurants are stocked with fresh produce on a daily basis and offer tasty tropical cuisine. Terre-de-Bas, with its beautiful beach at Grande-Anse, the remains of the former pottery, leisurely strolls or even the tiny village of Petite-Anse, is worth getting to know better ! Less busy than its sister island, it offers its temporary guests peace and quiet, a relaxed pace of life and the hospitality of its inhabitants.
Marie-Galante
“Marie-Galante, so true !”
Located 27 miles (43 km) from Pointe-à-Pitre, Marie-Galante (Aïchi en Caraïbes) covers an area of 61 sq.miles (158 km²). This round island, hence the nickname “the big pancake”, with its quiet roads and varied plant life, is the sugar cane island par excellence. Known as the island of a hundred mills, it had already gained a reputation for its rum by the 18th century. Vast sugar cane fields still cover most of the land even today. On the roads you will meet authentic ox-drawn carts, the means of transport used by farmers. They say it’s home to the best rums in the world, and Marie-Galante jealously guards the secrets of its culinary specialties on the menus of its colorful restaurants. Its beaches of white sand are some of the most beautiful in the Caribbean ! With its hospitality and the legendary warmth of its inhabitants, Marie-Galante is authenticity itself in the Guadeloupean archipelago.
An Aquatic dream
The Guadeloupe islands are certainly one of the most beautiful places for water sports…
Caressed by the trade winds, tempered by the ever present sun all year round, lashed by the Atlantic Ocean and lapped by the Caribbean Sea, the Guadeloupean archipelago is definitely blessed by the gods. A treat for the eyes, first of all, as they encounter the incredible shades of blue of the Caribbean Sea. Then a treat for the senses with a range of water sports you won’t even be able to get through during your vacation. Stretching out on the sand with your toes dipped in the water, riding the sea on a jetski, diving in search of coral and sponges, seeing the wind swell your sails under an unblemished sky, finding out all about the nature reserve of Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin, taking a catamaran trip in search of white sand banks… You can do anything in the water, and it feels so good ! Relaxation, stimulation, freedom, feeling good… Everyone will think your photos have been touched up, and that your vacation stories are a bit exaggerated.
The Wonders of Nature
To be consumed without moderation !!!
Getting away from it all to the “land of verdant hills”… Funny how this expression seems perfect for Guadeloupe. For on Basse-Terre, if there is one color that stands out, it’s certainly green ! Or rather greens, for the ever changing light seems caught up in a play of colors with thousands of plant species. Trees ferns, epiphytic leaves, cannas, and wild orchid do their utmost to surprise the freshly landed visitors ! Learning to paint on Guadeloupue certainly changes your appreciation of color, as the desire to represent nature leads straight to the purest shades. The bitter, fresh smell of volcanic earth is just as compulsive as the bright splashes of color. This exotic picture is completed majestically by the roar of waterfalls in the forest and the crystal clear lapping of a gently cascading river – it all seems more dreamlike than real. As Guadeloupe is the favorite terrain for sports and nature-based leisure activities, walks, exploring canyons, mountain biking, hikes and treks all give you the opportunity to soak in this rejuvenating bath of greenery.
Les Îles de Guadeloupe sont composées de 5 îles : Grande-Terre, Basse-Terre, Marie-Galante, Les Saintes (Terre-de-Haut et Terre-de-Bas) et la Désirade. Elles vous accueillent au cœur du bassin caribéen.
La Basse-Terre
Dominée par l'imposante silhouette de sa grande Dame (la Soufrière 1467 m), la Basse-Terre est une des ailes qui forment le papillon de la Guadeloupe.
La Basse-Terre est un massif montagneux couvert, par une magnifique forêt tropicale de 17 000 ha classée Parc National depuis 1989. Celle-ci comprend de nombreux itinéraires de randonnées balisés et d’intensité variable. Sa végétation luxuriante (plus de 3000 espèces d’arbres) abrite une faune exotique, sans animaux venimeux. Avec ses chutes, cascades, bassins, parcs, plantations diverses… elle dévoile tout son charme naturel ! Elle est aussi bordée de plages de galets et de sables couleur ocre, brun, noir ou rose, ainsi qu’une fabuleuse réserve sous-marine mondialement connue : la Réserve du Commandant COUSTEAU (avec son buste immergé). La Basse-Terre abrite de nombreux témoignages de la diversité culturelle de l’île : église catholique et temple hindou, vestiges archéologiques des premiers habitants et fort militaire du XVIIème siècle. La ville qui porte le même nom, chef lieu du département, est un véritable livre d’histoire...
La Grande-Terre
La Grande-Terre, aussi appelée la petite Bretagne des Antilles est l'autre aile du Papillon de l'Archipel Guadeloupéen. Contrairement à sa jumelle, La Basse-Terre, elle est plate et calcaire.
La Grande-Terre est un plateau calcaire parfaitement adapté à la culture de la canne à sucre, qui couvre la majeure partie de l’île. La visite de l’unité sucrière de GARDEL, ou de la distillerie de Bellevue, implantées dans la commune du Moule (ancienne capitale coloniale) permet de mieux apprécier l’importance de cette activité agricole. Son littoral bordé de magnifiques plages ombragées de sable blanc, offre aux amateurs de farniente des sites de bronzage incomparables. De tranquilles lagons de mer turquoise, ainsi que de spots de vagues font la joie des surfeurs et des véliplanchistes. Les nombreux restaurants et hôtels garantissent l’art culinaire créole, la douceur des nuits guadeloupéennes et la variété des activités nocturnes (casino, discothèques, spectacles...)
Avec ses sites naturels (la Pointe-des-Châteaux, les falaises de la Grande Vigie, les Grands fonds…), Pointe-à-Pitre, la capitale économique et ses monuments d’époques, ses musées, ses marchés aux épices, aux fleurs avec les senteurs qui vous enivrent, le pays de la canne à Port-Louis, La Grande-Terre offre, aux visiteurs une diversité de choix pour les plus récalcitrants.
La Désirade
Au large de la Pointe des Châteaux, voici La Désirade, l’île tant désirée ! Vue de loin, sa forme évoque la quille d’une barque renversée.La Désirade vit hors du temps. Calme et simplicité caractérisent ce rocher tabulaire bien différent des autres îles de l’archipel. Rien ne semble en effet pouvoir perturber l’atmosphère tranquille qui règne sur l’île, ni modifier l’authenticité et l’accueil bienveillant de ses habitants composés en grande partie de descendants de Bretons, de Normands, de Poitevins.Longue de 11 Km et large de deux, elle possède de magnifiques plages de sable blanc protégées par de longues barrières de corail qui enchanteront baigneurs et plongeurs.Seul le littoral Sud est habité. L’unique route rectiligne relie Grande-Anse, bourg principal, aux différents quartiers, Les Galets, Le Souffleur et Baie-Mahault...La Désirade, tout comme les îles sauvages de la Petite-Terre qui lui sont rattachées, offre une végétation étonnamment diversifiée. On y trouve aussi de belles et intéressantes colonies d’animaux en voie de disparition : iguanes, agoutis, paille en queue, etc.Petit à petit, l’île se modernise et s’équipe pour un développement touristique à son échelle : plages et sentiers de randonnée aménagés, hébergement en gîtes, sympathiques restaurants...
Les Saintes
La vie s’y écoule paisiblement. Seuls les livres d’histoire se souviennent du passé tumultueux de l’archipel et de la sanglante bataille navale qui opposa les flottes anglaise et française au large des côtes.Terre-de-Haut est connue pour sa splendide baie aux eaux turquoises et claires, son spectaculaire pain de sucre, son charmant village aux rues paisibles bordées de coquettes maisons. Les habitants d’origine bretonne et normande ont une longue tradition de pêche qu’ils pratiquent dans des canots appelés "saintoises". Vous visiterez le Fort Napoléon qui abrite un musée et un surprenant jardin exotique. Les restaurants de l’île sont approvisionnés de produits frais quotidiennement et proposent une savoureuse cuisine tropicale.Terre-de-Bas avec sa belle plage de Grande-Anse, les vestiges de l’ancienne poterie, les balades pédestres ou encore le petit village de Petite-Anse mérite d’être mieux connu ! Moins fréquentée que sa soeur, l’île offre à ses hôtes de passage, son calme, sa douceur de vivre et l’hospitalité de ses habitants.
Marie-Galante
Située à 43 km de Pointe-à-Pitre, Marie-Galante (Aïchi en Caraïbes) a une superficie de 158 km². Cette île ronde, d’où son surnom de « grande galette » avec ses routes peu fréquentées, à la végétation diversifiée, est avant tout l’île de la canne à sucre.Appelée,"l’île aux cent moulins", elle était déjà au 18ème siècle, réputée pour son rhum.De vastes champs de canne à sucre occupent aujourd’hui encore la majorité des terres. Vous rencontrerez sur les routes d’authentiques charrettes à boeufs qui servent de moyens de locomotion et de transport aux paysans. Terre des meilleurs rhums du monde dit-on, Marie-Galante conserve jalousement le secret de ses spécialités culinaires proposées dans de chatoyants restaurants.Ses plages de sable blanc sont parmi les plus belles de la Caraïbe ! Avec son sens de l’hospitalité et la légendaire gentillesse des habitants, Marie-Galante reste l’authenticité même de l’archipel Guadeloupéen.
