My holidays in Guadeloupe

Hi everyone! I hope you are well. Welcome to my first travel article. I thought long and hard about how I was going to present this article and finally decided to just go with the flow.

I went on holidays in Guadeloupe in 2015, and it was literally a last-minute holiday. My friend and I were supposed to go to the United States, but the trip fell apart because of a Passport issue. Guadeloupe was the second country on our bucket list at that time. Therefore, we ended up booking a 10-day trip to Guadeloupe less than 24 hours before departure. Although it was a last-minute holiday, I have no regret. My holidays in Guadeloupe still remain one of my favourite holidays. The people are really friendly and welcoming. It really is a country where I felt completely relaxed, away from the daily stress. The island offers an array of breath-taking views and hot water beaches.

About Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe is called “The Butterfly Island” because of its shape. It’s composed of two main regions with Basse-Terre to the west and Grande-Terre to the east. Basse-Terre is considered as “the green region” of the country. Grande-Terre, on the other hand, is best known for its great beaches and the marine reserve.

The Butterfly Island has a tropical climate and only has two seasons: the dry season (December to April) and the rainy season (June to November). It’s advisable to go to Guadeloupe during the dry season because the temperatures are apparently better. However, my trip to Guadeloupe took place during the rainy season, and the weather was fine. The rains are brief, and it really feels good when it’s 32°C all day.

Where to stay and eat in Guadeloupe?

Source image : https://www.booking.com/hotel/gp/sicrier.fr.html
We rented a bungalow on booking.com called “Le Sicrier,” which is located at Basse-Terre. The place was really nice and had a large garden and an outside Jacuzzi. The price was around €300-350 maximum for 10 days (to divide in two).

Source image : https://www.booking.com/hotel/gp/sicrier.fr.html

Regarding the places to eat, I really hesitated to include this paragraph because the truth is that I don’t remember where we ate during our holidays in Guadeloupe. However, I think it might still be helpful to recommend some local dishes to try:

• Accra is a Caribbean fritter made with fish that you can find in any restaurant.
• Tropical fruits and juices that you can hardly find in Europe.
• Bokits are a Guadeloupe speciality. These are sandwiches fried in a pan and composed of ham, cheese, raw vegetables, chicken, and sometimes even fish. They are sold in any food truck.
• Poulet Boucané is a typical chicken dish of the country that I advise you to try at all costs.
• Agricultural rum is inevitable in Guadeloupe. If you are a fan of rum, try the brands Damoiseau and Boulogne.

The prices of the restaurants are fair, and you have plenty of choices regarding the food variety.

What to do in Guadeloupe?

There are lots of interesting things to do and visit in Guadeloupe, but here are my top 6 activities to do in the country:

Carbet Falls (Les Chutes du Carbet)

Discovering the Carbet falls was one of my favourite moments of the trip. I really loved exploring the Carbet Falls because I had the chance to make an amazing hike of 3 hours (outward and return journey) while discovering breath-taking landscapes. Carbet falls are known to be among the most beautiful waterfalls of the West Indies. They are located on Basse-Terre inside the tropical forest. It’s an activity to do, preferably early in the day, with sneakers that you are not afraid to dirty. The entrance fee is €2.30 per adult.

Zoo Park of Guadeloupe (Le Zoo de Guadeloupe au Parc des Mamelles)

Walking through the Guadeloupe Zoo at Parc des Mamelles was another one of my highlight moments. The zoo is also located in the tropical, and it’s worth a visit! This place is a fusion between a zoo and a botanical park. You can then discover the different species and botanic splendours that are on the island. You also have the opportunity to walk through the tall trees using suspended walkways. The park really offers delightful panoramas. I highly recommend it. The entrance fee is €15.50 per adult.

La Porte d’Enfer

La Porte d’Enfer is a place that you must visit if you travel to Guadeloupe. It’s one of the most remarkable sites in the country. Once you reach the top of the hill, you can enjoy the stunning view of this place. Just be careful on your way to the top of the hill and make sure you follow the directions on the signs.

Sainte Anne and Saint François beaches

Sainte Anne and Saint François beaches are the most popular beaches on the island. They are both located on Grande-Terre. The beach Sainte Anne is more relaxed and is the one on which we spent the most time. The sand is white, and the water is crystalline and warm. Saint François beach, on the other hand, is a little more crowded because Saint François is a tourist seaside resort. This is the recommended beach for water sports (jet ski, diving, water skiing, etc.) and fishermen because Saint François has a fishing port.

Slave Steps (Les Marches Des Esclaves)

Guadeloupe has many historical monuments related to slavery, but Les Marches Des Esclaves is the one that struck me the most. The story behind this monument, the wooden plaques showing the names of several African ethnic groups… everything about this monument was very moving. I really invite you to visit this place, which is located on Grande-Terre in Le Petit Canal district.

Le Gosier

Located on Grande-Terre, Le Gosier is one of the most popular seaside resorts on the island. This is the place to go for the nightlife. Le Gosier offers a multitude of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and even a casino. The music vibes are quite local and make sure to find out about the dress code before going to any bar or nightclub.

Practical information to go in Guadeloupe

Here are some practical information for a successful stay in the Butterfly Island:

• Guadeloupe is part of the French West Indies. This means that although it’s close to the American continent, it remains a French territory. So, you can go to Guadeloupe simply with your identity card if you are a citizen of a European Union country. However, please note that you will not have the right to take the boat to visit another island without having your Passport.
• The duration of a direct flight from Paris is 8 hours and 30 minutes.
• The official languages are Creole and French. The currency is Euro.
• I strongly recommend that you rent a car because it’s difficult to visit the whole island by relying on public transport. We rented a car (with Budget or Europcar, I don’t remember) for a price of €200-250 (to divide in two) + a deposit of €100-120. To rent a car, you must have a driving license for at least a year and a credit card.
• Avoid large chain of supermarket; the prices are ridiculous. For example, a classic jar of Nutella costs €7 at Carrefour. Favour of local supermarkets. Prices are slightly higher than Belgium or France, but remain fair.
• When you notice some suspicious gatherings in the evening, it’s time to leave where you are. 🙂

The article is now coming to an end. The last thing I can add is that I really loved travelling to Guadeloupe and will definitely return.

Questions? Suggestions? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment 😊