Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is one of Caribbean’s Lesser Antilles islands. It is made up of six islands – with the two largest islands Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre close together as a butterfly shape. The Island is Guadeloupe is actually an overseas department governed by France, so it’s part of Europe and you’ll hear French spoken and you can use euros but all with a Carribean vibe.
Grande-Terre is more flat and drier landscape and herre you find most of the beach resorts, especially around Le Gosier. There are lots of sheltered bays with calm waters for sailing and swimming, and white sandy beaches. If you head to the east or north and Grande-Terre you’ll find its less developed side, with small villages, rocky wild coastline.
Basse-Terre is Guadeloupe’s more dramatic, mountainous side. The peaks of the Parc National de la Guadeloupe fill the centre of the island, and mean a few more tropical downpours. All the rain makes it incredibly lush and green, with thick jungle, giant ferns, waterfalls and plenty of bird and animal life. It’s the place to come if you love hiking, with hundreds of miles of paths. And the coast has great marine areas that are fantastic for diving, like Reserve Cousteau.
