Relaxing in the seaside resort of Le Gosier

Ranked as one of the three largest seaside resorts on Grande-Terre, Le Gosier takes its name from the famous brown "grand-gousier" pelican that can be seen in the area. Strategically located in the middle of the Caribbean, Le Gosier was once a military base.

It wasn't until 1934 that the first hotel-restaurant opened its doors in Le Gosier. Located less than 30 minutes' drive from Pointe-à-Pitre airport, the small village grew rapidly - particularly in the 1960s - to become the island's third most populous town. This success is set to continue, with new tourist facilities being built every year.

For a few days or several weeks, many tourists choose to set down their bags in Le Gosier. The town offers a wide choice of accommodation, from rental houses to luxury hotels.

Many couples and families come to relax, in complete privacy, in one of the town's 5-star establishments. With their private swimming pools, landscaped beaches, all-inclusive packages and massage parlours, these hotels, like the famous Creole Beach Hôtel & Spa, go to great lengths to ensure that you enjoy your stay.

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But beyond its generous and varied range of accommodation, Le Gosier is above all a lively and friendly town, where it's hard to get bored. Between the aquariums, the shops, the many beaches and the range of water sports on offer, your days will be well and truly filled. To find out more about Guadeloupean culture, visit the Museum of Costumes and Traditions, which plunges you into the past of the archipelago and other regions of the world.Located just a few metres from the town's beaches, the îlet du Gosier is a small coral islet. Under the protection of the Conservatoire du Littoral since 2003, this little corner of paradise can be visited in just a few hours, starting from Datcha beach. The crossing is quick (just a few minutes) and costs just 6 euros per person. Once there, all you have to do is enjoy the peace and quiet and the postcard-perfect beauty of the island.

At nightfall, unlike its neighbour Pointe-à-Pitre, Le Gosier remains a lively place with plenty of leisure activities. While families can enjoy the bustle of the night market (held every Friday evening in the Anse Tabarin car park), party-goers can choose from the town's bars and discos. Feeling like gambling? The Le Gosier casino is open until 3am (4am on Saturdays)!

Most hotels in Le Gosier offer their guests full-board or all-inclusive packages. Fortunately, there is no shortage of restaurants in Le Gosier. From the small local bouiboui to the restaurant of the Auberge de la Vieille Tour, renowned for its refined cuisine, you can indulge in the delicious aromas that emanate from the kitchens at lunchtime.

As everywhere else in the islands of Guadeloupe, rum, punch, madras fabrics, spices and exotic flowers fill the stalls of souvenir shops. Art lovers, meanwhile, will naturally gravitate towards latanier handicrafts and zouk CDs. For your shopping needs, head for the Marina Gosier district (shared with Pointe-à-Pitre), which boasts over a hundred boutiques offering a wide variety of goods.

Le Gosier is a seaside resort that attracts a huge number of tourists and is still growing. Dozens of hotels are built along the seafront to cater for the growing number of visitors every year. Most have their own private beaches, complete with deckchairs and parasols. If you're looking for a quiet, unspoilt spot to spend your holiday away from the crowds, you'll want to look elsewhere in Guadeloupe.