How to make your trip to Guadeloupe a success? The complete guide.

Guadeloupe! You dream of discovering the treasures this butterfly island overflows with. Picture it: lounging on the beach, punch in one hand, accras in the other — finally ready to explore the island's most stunning sites. 🌴☀️

That said, to make the most of your trip to Guadeloupe, it's important to plan the broad strokes of your stay. How long should you stay? When's the best time to come? How do you find the right seasonal rental? Where can you get the best price on your vacation rental? What is there to do in Guadeloupe? How do you get around once you're there? What should you visit in Guadeloupe?

In this article, we'll give you some travel tips to make your stay unforgettable. 😍

How long should you stay in Guadeloupe?

Guadeloupe (in Guadeloupean Creole: Gwadloup) is part of the Lesser Antilles. It's an archipelago made up of several islands and islets; Guadeloupe isn't limited to its main island — it's made up of 5 inhabited islands:

• Mainland Guadeloupe, made up of Grande-Terre to the east and Basse-Terre to the west, forms the butterfly's wings.
• Marie-Galante, also known as "the big pancake" or "the island of a hundred windmills" — a land of authenticity.
• The Îles des Saintes archipelago (Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas), a charming island group located southwest of Guadeloupe.
• La Désirade, known for being a haven of peace.

Guadeloupe and its 4 islands form an archipelago of 1,702 km². Bordered to the west by the Caribbean Sea and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean.

Guadeloupe is overflowing with treasures to discover. Whether you decide to spend a week, ten days, a month, or three months here, plan your itinerary ahead of time. You'll come home full of memories, with just one goal: booking your next vacation on the butterfly island.

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  Spending three days in Guadeloupe: Focus on one particular town and explore its surroundings, so you don't waste time on the road. Distances can be long when crossing the island from end to end. Staying in Sainte-Anne can be ideal for exploring Grande-Terre.
  
• Spending a week in Guadeloupe: Ideal for thoroughly exploring one of the island's two halves (Grande-Terre or Basse-Terre), plus a visit to one of the archipelago's islands. For example, stay in Grande-Terre and spend a night in Les Saintes.
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  Spending ten days in Guadeloupe: Several itineraries are possible. We recommend renting for five days in Grande-Terre and five days in Basse-Terre. This lets you explore both halves of the island at a relaxed pace. For example, staying in Saint-François for five days, then staying in Deshaies for the following five.
  
• Spending two weeks on vacation in Guadeloupe: Here too, we recommend renting for a week in Grande-Terre and a week in Basse-Terre, and taking day trips to the neighboring islands (La Désirade, Marie-Galante, Les Saintes, as well as the Petite-Terre nature reserve). The most convenient option is to depart from the marina of Saint-François.

What's the best time to visit Guadeloupe?

Strictly speaking, there's no single ideal time to stay in Guadeloupe. The Caribbean's tropical climate can be compared to "summer all year round" in Europe. The average temperature is 27°C, dropping to around 20°C during the rainy season, called "hivernage," which runs from July to December; it can rise to 31°C during the dry season, called "carême," which starts in January and ends in June.

To be completely transparent, it's really only in September that you'll notice much of a difference. September is when it rains a bit more often, with the potential for tropical storms or hurricanes forming. The ideal time will simply be whichever dates you choose for your stay on the island. 😊

To dig deeper, check out our article on the best seasons to visit Guadeloupe.

Every weekend, you'll be able to watch the parades in the island's different towns. Each Sunday brings magnificent processions built around themes chosen well in advance by the organizers. The groups are classified by category according to their style of music: groupe à Pô, groupe à Mass, groupe à caisses claires.
There's no shortage of creativity when it comes to the colorful costumes. The upbeat music will have you dancing on the sidewalk every time a group passes. Guadeloupe's Carnival is truly an experience to live.
Our article on the Guadeloupe Carnival will give you all the details to understand this tradition.

Should you take out travel insurance for a Guadeloupe vacation?

If you're not sure you'll be able to travel, or you'd like more flexibility, you can take out comprehensive travel insurance that will let you get a refund on your accommodation rental. This usually covers cancellation for any justified reason, trip interruption, and being unable to travel if you catch Covid.

Healthcare-wise, Guadeloupe offers the same quality of care as mainland France. Your Carte Vitale works here just like in every other French department. As with any trip far from home, you're not immune to needing medical repatriation.
Without imagining the worst, travel insurance can give you the peace of mind to leave with a clear head. It's a point worth not overlooking. Depending on its coverage, it can also help with your car rental in Guadeloupe. Be sure to check with your bank about any insurance already built into your credit card contracts.

How to find a seasonal rental in Guadeloupe at the best price?

What type of accommodation for your vacation rental?

Making your trip to Guadeloupe a success starts with choosing the accommodation type that suits you. There's no shortage of vacation rental options in Guadeloupe. It can range from a hotel room to a residence apartment, through gîtes, all the way to a beautiful villa with a 360° ocean view right on the water. 😎

Depending on the length of your stay, you might book one or several places to stay. Ideally, choose your vacation rental based on the activities you have planned. If your priority is enjoying the beaches of southern Grande-Terre, a vacation rental in Saint-François, Guadeloupe is just right — you'll have everything nearby. 😉

How to find your vacation accommodation?

⚠️ To book your vacation accommodation, you might be tempted to use American platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo. But watch out, the bill can add up quickly! Indeed, whether it's clearly shown or not, you'll pay between 15% and 20% in service fees on top of your accommodation price!

✅ One tip to save a few hundred euros is to book through local rental sites. They have little to no service fees.

➡️ That's exactly what the ZeWelcome agency offers. You can save up to 25% on your vacation rental in Guadeloupe. ZeWelcome offers a curated selection of the best villas in Guadeloupe. It gives you peace of mind and saves time when organizing your vacation. Browse the site, book in two clicks. Their concierge service also helps you prepare for your stay and welcomes you in person.

How to get around in Guadeloupe?

🚘 The preferred mode of transport for travelers is still car rental. It's the most comfortable and practical way to visit the island's most beautiful sites. Most roads are paved; however, in Basse-Terre there are a few hard-to-access roads and some potholes here and there. If you can, opt for a vehicle with a bit of ground clearance (SUV-type).

🛥 If you're planning to visit the nearby islands — Les Saintes, Marie-Galante, or La Désirade — a boat is obviously the way to go. You can reach the Lesser Antilles islands with the Express des Îles ferry company. It offers crossings departing from Pointe-à-Pitre all week long.

If you'd like to explore the butterfly island at a different pace, there are other options too: the bus, a taxi, or even hitchhiking for the more adventurous among you.

⚠️ You can also rent a scooter or motorcycle. However, we strongly advise against it, for comfort and safety reasons. It regularly pours down hard. It only lasts about five minutes, but that's enough to make a scooter ride dangerous. The roads are narrow and drivers have an unfortunate tendency to drive too fast. It's better to opt for a car to enjoy your vacation safely!

What is there to do in Guadeloupe?

In both Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre, there's no shortage of activities. You can opt for sunbathing on Grande-Terre's white sand beaches, or Basse-Terre's black sand beaches. The more adventurous can set off to discover Basse-Terre's many waterfalls.

On the island of beautiful waters, swimming is always in season. Nature lovers will be delighted by the lush scenery of the Grands-Fonds and the Basse-Terre rainforest. You won't have time to get bored. Whether you're here to relax or you prefer a thrill, the archipelago is full of beautiful beaches and well-known diving and surfing spots. And for the more daring, the island's hiking trails await.

On the culinary side, food lovers haven't been forgotten either. The ZeWelcome team has put together a nice guide to the "Best restaurants in Saint-François, Guadeloupe". A great lineup of Caribbean dining spots, if you want to stop for lunch during your outings in southern Grande-Terre.

Discover the island's best restaurants in Saint-François

What to visit in Guadeloupe? The must-sees.

There's no shortage of sites to visit in Guadeloupe. To make your trip a success, here's a non-exhaustive list of the best sites to see during your Guadeloupe vacation. 😍

• Pointe des Châteaux in Saint-François.
• The marina and Raisins Clairs beach in Saint-François.
• The Petite-Terre island near La Désirade.
• Sainte-Anne town beach (and Caravelle beach).
• The Zévallos Colonial House in Le Moule.
• Anse du Souffleur beach in Port-Louis.
• Porte d'Enfer in Anse-Bertrand.
• Îlet du Gosier.
• Fort Delgrès in Gosier.
• Fort Napoléon in Les Saintes.
• The Morne-à-l'Eau Cemetery.
• The spice market in Pointe-à-Pitre.
• The Reimonenq Distillery - Rum Museum in Sainte-Rose.
• The Zoo at Parc des Mamelles.
• The Valombreuse Garden in Petit-Bourg.
• The zoo at Parc des Mamelles in Bouillante.
• The Cousteau Reserve in Bouillante.
• The Deshaies Botanical Garden.
• The Cocoa House in Pointe-Noire.
• La Soufrière Volcano in Saint-Claude.

What to wear for a successful trip to Guadeloupe?

Wondering what to wear for a stay in Guadeloupe? What to pack for 10 days? The weather is great all year round in Guadeloupe. Winter clothing isn't a concern — it's time to bring out your summer outfits. 🏖

To make sure you pack the essentials without overloading your suitcase, check out our article on what to pack for a vacation in Guadeloupe.

Conclusion

There you go! You now have all the tips and ideas you need to make your trip to Guadeloupe a success. To make the most of all these wonderful outings and excursions, book one of our beautiful upscale villas in Guadeloupe.

The traditional welcome ti-punch and accras are already waiting for you there 🍹🏖