Thursday, July 24, 2025
LBNN
  • Business
  • Markets
  • Politics
  • Crypto
  • Finance
  • Energy
  • Technology
  • Taxes
  • Creator Economy
  • Wealth Management
  • Documentaries
No Result
View All Result
LBNN

Why Guadeloupe Is a Caribbean Island Hopping Paradise

Simon Osuji by Simon Osuji
June 27, 2025
in Real Estate
0
Why Guadeloupe Is a Caribbean Island Hopping Paradise
0
SHARES
0
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


Guadeloupe isn’t one island—it’s a self-contained archipelago of six inhabited isles (and countless islets and cays), each with its own rhythm, landscape, and identity. Set in the French Caribbean, Guadeloupe is unified by a strong Creole and French heritage, yet offers a surprisingly diverse range of experiences just a ferry ride away. Whether you’re hiking a volcano, sipping rhum agricole, or exploring tiny islets ringed with coral reef, island-hopping in Guadeloupe is seamless, scenic, and unforgettable.

Basse-Terre: Rainforests and Volcanoes

The western half of Guadeloupe’s butterfly-shaped core is a lush, mountainous escape dominated by the Guadeloupe National Park and crowned by La Soufrière, an active volcano known for its dramatic summit hike. Waterfalls tumble through dense rainforest, and the coastline is dotted with black-sand beaches and marine reserves. It’s a destination made for hiking, canyoning, diving, and nature immersion. Our favorite attraction here, though, is the rum industry — most of Guadeloupe’s rum distilleries are based here, and its rich, volcanic soil makes for spectacular terroir-driven rum. 

Our other favorite stop in Basse-Terre? Deshaies, the rainforest-meets-the-beach town that’s most famous as the site of the fictional Saint Marie in the BBC series “Death in Paradise.” 

If you’re in Basse Terre, the best place to stay is the Habitation Saint Charles, in our view.

guadeloupe jetblue caribbean
The La Toubana resort in Guadeloupe, the destination’s top luxury hotel.

Grande-Terre: Culture, Coastlines, and Energy

To the east lies Grande-Terre, flatter, drier, and home to the majority of Guadeloupe’s resorts and nightlife. The capital city of Pointe-à-Pitre is a cultural hub, with markets, galleries, and world-class cuisine. Along the coast, you’ll find white-sand beaches, dramatic limestone cliffs, and towns like Le Gosier and Saint-François. Grande-Terre is the ideal base for those who want beach time, cultural experiences, and easy transport to the rest of the archipelago.

It’s home to the unquestioned best hotel in Guadeloupe: the luxe La Toubana; a selection of solid, if unspectacular hotels can be found in Gosier. 

Terre-de-Haut (Les Saintes): Charm in Miniature

A short ferry from Trois-Rivières brings you to Terre-de-Haut, part of the small Les Saintes archipelago. This island is a jewel—one of the prettiest in the Caribbean—with charming Creole-style houses, quiet beaches, and panoramic views from Fort Napoléon. The island’s bay is a favorite of yachts and sailboats, and its narrow roads and scooter-friendly paths make exploration easy. 

terre de haut tiny islands
It’s as charming as it gets.

It’s a perfect day-trip or overnight for travelers craving peace, scenery, and authentic island life. It’s also home to the magnificent Pain du Sucre beach, where we’ve visited several times and remain in love. 

Some have called it a “mini” St Barth. And while it’s not really that, it is a lovable, captivating little island. 

La Désirade: Wild and Untouched

Eight kilometers off Grande-Terre’s eastern coast lies La Désirade, the oldest island in the region geologically and among the least developed. With a wild, arid beauty and long, deserted beaches, it’s a destination for those seeking escape. Much of the island is a protected nature reserve, and its serenity stands in contrast to Guadeloupe’s busier hubs. It’s a place for solitude, swimming, and watching iguanas bask on wind-swept cliffs.

Marie-Galante: Rum and Rolling Fields

This is a place we’ve called the “Isle of Rum.” That’s not an accident. With three rum distilleries and a tiny population, there are more rum distilleries here per capita than any other place on earth. 

Marie-Galante is a nostalgic step back in time. Larger and flatter than many of the other islands, it offers sweeping rural landscapes and a deep connection to Guadeloupe’s agricultural and rum-making traditions (where you’ll find oxen doing much of the work). The island is home to some of the region’s best distilleries and least crowded beaches, along with a distinctive cultural pride. Ferries from Pointe-à-Pitre and Saint-François make it a popular overnight destination for those wanting to explore beyond the main butterfly islands.

Marie Galante is a trip back in time.

Ilet du Gosier — Paging Robinson Crusoe

Ok, so it’s not a full-fledged island. This speck of land off the coast of the beach town of Gosier has an old lighthouse and a Robinson Crusoe vibe. It’s no surprise, then, that it’s home to a fantastic, castaway-style beach bar called Ti’ Robinson. Pay a local fishermen a few euro and he’ll make the journey for you. It’s the perfect day trip while you’re in Guadeloupe, just off the coast of Gosier.

The Ultimate Archipelago Adventure

What makes Guadeloupe so ideal for island hopping is its accessibility. Ferries, short flights, and even bridges connect these contrasting islands, letting you wake up in a rainforest, snorkel coral reefs by midday, and sip ti’ punch on a rum estate by sunset. Each island is different, but all feel part of a coherent cultural and geographic whole. This is the Caribbean at its most diverse—and most connected. And don’t forget,  this all makes it a great charter boat destination, too. 

How to Get to Guadeloupe

It’s relatively straightforward if you’re coming from Miami: multiple flights each week on both Air France and on American Airlines. If that doesn’t work for you, or if you’re coming from New York or elsewhere, you can also fly to St Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport, take a quick cab ride and fly from French Saint Martin’s Grand Case Airport, which has multiple daily flights to Pointe a Pitre.



Source link

Related posts

The Hottest Villas in St Barth Right Now, According to the Island’s Top Experts

The Hottest Villas in St Barth Right Now, According to the Island’s Top Experts

July 23, 2025
Lack of infrastructure expansion caused electricity crisis- Abia govt

Lack of infrastructure expansion caused electricity crisis- Abia govt

July 23, 2025
Previous Post

FATF sounds alarm over rising stablecoin misuse as global crypto rules lag

Next Post

Biocryst sells Europe business; Peter Marks criticizes new FDA vaccine rules

Next Post
Akeso claims another PD-1/VEGF win; FDA requests more data from Novavax

Biocryst sells Europe business; Peter Marks criticizes new FDA vaccine rules

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECOMMENDED NEWS

Here’s how machine learning can violate your privacy

Here’s how machine learning can violate your privacy

1 year ago
Merck Foundation declared Botswana First Lady as Ambassador of “More than a Mother” to build healthcare capacity, break infertility stigma, stop Gender-based Violence (GBV) and support girl education

Merck Foundation declared Botswana First Lady as Ambassador of “More than a Mother” to build healthcare capacity, break infertility stigma, stop Gender-based Violence (GBV) and support girl education

9 months ago
Generative AI masters the art of scent creation

Generative AI masters the art of scent creation

3 months ago
Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Hydrocarbons Minister to Speak at Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025 Amid Renewed Exploration Drive

Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Hydrocarbons Minister to Speak at Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025 Amid Renewed Exploration Drive

3 months ago

POPULAR NEWS

  • Ghana to build three oil refineries, five petrochemical plants in energy sector overhaul

    Ghana to build three oil refineries, five petrochemical plants in energy sector overhaul

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • When Will SHIB Reach $1? Here’s What ChatGPT Says

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The world’s top 10 most valuable car brands in 2025

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Top 10 African countries with the highest GDP per capita in 2025

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Tanzania’s natural gas sector goes global with Dubai deal

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 LBNN - All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Markets
  • Crypto
  • Economics
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate
    • Infrastructure
  • Finance
  • Energy
  • Creator Economy
  • Wealth Management
  • Taxes
  • Telecoms
  • Military & Defense
  • Careers
  • Technology
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Investigative journalism
  • Art & Culture
  • Documentaries
  • Quizzes
    • Enneagram quiz
  • Newsletters
    • LBNN Newsletter
    • Divergent Capitalist

© 2023 LBNN - All rights reserved.