A fascinating island, Guadeloupe is like a tropical version of France: same status as any department in France, same smells of coffee and croissants on the breakfast table, same delicious cuisine and wine. Lying a good 2,000 miles south of Nice, however, what you also get with Guadeloupe is beautiful beaches and stacks of sun – with a laid-back, Caribbean vibe, lush tropical beauty, and vibrant Creole music and food to go with it. Made up of two separate islands, looking from the air like a beautiful emerald butterfly with a mangrove middle, Gaudeloupe offers two distinct Caribbeans for the price of one, with dramatic, steep-sided, rainforest-clad summits on Basse-Terre, and gentler beaches and limestone plateau on Grande-Terre. From biking and climbing to diving and snorkelling, whatever kind of Caribbean you’re after, Guadeloupe has it, with hiking trails in the national park below La Soufriere volano, a marine reserve, beach shacks, surf schools, as well as a string of stunning beach resorts hidden away on both Grande-Terre, Basse-Terre, and the sprinkling of tiny islands around them.
Facts
Capital
Basse-Terre is the administrative capital, Pointe-a-Pitre the commercial capital
Airport
Le Raizet at Pointe-a-Pitre
Currency
Euro (£1 = 1.17 Euros)
Size
about 1,628 sq kms
Population
40,000
Average temperature
between 22 and 30 degrees Centigrade on the coast, a couple of degrees cooler inland. September to November are the wettest months
Local highlights
Hike to the misty summit of La Soufriere, through a stunning rainforest national park; visit the buzzing beach bar at Ste-Ann; dive or snorkel the Jacques Cousteau marine reserve off Pigeon Island; visit the small off-shore islands, each with its own distinct vibe, including Terre-de-Haut’s low-key sophistication and stunning bone-white Plage Caravelle, La Desiderade’s laid-back beach scene and lovely, undeveloped Marie-Galante; snorkelling off Ilet du Gosier; surfing from October to May in Port-Louis and Le Moule, or fom June to August at Saint-Francois or Petit-Havre; windsurfing off Terre-de-Haut island; Mardi Gras carnival celebrations.
Getting out and about
The road system is extremely good by Caribbean standards, making it ideally suited to the independent sightseer. Buses operate frequently from morning to evening, except Sundays, when only main routes operate. Taxis are plentiful as are hire cars. Distances on Basse-Terre can take longer to cover than anticipated because of the hilly terrain. Cycling is also a good option, particularly on flatter Grande-Terre
Travel arrangements
There are daily flights to Gaudeloupe with Air France via Paris; flight time from Paris is 8 and a half hours, giving a total flight time, including change in Paris, of about 11 hours.