10 Best Things to Do in Guadeloupe

Terre-de-Haut is a beautiful island just 10 km south of Guadeloupe. Along with 7 other smaller islands, it forms Les Saintes. To get here you’ll need to take a ferry, with the easiest option being from Trois-Rivières in Basse-Terre. You can then rent a bike or moped once on the island.

You’ll love the natural beauty of Terre-de-Haut. Less than 2,000 people live on the island and it feels undiscovered and unspoiled. With over a dozen pristine beaches, you can relax on the golden sands and watch the sailboats gently pass by. Snorkelling and diving are also popular. The island is known for its clear waters, so you’ll have good visibility to see the sea fans and black coral.

Pointe des Châteaux is a spectacular peninsula at the eastern tip of Grande-Terre. This is where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean, and you’ll see waves colliding over the craggy rocks and crashing onto the shoreline. If you love stunning landscapes, this is a great spot. Large rock formations jut out of the ocean and the fierce waves swirl onto them, providing amazing scenery.

You can hike up to the summit where you’ll see the Grand-Croix. This 10-metres high cross towers over the peninsula and, from here, the panoramic views over Grande-Terre are breath-taking. The hike up to the cross can take half an hour, so plan on visiting in the morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat.

Carbet Falls is a group of waterfalls located at the southern end of Guadeloupe National Park in Basse-Terre. You’ll find these delightful cascades along hiking trails through the lush, tropical rainforest and the scenery is staggeringly beautiful. The first waterfall stands 115 metres high and is an impressive sight. The trail to it is long and steep, so be sure to wear proper walking shoes as it can also be slippery.

The second waterfall is more easily accessible, but equally awe-inspiring, with a height of 110 metres. You’ll love seeing the water pour down against the craggy and lush, green backdrop. The third waterfall is inaccessible due to unstable terrain, but you can admire its beauty from a distance.

La Soufrière Volcano lies in Guadeloupe National Park, just 5 km from the charming village of Saint-Claude. It’s an active stratovolcano with an impressive height of almost 1,500 metres. If you love hiking and nature, you’ll enjoy the challenging climb up this rugged landscape. The views are sensational. This is a popular site with locals, who fondly refer to the volcano as La Vielle Dame (The Old Lady).

To enjoy the spectacular vistas from this volcano, arrive early as parking can be difficult once it gets busy. Don’t forget to bring water, snacks and a cagoule with you too as the hike is long and the higher you climb, the chillier it gets.

Pointe-à-Pitre is a great choice if you love strolling through bustling markets. You’ll find lots of them in this friendly city. Saint-Antoine market is open 6 days a week inside a listed historic building between Rue Peynier and Rue Frébault, and it’s known for its spices. You’ll delight in the vivid colours and heavenly aromas of cinnamon, coriander, turmeric and vanilla on display.

In the evening, why not try the Le Gosier night market? Every Friday night, the streets come alive on the waterfront with vendors selling exotic fruits and vegetables, artisanal crafts and local specialities. You can wander at your leisure, indulging in fresh produce, with a fantastic view of the water.

Deshaies Botanical Garden is a tropical paradise of serene water features, calming plants, trees and flowers and beautiful wildlife. It lies in the northern end of Basse-Terre and sprawls over 7 hectares. You’ll love taking in the stunning palette of colours in the alleys of bougainvillea and hibiscus and strolling amongst the palm trees and banana trees.

You’ll also discover brightly coloured parrots and glorious red flamingos as you meander through the gardens. For lunch, the panoramic restaurant is highly recommended. Sit out on the terrace and indulge in mouth-watering French-Creole cuisine, whilst admiring the pretty 10-metre-high waterfall and the glistening Caribbean Sea in the distance.

Longueteau Distillery lies in east Basse-Terre, close to the spot where Christopher Columbus landed in the late 15th century. This prestigious distillery was founded in 1895 and it has been passed down through generations of the Longueteau family since. As you arrive, you’ll see the sugarcane fields all around the distillery and this raw material is used to make their highly sought-after rum.

You can take a guided tour of the stunning domain and the distillery, where you’ll learn how the different rums and punches are made. There are several tours a day, but the places are limited, so be sure to reserve well in advance so you don’t miss out on your amber rum or pineapple punch!

Fort Louis Delgrès is an immense fort and memorial in southwest Basse-Terre. You can learn the history of the island in this beautiful setting, notably the battles of an extraordinary man named Louis Delgrès. In the early 1800s, he fought in vain against Napoleon Bonaparte’s men who had arrived to reinstate slavery in Guadeloupe. The site tells the story of this incredible man and his fate.

Admission to the fort is free and you can visit at your leisure. Pick up a free map and guide to the site’s history at the entrance and marvel at the buildings and memorial stones. The site is well-preserved and fascinating and the views overlooking the sea are also spectacular.

The Mémorial ACTe is located at the harbour of Pointe-à-Pitre. Once a thriving sugar factory, it’s now a huge, modern building overlooking the sparkling Caribbean Sea, which showcases historical events in a contemporary style. It’s a place of remembrance, displaying permanent and temporary exhibitions on the Caribbean’s slave trade.

The permanent exhibition leads you through 6 periods in time, including the Transatlantic slave trade and the abolition of slavery. As you look at real iron shackles and the Code Noir, it’s a sobering journey, and the audio guide and exhibits are very informative. You can then head outside to the tranquil memorial garden to reflect and take in the calming views over the beautiful water.

Fort Napoléon was originally built in the late 18th century, destroyed in 1809, and then rebuilt later that century. It was originally intended to be used for military purposes, but this never happened, and it was used as a prison instead. The austere facade of the building is softened by lush foliage and an abundance of plants and trees and it’s now a beautiful museum showcasing local history and culture.

Located on the northern tip of Terre-de-Haut in the Iles des Saintes, this interesting museum covers a different subject in each room, including military history and ecology. You’ll love the colourful cactus conservatory with its huge iguanas, as well as the stunning views of the bay from the immense grounds.