GUADELOUPE

Guadeloupe along with its satellites form the north group of the Windward Islands and are part of the French Caribbean. It's really two islands, separated by the Riviere Salee that are joined by a bridge.

Grande-Terre

Grande-Terre is the flat triangular island to the east and Basse-Terre is the mountainous oval shaped island to the west. Grande Terre's south coast and in particular Gosier is where much of the islands hotel development has taken place but we believe that the most interesting and varied of the two wings to this butterfly shaped island is Basse-Terre which offers some fabulous volcano walks through primeval rain forest, past remote waterfalls, quiet beaches and a historic town centre.

Basse Terre

The administrative capital of the French Caribbean is a pretty port town overlooked by 1467m La Soufriere volcano, with old French colonial buildings and squares shaded by palm and tamarind trees. The ruins of Fort Louis Delgres were occupied by the British twice during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and the Grande Caverne, formerly an officers quarters, is now a cultural museum.

La Soufriere

This is the highest point on Basse Terre and a number of routes will take you through a wide variety of flora to the volcano crater. If the clouds are kind you will be treated to some spectacular views from the top. This is still an active volcano with gaseous emissions and sulphur stained rocks around the vents. Approaching La Soufriere from the east will take you across a rope bridge and past a number of waterfalls including Chutes de Carbet. It's possible to swim in the warm plunge pools beneath the falls.

Jacques Cousteau Underwater Reserve

Cousteau developed this reserve and filmed some of his documentaries here. Diving excursions can be arranged to view the coral and marine life or you can take a trip by glass bottom boat from Malendure beach out to Ilet Pigeon for a spot of snorkeling.

Parc Naturel

Guadeloupe is well geared up for hiking with well defined trails and reliable maps available. Parc Naturel, in the centre of the island, has more than enough trails to keep your average hiker happy. The Trace Victor Hughes follows the main ridge of Basse Terre for 29kms and the River Quiock trail takes about 4 hours but is perhaps for the more adventurous hiker with plenty of tropical mud and rivers to ford.

Cote-Sous-Le-Vent

Basse Terre's best beaches are strung along the northwest coast. Those at Ferry and Grande Anse are quiet, calm and clean. Further north the sea becomes rougher and the coast becomes more rugged at Deshaies with beaches book-ended by cliffs.

Pointe-a-Pitre

This will be your arrival point into Guadeloupe. It's possible to head straight out of town and be at your hotel within an hour but it's worth spending a day or two in Pointe-a-Pitre to soak up the atmosphere of this bustling town. Place de la Victoire is the town centre that's surrounded by Cafes and restaurants and has a very French provincial feel. Flame trees dot the park and ramshackle wooden slatted and tin-roofed gingerbread style houses are squeezed between the remaining colonial buildings. At the end of the square is the main ferry terminal for Marie-Galante, Les Saintes and to Dominica. This used to be the site of the guillotine but nobody loses their head now in relaxed, laid-back Guadeloupe.