Guadeloupe, known as Gwadloup in the local creole, and sometimes known as the Butterfly Island (French: l’île Papillon) on account of the shape of two of its major islands, is a group of islands in the eastern Caribbean, and is a French overseas department, southeast of Puerto Rico.
UNDERSTAND
Guadeloupe has been a French possession since 1635 except for the years 1813-1814 when it came into Swedish possession as a consequence of the Napoleonic Wars. The island of Saint Martin is shared with the Netherlands; its southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles and its northern portion is named Saint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe.
Guadeloupe is an archipelago of nine inhabited islands, including Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Desirade, Iles des Saintes (2), Saint-Barthélemy, Iles de la Petite Terre, and Saint-Martin (French part of the island of Saint Martin).
Climate. Subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity.
Terrain. Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin.
Language. French is the official language, although Guadeloupean Créole (very different from French) is the native language. Everyone speaks French but few people understand English. Most people working in the tourism industry will speak English and sometimes Spanish or German.
GET IN
Passports and visas. Being an integrated part of France, Guadeloupe is considered as European as Paris politically, so European Union immigration rules apply.
By Plane. Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport (PTP).
By Car. From some neighbouring islands, you can travel with your car on ferry companies
Rentacar – One of the largest agencies of car rental in Guadeloupe, agency at the airport and English speaking counter agents. All types of passenger vehicles and several types of contracts possible.
Quickly – Agency at the airport of Pole Caraibes, presents 14 years on the islands of Guadeloupe. All types of vehicles.
Locacar – Car rental implemented on Grande-Terre, near to the hotels. Shuttle from airport services.
By Boat. From Martinique, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Marie Galante, and Les Saintes: Express des Iles, Brudey Frères, and Star Ferries.
Windward Islands, one of the worlds largest yacht charter companies, can take care of all charter requirements, from bare boat to crewed in Guadeloupe, Martinique, and St Martin. Operating from its international offices (USA, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, Caribbean, Hong Kong, and Dubai).
Canadian Sailing Expeditions – Tall Ship Caledonia – Travelers can embark at Pointe-a-Pitre and sail on to various locations such as Deschaies.
GET AROUND
By Car. Cars can be hired at the airport in Pointe-à-Pitre. The main roads are of the same quality as metropolitan France, but smaller roads are often uneven, pot-holed and frankly dangerous. Prudence is required! Drivers are often undisciplined, but rarely aggressive.
Money. Like the rest of France, the official currency is the euro (“€”, ISO currency code: EUR). It is divided into 100 cents.
Shopping. Characteristic of the Antilles is the colourful tiled Madras fabric.
The local made rum is also distinctive and very cheap to buy. Certainly worth sampling (during an evening at one of the beautiful beaches or at home when showing vacation pictures to friends and family to warm everyone up to Caribbean temperature)
Cuisine. Not to be missed, the plate Colombo (chicken, rice, curry), imported from India, has become the typical regional plate. The expected cost for a restaurant meal is anywhere from €5-40.
Drink. The local drink is white rum. Do try the “‘Ti Punch” (petit punch/small punch) made with rum, lime, and sugar cane/brown sugar. Packs a wallop, so be prepared to melt into the island way of life.
ACCOMMODATION
Sunset Surf Camp, 97118 Saint François, Grande-Terre. One of the few (perhaps the only?) backpackers accommodations in Guadeloupe, with both private rooms and dorm-style rooms of three beds. The surf camp is located within a 2500m² tropical garden located a few hundreds meters from Raisins Clairs beach and it takes less than 10mn to walk to the center of Saint François. From €29 per night for a dorm room (high season 2010).
Gîtes de l’Habituée, Capesterre Belle Eau (route de morne crossing with chemin baron), ☏ +590 590 98 68 95, ✉ gites-habituee@wanadoo.fr. 3 fully furnished Bungalows (#1:sleeps 2 #2 an #3:sleep 4) South east of Basse Terre island. Free WiFi. €35-55.
Fleurs des îles,Deshaies (plage de Grande Anse), ☏ +590 590 28 54 44, ✉ contact@location-bungalow-guadeloupe.fr. The flowers of the Islands residence offers bungalow rental and rental cottages in Deshaies on the edge of the Caribbean in the middle of a tropical garden with swimming pool. WiFi. €34-55.
PV-Holidays Sainte Anne Holiday Village, ☏ +33 1 58 21 55 84. The self-catering village is made up of exotic 2-floor houses, each of which contains several hotel apartments. It is located “on the water’s edge” and is embellished by tropical gardens. Surrounded by two beaches, sports and water areas and has many on-site shops.
Chalets Sous-le-Vent – Réserve Cousteau, Route de Poirier, Pigeon (Basse-Terre Region, 40km from Airport), ☏ +590590989161. 7 fully equipped cottages located in a 2’300sqm tropical garden with a swimming pool and sea view, facing the “Réserve Cousteau” marine park in Guadeloupe. Diving spots and beach 5 min. away by car. One chalet is fully equipped for disabled persons. Swiss owners and alumni of the Lausanne Hotel Management School. Special offers for scuba-divers. Cottages 2–3p, bungalow with aircon 2-4p, twin cottages 4–6p
Hotel Amaudo, Saint-François, Grande-Terre. Has the best online reviews by a mile on the whole island, and looks beautiful in photos! From €130 a night (High season 2010).
Hotel Karaibes,Le Gosier, Grande-Terre. Two star hotel, basic but clean and fine. From €70 per night
Hotel le Petit Havre, Route de la Plage – Petit-Havre – 97190 Gosier – Grande-Terre. Simple two star hotel From €85 per night
Aloes Vacances, route de la pointe des châteaux la coulée 97118 St François, Grande-Terre. Gites (holiday apartments) in St François, less than 10 minutes walk from the beach and the town. From €85 per night for a studio
Les Gîtes de la Grande Source,Rue du Souffleur – 97127 La Désirade. On one of the most genuine islands of the Guadeloupe archipelago, vacation bungalows in quiet tropical gardens only some 200m from the sea are awaiting you. From €46 per night for a double (high season 2010).
Oualiri Beach Hotel,Beauséjour – 97127 La Désirade. Of a reasonably small size allowing personal contacts, the Oualiri Beach Hôtel offers all the charm and authentic atmosphere proper to the island of Desirade. From €60 for a single
STAY SAFE
The main tourist areas (city center of Point-à-Pitre, Le Gosier, St. Anne, St. Felix…) are pretty safe, especially by day. When it gets dark, you should avoid walking around in Point-à-Pitre alone and stay on the main roads and plazas and be aware of smaller side streets. Always try to keep a low profile as a tourist to avoid attracting unwanted attention.
Health. There is no particular disease but you should protect yourself from the sun. Sanitary and medical facilities in Guadeloupe are good. Health care in Guadeloupe is controlled by a state-owned organisation (Sécurité Sociale). Doctors are available in almost every village. Tap water is usually safe for consumption. Public sources of water are unsafe if labeled with “Eau non potable” (no drinking water). Visitors from European Union should bring their European Health Insurance Card with them. Ask details at your local health care organisation.
RESPECT
While officially a part of France, the country does not have a very Europeanized way of life — life in the Caribbean has a much slower pace. Buses run very infrequently, taxis are hard to find, smaller stores open or close not always on time, queuing in stores is sometimes very time consuming… Try to fall into the local pace and do not complain about minor annoyances as Guadeloupeans will see that as an offense to their way of life. And they are proud of the distinction between Caribbean and metropolitan (French) life style!
CONNECT
Phones. Country code: 590. Dialing within Guadeloupe: all numbers have 10 digits. Landlines begin by 0590 and mobile phones by 0690.
Dialing to Guadeloupe: international prefix + 590 + phone number without the first 0 (this leads to dial twice 590 which is normal). If you dial from France, just use the 10 digits number.
Dialing from Guadeloupe: the international prefix is 00.
Calling to a mobile phone is more expensive than to a landline. Number beginning by 0800 are free phone. Number beginning by 089 are premium-rate.
Few foreign mobile phone companies offer international roaming to Guadeloupe so double-check before leaving. Your company should provide specific roaming to Guadeloupe since it has deferent mobile phone companies than in mainland France.
Alternatively, you should be able to get a Pay-as-you-go SIM card from various locations. There is one company offering wireless services: Orange Caraïbe.
Post. Post offices are found in all cities. Letter boxes are coloured in yellow.
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NOMAD MANIA France – Guadeloupe and Dependencies (Marie Galante)
Borders: Guadeloupe (sea border/port)
Festivals
Festival of Fish and the Sea
Guadeloupe Carnival
Guadeloupe International Zouk Festival
Gwo-Ka Festival
Islands
BASSE-TERRE
Villages and Small Towns:
DESHAIES
Plage de la Perle. Beach
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Le Carmel: Fort Delgrès
World of Nature:
Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve
Réserve Cousteau. Plage Malendur. Beach
Waterfalls
Carbet Falls
Cascade aux Ecrevisses
Beaches
Grande-Anse Beach
GRANDE TERRE
Villages and Small Towns: Port-Louis
Lighthouses: Îlet du Gosier Light
Well-being: Distillery: Damoiseau Distillery
Cities of the Americas
POINT A PITRE World City and Popular Town
Airports: Pointe a Pitre (PTP)
MARIE GALANTE
M@P: Marie Gallant
Well-being: Distillery: Bellevue Distillery
Festivals: Terre de Blues Festival, Marie-Galante
ILES des SAINTES
XL: Iles des Saintes
Villages: Terre-de-Haut
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Fort Napoléon des Saintes
LA DESIRADE
M@P: Desirade
XL: La Desirade
World of Nature: La Désirade National Nature Reserve
PETITE-TERRE
Lighthouses: Petite-Terre Light