Guadalupe Island is located in the Caribbean area, more specifically between the island of Dominica and the islands of Antigua and Barbuda. It remains, more or less, in the center of the group of islands located between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
Guadalupe is constituted by the main island formed by two halves, Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre. Both halves give it a butterfly shape with open wings. Near the main island, there are 3 smaller islands: La Désirade, Petite Terre and Marie Galante, as well as Les Saintes, a small archipelago located south of Basse-Terre.
In Guadeloupe, the cultural mix is a characteristic and very evident feature. The descendants of the first inhabitants, colonizers and slaves make up the current population of the island which, since 1946, is an overseas department of France. The official language is French, but the Antillean Creole is widely used.
The gastronomy of the island is also a reflection of its past, with simple but well-spiced dishes, where coconut and other fruits play an important role. Sugarcane continues to be grown and the production of agricultural rum, as local rum is known, is essential for the preparation of the star drink of the French Antilles: punch and ti-punch.
What to do in Basse-Terre?
Two bridges cross the channel from Grande to Basse-Terre and our objective on this island is twofold:
The best spot on the island for snorkeling: Réserve Cousteau.
Trekking in the tropical forest of the center of the island declared a biosphere reserve by Unesco. This area is uninhabited, so walking along these trails will lead us to think that we are in a dense continental jungle, rather than on an island in the Caribbean.
When and how to travel Guadalupe?
More than one will consider staying in this French paradise but, if we only visit, it is better that it be in a good time. The hurricane season coincides with the rainiest months, this is from June to November. Therefore, from December to May they are the best.
Guadalupe is an expensive holiday destination, especially because flights represent a huge outlay but, seeking combinations that pass through the United States, we can find a bargain.
To move freely around the two islands it is advisable to rent a car. The public bus does not have good connections, it is expensive and you need to take more than one to go from one island to another.
The ferry company L'express des isles offer regular connections to Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and Dominica. To go to the fifth island, Babou One is the company that offers ferry connections to La Désirade, from Saint-François, in Grande-Terre.
Finally, remember that, as we have already told you, the currency in progress is the euro. If yours is not, you can get it with Global Exchange.
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