Guadeloupe: The French pearl of the Caribbean

The French archipelago of Guadeloupe is made up of 6 inhabited islands: Grande-Terre, Basse-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Désirade and the islands of Les Saintes (Terre de Haut and Terre de Bas). Five unique places to discover, each with its own special characteristics. Because even if the coconut palms are always there, the atmosphere and landscapes are very different from one island to the next... It would be simplistic to reduce Guadeloupe to its beaches. A living land where nature expresses itself without restraint, it has thousands of things to see and experience in every season. Known as the "butterfly island", it is divided into two main areas: Basse-Terre and Grande Terre.

Basse-Terre is located in the west of Guadeloupe. With its fine sandy beaches and lush vegetation, the island lives to the rhythm of the local volcano and is particularly wild, attracting hiking enthusiasts. Most of the island is occupied by nature, which has reclaimed its rights around the La Soufrière volcano. Reaching an altitude of 1,467 metres, it is surrounded by a protected area: the Guadeloupe National Park, with its many hiking trails, endemic plant species and hot springs.

Grande-Terre, in the east of Guadeloupe, is home to seaside resorts and hotels on the beautiful beaches of Sainte Anne, Gosier and Saint François. This is where most of the holiday hotels are concentrated, with a particularly large number in Gosier, the closest resort to Pointe-à-Pitre airport (around 15 minutes by car). Nature lovers can also turn to the Caribbean Sea, which has an exceptional underwater world. Water sports are also popular, with outstanding spots for windsurfers and surfers!

Less touristy but just as exceptional, the other three islands of Guadeloupe have nothing to envy their neighbours. While Désirade is a desert islet with an air of Brittany, Les Saintes is slowly but surely catching on, becoming one of the top destinations for holidays. Les Saintes comprises two main islands - Terre de Haut and Terre de Bas - and numerous deserted islets.

Finally, Marie Galante - the 3rd largest island in the French West Indies - is also gradually opening up to tourism. Its main sources of income are fishing and sugar cane production. Contrary to popular belief, Marie-Galante is not just a place where you come to extend your holiday in Guadeloupe; it is a real place to stay in its own right. It's a peaceful, unspoilt island that invites travellers to sit back and relax. It offers a glimpse of what Guadeloupe was like 30 years ago, and is a delightful place to sunbathe for a week or so. Enjoy water sports, visit distilleries and mills, relax on heavenly beaches and, above all, discover natural sites of dazzling beauty. While it may seem an exaggeration to talk about towns in Marie-Galante, two large villages are well worth a visit: Grand-Bourg, with its picturesque, colourful wooden houses, and Capesterre, with its dream beaches.