Caribbean Airlines Just Started Flights to This Group of Islands Famous for Beaches, Food and Rum
Where can you find rainforests, volcanoes, rum distilleries, historic towns, picture-perfect beaches and island hopping? If it took you a moment, it’s because, well, it’s hard to find anywhere quite like the vastly underrated Caribbean archipelago of Guadeloupe.
The French Caribbean department has long been off the global travel map in large part because it’s, well, almost a complete unknown to American travelers — and still remains one.
But they’re all missing out — it’s a diverse, layered, sophisticated destination that mixes European Union-quality infrastructure with spectacular natural beauty.
And it just got a bit easier to reach, thanks to the first-ever flights to Guadeloupe on Caribbean Airlines.
The fast-growing Trinidad-based carrier is now flying tour times each week to Guadeloupe, with service via Saint Lucia and nearby Dominica.
It’s part of what has been a year of what CEO Garvin Medera called “dynamic growth” for Caribbean Airlines, which has been adding new destinations across the region from Tortola to San Juan and beyond.
Are you thinking of planning a trip to Guadeloupe? It’s hard to choose where to start, given that it’s home to five primary islands, from the rainforest-rich Basse-Terre to the charming Les Saintes to the rum paradise called Marie Galante.
Once you reach the main airport in Pointe a Pitre, the good news is that you can take ferries all across the archipelago.
On the “mainland,” which really consists of two different islands: Grand Terre and Base Terre, we love the beach town of Deshaies (you probably know it from the BBC show Death in Paradise): it’s a foodie paradise, with several fantastic eateries right on the beach, and a number of great villas at good prices. https://www.antillesexception.com/en/villa-rentals/guadeloupe/deshaies
We’d also recommend hopping over to Marie Galante, which is home to some of the highest-quality rum in the whole Caribbean, including the spectacular Rhum Bielle. It’s a low-key, beachy little island, with uncrowded beaches and lovely restaurants. There aren’t a ton of hotels, but there are some smaller, boutique style stays like the Hotel L M (rooms starting at $133).
