Located in the southeastern Caribbean, Guadeloupe is an active traveler’s dream destination. With miles of pristine beaches and coral reef, 200 miles of hiking trails, a 74,000-acre national park, a 400-foot waterfall and a 4,800-foot high active volcano, there are any number of things to do in Guadeloupe besides ride a bike.
Guadeloupe | Called the “butterfly” island for its shape and beauty, Guadeloupe is actually two bodies of land separated by La Rivière Salée. The west wing, Basse-Terre, boasts a volcano and one of the best preserved tropical forests in the West Indies. To the east is the arid Grande-Terre, home to rolling hills, sugar cane fields and most of our favorites rides.
Water Sports | This is the Caribbean after all! You have your choice of water sports from snorkeling, diving, wind surfing, surfing, and jet-skiing. Guadeloupe’s top diving site is the Réserve Cousteau at Pigeon Island off the western coast of Basse-Terre. Good early spring surfing can be found off the northeast tip of Grande-Terre. For beginners, the snorkeling off the hotel’s western beach provides a nice introduction to the local sea life.
Nearby Islands | Guadeloupe is actually an archipelago that includes the two main islands—Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre—and six very small islands to the south and west that make worthwhile side excursions. There’s the quiet little island of Marie-Galante along with the even smaller Les Saintes, La Désirade and the Petite-Terre islands.
Hiking/Climbing | Basse-Terre and its massive national park are home to a large network of hiking trails. There’s a guided rain forest hike that climbs the volcano through banana fields then descends by way of a series of waterfalls. Guides for both climbing and hiking are available and the Village offers hiking expeditions.
Cross-training | There are approximately 200 meters of calm, ocean swimming off of the resort beach. Running is another popular local sport and you have several options that go out the dead end road to the resort. There is also a small gym about one mile from the resort.
Shopping & Markets | On the edge of Sainte-François, our resort hotel is a short drive to the nearby villages of Sainte-Anne and Le Moule. All these villages include a mix of cafes and bars, restaurants, cyber cafes, local artists boutiques, post offices and souvenir shops. Most of the island’s villages have weekly outdoor markets where you can see a range of produce and local arts.
Music | An integral part of Caribbean life, the music here is a fusion of Caribbean, African and European rhythms. One of the most popular local styles is “zouk”, a lively dance genre.
Nightlife | There are a number of small nightclubs and bars and a casino in nearby Sainte-François.
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