Karukera - the Island of Beautiful Waters - Martinique's laid-back sister - whatever you call it, Guadeloupe is one of the Caribbean's best kept secrets. Located just 65 miles south of Antigua and 73 miles north of Dominica, Guadeloupe offers a unique combination of French cuisine and atmosphere as well as Caribbean and Creole culture and charm.
Guadeloupe is comprised of several small islands. However, the majority of its business and population are found on its two largest, Grande Terre and Basse Terre. While these Caribbean isles are separated by the Riviere Salee and are a mere stone's throw from each other, they're miles apart in terms of atmosphere and activities.
While both islands have declared French as the official language, Grande Terre bears the greatest resemblance to its ruling country. French Riviera-style sky scrapers and palm trees line the streets of Guadeloupe's chief business center, Pointe-a-Pitre. Pristine beaches, French cuisine, and spicy nightlife round out Grand Terre's offerings.
Basse Terre leans more towards typical Caribbean offerings with mountainous, rain forest-covered terrain, dormant volcanoes, breathtaking waterfalls, and the occasional hot spring. Complete with a National Park and Guadeloupe's administrative capital, Basse Terre is the quiet, adventurous cousin of Grande Terre.
No matter which island you choose for your "home base," you'll be surrounded by a beautiful mix of French, Creole, European, and Caribbean charm offering endless activities.
Grande Terre Offerings:
Pointe-a-Pitre -
As the hub of Guadeloupe's business and home to 141,000 residents, Pointe-a-Pitre is a must-see for travelers.
Place de la Victoire - This is the central area and one of the city's most historic sites. Walk among some of the island's oldest buildings and visit the previous site of an infamous guillotine.
Central Marketplace - Saturdays bring loads of fresh fruits, spices and vegetables to the open market. Local Madras cotton and straw hats are good buys.
Musee Schloelcher - This museum is dedicated to one of the island's slave liberators.
Musee Saint-John Perse - This museum honors Perse, a native poet and diplomat, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1960.
Bas du Fort - This area houses one of the largest marinas in the Caribbean and a unique aquarium.
Gosier -
Gosier is one of Grand Terre's major tourism meccas complete with hotels, restaurants, and Riviera-style night clubs.
St-Francois -
This small fishing town is now home to most of the island's luxury hotels and condominiums.
Porte d'Enfer -
This area is most noted for its beaches, which offer several barbecue facilities and camping areas.
