Why Guadeloupe Is a Caribbean Island Hopping Paradise
Guadeloupe isn’t one island—it’s a self-contained archipelago of six inhabited isles (and countless islets and cays), each with its own rhythm, landscape, and identity. Set in the French Caribbean, Guadeloupe is unified by a strong Creole and French heritage, yet offers a surprisingly diverse range of experiences just a ferry ride away. Whether you’re hiking a volcano, sipping rhum agricole, or exploring tiny islets ringed with coral reef, island-hopping in Guadeloupe is seamless, scenic, and unforgettable.
Basse-Terre: Rainforests and Volcanoes
The western half of Guadeloupe’s butterfly-shaped core is a lush, mountainous escape dominated by the Guadeloupe National Park and crowned by La Soufrière, an active volcano known for its dramatic summit hike. Waterfalls tumble through dense rainforest, and the coastline is dotted with black-sand beaches and marine reserves. It’s a destination made for hiking, canyoning, diving, and nature immersion. Our favorite attraction here, though, is the rum industry — most of Guadeloupe’s rum distilleries are based here, and its rich, volcanic soil makes for spectacular terroir-driven rum.
Our other favorite stop in Basse-Terre? Deshaies, the rainforest-meets-the-beach town that’s most famous as the site of the fictional Saint Marie in the BBC series “Death in Paradise.”
If you’re in Basse Terre, the best place to stay is the Habitation Saint Charles, in our view.
Grande-Terre: Culture, Coastlines, and Energy
To the east lies Grande-Terre, flatter, drier, and home to the majority of Guadeloupe’s resorts and nightlife. The capital city of Pointe-à-Pitre is a cultural hub, with markets, galleries, and world-class cuisine. Along the coast, you’ll find white-sand beaches, dramatic limestone cliffs, and towns like Le Gosier and Saint-François. Grande-Terre is the ideal base for those who want beach time, cultural experiences, and easy transport to the rest of the archipelago.
It’s home to the unquestioned best hotel in Guadeloupe: the luxe La Toubana; a selection of solid, if unspectacular hotels can be found in Gosier.
Terre-de-Haut (Les Saintes): Charm in Miniature
A short ferry from Trois-Rivières brings you to Terre-de-Haut, part of the small Les Saintes archipelago. This island is a jewel—one of the prettiest in the Caribbean—with charming Creole-style houses, quiet beaches, and panoramic views from Fort Napoléon. The island’s bay is a favorite of yachts and sailboats, and its narrow roads and scooter-friendly paths make exploration easy.
It’s a perfect day-trip or overnight for travelers craving peace, scenery, and authentic island life. It’s also home to the magnificent Pain du Sucre beach, where we’ve visited several times and remain in love.
Some have called it a “mini” St Barth. And while it’s not really that, it is a lovable, captivating little island.
La Désirade: Wild and Untouched
Eight kilometers off Grande-Terre’s eastern coast lies La Désirade, the oldest island in the region geologically and among the least developed. With a wild, arid beauty and long, deserted beaches, it’s a destination for those seeking escape. Much of the island is a protected nature reserve, and its serenity stands in contrast to Guadeloupe’s busier hubs. It’s a place for solitude, swimming, and watching iguanas bask on wind-swept cliffs.
Marie-Galante: Rum and Rolling Fields
This is a place we’ve called the “Isle of Rum.” That’s not an accident. With three rum distilleries and a tiny population, there are more rum distilleries here per capita than any other place on earth.
Marie-Galante is a nostalgic step back in time. Larger and flatter than many of the other islands, it offers sweeping rural landscapes and a deep connection to Guadeloupe’s agricultural and rum-making traditions (where you’ll find oxen doing much of the work). The island is home to some of the region’s best distilleries and least crowded beaches, along with a distinctive cultural pride. Ferries from Pointe-à-Pitre and Saint-François make it a popular overnight destination for those wanting to explore beyond the main butterfly islands.
Ilet du Gosier — Paging Robinson Crusoe
Ok, so it’s not a full-fledged island. This speck of land off the coast of the beach town of Gosier has an old lighthouse and a Robinson Crusoe vibe. It’s no surprise, then, that it’s home to a fantastic, castaway-style beach bar called Ti’ Robinson. Pay a local fishermen a few euro and he’ll make the journey for you. It’s the perfect day trip while you’re in Guadeloupe, just off the coast of Gosier.
The Ultimate Archipelago Adventure
What makes Guadeloupe so ideal for island hopping is its accessibility. Ferries, short flights, and even bridges connect these contrasting islands, letting you wake up in a rainforest, snorkel coral reefs by midday, and sip ti’ punch on a rum estate by sunset. Each island is different, but all feel part of a coherent cultural and geographic whole. This is the Caribbean at its most diverse—and most connected. And don’t forget, this all makes it a great charter boat destination, too.
How to Get to Guadeloupe
It’s relatively straightforward if you’re coming from Miami: multiple flights each week on both Air France and on American Airlines. If that doesn’t work for you, or if you’re coming from New York or elsewhere, you can also fly to St Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport, take a quick cab ride and fly from French Saint Martin’s Grand Case Airport, which has multiple daily flights to Pointe a Pitre.
