Description
Between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator, an 8-hour flight from Paris, the eight islands of the archipelago of Guadeloupe, with their evocative names, are scattered in the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea Guadeloupe : Basse-Terre, Grande Terre, la Désirade, Marie-Galante, Petite Terre, les Saintes, Saint-Bartholomew and Saint-Martin.
Guadeloupe, which is dominated by la Soufrière (1467 m) on Basse-Terre, is an island of astonishing contrasts and incredible nature :
- “The island with beautiful waters”: bathed in the waters of the Caribbean Sea to the north-west and the waters of the Atlantic to the south-east, it is encircled with beaches of golden sand, lined with coconut trees. The temperature of the crystalline blue waters ranges between 24° and 29° throughout the year.
- “The emerald island”: the lush vegetation with a thousand tropical fragrances enjoys a warm climate and dry air, leading to very stable temperatures which vary between 23 and 35°.
- “The butterfly island”: a strange shape, with 2 islands separated by a narrow strip of sea, like 2 wings unfolding at the very heart of the West Indies arch.
To the east, Grande-Terre, the domain of sugar cane, with its many beaches of white sand and limpid waters, protected by coral reefs.
Worth discovering for :
- its costumes, which bear testimony to social and cultural mixes,
- its tales, one of its oldest traditions, which fuel superstitious beliefs (the “Quimboiseur”),
- its dances and music with Caribbean, African and European influences (Biguine, Zouk, etc),
- its fragrant and colourful markets
madras, Creole dolls, local jewels, magic products, etc,
- its “lolos,” typical small corner stores.
The flavours of the food :
Bebele, Colombos, Lambis and Calalous simmer to a Biguine tune; a subtle alchemy with Caribbean, African, European and Hindu influences.
Sports and leisure
Things to see :
In Sainte-Anne : the Caravelle beach, Bourg beach, Bois Jolan beach.
Point of departure for visiting the Grands Fonds.
In the surrounding areas :
- Saint-François beaches and marina, the Trou du Souffleur, the headland of the Chateaux, the remains of the Fort-Fleur d’Épée, the Aquarium;
- At Le Gosier (23.5 km): Gosier island and the casino.
- Les Abymes: the Mangrove swamp
- Le Morne à l’eau: patchwork cemetery, Jabrun-south and Jabrun north (community of Blancs-Matignons)
- Le Moule: Edgard Clerc museum (local prehistory), the colonial house of Zévallos, the old fort, Damoiseau distillery, the church.
In Pointe-à-Pître:
- The flower market, the market on the harbour basin, the Marina, Saint-Antoine market, the Centre of Arts and Culture, the Remy Nainsouta cultural centre, the St-John Perse and Schoelcher museums, the Saint-Pierre, Saint-Paul, Sacré Cœur and Massabiel churches, the Place de la Victoire, and the lively streets of the capital - Frébault, Achille René-Boisneuf, Bébian and Sadi-Carnot, Schoelcher and Nozières and Saint-John Perse.
- The Natural Park (the waterfalls on the Moreau river, the Écrevisses falls, the three falls of the Carbet, the Soufrière volcano, etc.). It is also worth visiting the Forest Centre, the Volcano Centre and the Wood Centre.
Sports :
QUAD (circuit, accompanied trips, and the possibility of night trips).
About 6 km away, Saint-François International Golf Course (18 holes, 6 000 m, and par 71), designed by Trent Jones. Tel. 05 90 88 41 87.
Water sports activities: underwater diving at the Cousteau reserve in Bouillante (Basse-Terre).
At Saint-François: possibility of advanced windsurfing courses and rental of equipment (catamaran,windsurf, surfboard…)
Hiking: 300 km of marked trails on the island of Guadeloupe, 10 picnic areas and several natural reserves throughout almost 17,300 hectares of tropical forest. Parfum d’aventure (the scent of adventure) at Saint-François, about 6km away. Hikes in the Grands Fonds (with a guide).
In Saint-François: lessons in flying light aircraft, sightseeing flights, parachuting, Microlight (discovery flight and short course in piloting), helicopter flight.
Shops and Services
A range of services and shops can be found at Sainte-Anne (7 km) and Saint - François (6 km).
