Explore the Islands of Guadeloupe with iBestTravel
Magnificent Guadeloupe, the southernmost of the Leeward Islands and the European Union’s largest territory in North America, has more than its fair share of natural beauty even by Caribbean standards. With stunning beaches, soaring mountains, superb food, and spectacular diving, the five main islands each have their own special character and different reasons to visit. The joy of Guadeloupe is that you really don’t need to choose; even if you only have a week, it’s perfectly possible to enjoy them all, as ferries go back and forth between them several times a day.
Grande-Terre
Best for: Dining Out
While Grande-Terre has been a traveler favorite for decades due to its gorgeous southern beaches, it’s now generally accepted that it boasts Guadeloupe’s most exciting culinary choices as well. This is particularly true in and around the town of St-François, where a steady stream of jetsetters and yachties has given rise to some excellent establishments. Particularly outstanding are Iguane Café for multicourse gastronomy, Le Mabouya dans La Bouteille for a fusion of classical French dishes with Caribbean ingredients, and Le Zagaya for unpretentious but top-notch seafood. Destination dining elsewhere on the island can be found at cozy yet sophisticated Koté Sud in Ste-Anne, a foodie favorite for its inventive Creole cuisine, and in the north of the island at Chez Coco, which overlooks a lovely private beach surrounded by the high cliffs of the so-called Porte d’Enfer. The sprawling and rather unattractive city of Pointe-à-Pitre, also on Grande-Terre, won’t be on many visitors’ radar, but its brand new and highly ambitious museum, Mémorial ACTe, narrates Guadeloupe’s brutal history of slavery and colonialism, making it an essential stop for anyone visiting.
Getting There: Nearly all visitors to Guadeloupe arrive at Grande-Terre’s Pôles Caraïbes Airport or by ferry from neighboring Caribbean islands at Pointe-à-Pitre. Grande-Terre is also connected with direct ferry services to all other islands in Guadeloupe, from Pointe-à-Pitre to Les Saintes and Marie-Galante (jeansforfreedom.com, valferry.fr), and from St-François to La Désirade (Archipel 1) and Les Saintes (comatrile.com), in addition to two road bridges linking to neighboring Basse-Terre.
Basse-Terre
Best for: Hiking and Diving
Basse-Terre literally means ‘low land’ in French, which is a rather poor description of this majestic wonder. Its lush foliage rises up to the towering La Soufriére, the active volcano that soars to 1467 meters, marking the highest point in the Lesser Antilles. Surrounding this giant, Basse-Terre is home to Guadeloupe’s only national park, which features dense forests, misty peaks, rivers, and breathtaking waterfalls. A significant draw for visitors includes the picturesque beachside villages along its northern coast, most charming of which is the yachtie and foodie haven of Deshaies, a vibrant and traditional Caribbean village that boasts many excellent restaurants and atmospheric hotels. Additionally, Basse-Terre offers remarkable diving in the Réserve Cousteau, surrounding the tiny Pigeon Island.
Getting There: Access to Basse-Terre is straightforward from Grande-Terre, with two road bridges connecting the islands. Basse-Terre also enjoys multiple daily ferry sailings to Les Saintes from Trois-Rivières (ctmdeher.com, valferry.fr).
La Désirade
Best for: Tropical Escape
Just a short distance off the craggy rock nose of Grande-Terre lies La Désirade, embodying an archetypal Caribbean fantasy reminiscent of a child’s drawing of a desert island. Its unusual name refers to it being the first island Columbus spotted on his second voyage, marking it as his desired destination. Characterized by its significant central bluff and swaying palms overlooking white sandy beaches, there is only one road extending along its southern coastline. The atmosphere is inviting; while day-trippers flock here via ferry from Grande-Terre, this is notably the least touristic island in Guadeloupe, featuring only a few hotels and restaurants. The sleepy town of Beauséjour exudes a sense of old Caribbean charm, where everyone knows each other. At the island’s tip, tranquility reigns, culminating in a dramatic lighthouse that gazes into the open ocean.
Getting There: La Désirade is accessible only by ferry from Grande-Terre, with two daily crossings from St-François (on Archipel 1).
Marie-Galante
Best for: Beaches & Rum
Flat and seemingly unremarkable at first glance, Marie-Galante’s real allure lies in its stunning beaches, which attract many French holidaymakers. The island is somewhat too large to explore easily in just a single day, and locals generally encourage extended stays since many hotels do not accept one- or two-night bookings. Don’t miss the opportunity to soak up the sun on beautiful Plage de la Feuillère and Plage de Petite Anse, while also visiting the island’s three charming towns: bustling Grand-Bourg, scenic Capesterre, and friendly St-Louis. Marie-Galante also offers several historic rum distilleries to tour, where visitors can witness the full production process from sugar cane to bottled rum. Notable distilleries include Distillerie Bielle, Distillerie Poisson, and Domaine de Bellevue, the latter of which features a stunning old windmill.
Getting There: Daily ferry connections operate between Pointe-à-Pitre on Grande-Terre and Marie-Galante’s main town of Grand-Bourg (express-des-iles.com, jeansforfreedom.com, valferry.fr), with the village of St-Louis having daily connections to both St-François on Grande-Terre and Les Saintes (comatrile.com).
Les Saintes
Best for: Utter Charm
Unlike the four main islands of Guadeloupe, the mountainous archipelago of Les Saintes consists of nine different islands, though only two are inhabited. Tourism is primarily focused on Terre-de-Haut, arguably the most picturesque spot in all of Guadeloupe, characterized by its charming Norman architecture, sophisticated dining, and a backdrop of high, lush hills. The beaches here are excellent; be sure to spend a lazy afternoon at the Baie de Pompierre, known for its friendly goats and the lovely island to swim out to, or take a long walk along the stunning sand and rough surf of Grande Anse, which is too rough for swimming but perfect for exploring.
On Terre-de-Haut, you can also explore the historic Fort Napoleon, an imposing former French defensive battery now housing a museum; climb Le Chameau, the 309-meter peak dominating Terre-de-Haut for breathtaking views; and if you’re seeking seclusion, take one of the constant boats to neighboring Terre-de-Bas, a tranquil island where time seems to stand still.
Getting There: There are multiple daily ferries to Terre-de-Haut from Trois-Rivières (ctmdeher.com, valferry.fr) on Basse-Terre and from Pointe-à-Pitre (express-des-iles.com, jeansforfreedom.com, valferry.fr) on Grande-Terre, with less frequent services from St-François on Grande-Terre (comatrile.com), which also makes stops at Marie-Galante.
