Guadeloupe, or Karukera as locals may call it, is an archipelago of seven islands in the Lesser Antilles.
Article continues below
The islands form the shape of a butterfly, and that French overseas department consist of a dozen islands where you can see it all: from pristine beaches to jungle mountains. Guadeloupe's two main islands look like the wings of a butterfly and they are connect with a mangrove swamp and bridges. The eastern island, Grande-Terre, is a popular tourist destination thanks to numerous beach towns with plenty of activities, while the western island, Basse-Terre, is for those who love mountains, and where they will find Parc National de la Guadeloupe, waterfalls and all other nature wonders.
The Soufrière volcano, the highest peak of the Lesser Antilles, the Carbet falls, and almost 300 kilometres of trails are there for you to explore. Of course, along the way you will meet impressive local wildlife, from hummingbirds to racoons. Speaking about the wildlife, Zoo de Guadeloupe in Basse-Terre Island is a must. High in the mountains of Basse-Terre you will find a combination of a jungle and animal enclosures. From monkeys to iguanas, this is a nice place to meet exotic species, and you may end your visit with canopy walk above the jungle floor.
Grande-Terre is set on a vast limestone plateau, features perfect beaches and turquoise lagoons ideal for water spots. This island is all about exploration but it also has numerous restaurants and hotels that line the Riviera. French-Creole cuisine in warm Caribbean nights are something you usually see in the movies but here you can experience it yourself. So, after a lazy morning with underwater excursion on the islet of Le Gosier, and an afternoon on white beaches, you may visit the market to see what tastes and colors Guadeloupe has to offer.
On the eastern coast of Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe’s former capital Le Moule is in the area that was home to people from Central America until the colonialist established a base there in the early 18th century. Numerous monuments remain standing in tribute to the city’s history and you can see the glimpse of the past in the Edgar Clerc Museum and many the colonial era places such as the Church of St Jean Baptiste and the old stone mill at the Neron plantation. Le Moule is a center of sugar cane production where you can visit the only cane processing plant on Grande-Terre and numerous distilleries, including the House of Damoiseau.
Established in 1726, Les Abymes is the most populous city in Guadeloupe. It is believed that it gets its name from the mist which the locals called the "shroud of the savannah". After the slavery period, it was established at its current location. There you will find impressive the Immaculate Conception, that was built between 1855 and 1858, with a sculpture of Notre Dame de Guadeloupe. Les Abymes absorbed several near cities and now is a great places with a vibrant community. This is also home to Guadeloupe’s Pointe-à -Pitre International Airport, so most probably the place where you will start your visit.
