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Guadeloupe travel guide
French Caribbean butterfly island of volcanoes and beaches.
Guadeloupe is a French overseas region in the Caribbean made of two main islands shaped like a butterfly, plus smaller islands nearby. Basse-Terre is mountainous with rainforest and the La Soufrière volcano, while Grande-Terre has white beaches and sugar-cane fields.
Travel tools
Getting there
Pointe-à-Pitre Le Raizet airport receives direct flights from France, North America and other Caribbean islands. Ferries also link Guadeloupe with Dominica, Martinique and Saint Lucia.
Best time to visit: Dec–May – dry season with sunshine and lower humidity.
Tougher months: August-October – the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season, with heavy rain and the occasional storm.
Weather by month in Pointe-à-Pitre
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Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).
Time zone: America/Puerto_Rico. Compare with your local time.
Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-08-20). Read the advisory.
Source and more: Guadeloupe travel facts on RoamSun
Stay
Most trips to Guadeloupe are based around Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre or Deshaies. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.
Typical daily budget: about US$70–100 for a backpacker and US$150–280 mid-range, per person.
Source: RoamSun Guadeloupe page · Browse hotel guides
Connect
Plug types: C, E. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.
Calling code: +590.
Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.
Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun
Do
- Basse-Terre (Western island · volcano & rainforest): Mountainous and green, with the national park, waterfalls, hot springs and black-sand beaches.
- Grande-Terre (Eastern island · beaches): Flatter limestone island with white-sand beaches around Sainte-Anne and Saint-François.
- Deshaies (Northwest Basse-Terre · village & beach): A colourful fishing village near Grande Anse, one of Guadeloupe's finest beaches.
- Les Saintes (Southern islands · bays): A small archipelago with a beautiful bay, forts and a relaxed Breton-influenced village.
- Marie-Galante (Southern island · rum & beaches): Known as 'the island of a hundred windmills', with empty beaches and famous rum.
- Pointe-à-Pitre (Main town · markets & history): Busy markets, colonial streets and the Mémorial ACTe museum.
- La Désirade (Eastern island · nature reserve): A quiet, arid island with geological reserve status, iguanas and peaceful beaches.
- Guadeloupe National Park (Basse-Terre · protected forest): A UNESCO biosphere reserve of rainforest trails, rivers and volcanic peaks.
Things to do
- Climb La Soufrière. Hike through cloud forest to the steaming summit of the Lesser Antilles' highest volcano.
- See the Carbet Falls. Walk through rainforest to the tumbling cascades on the slopes of La Soufrière.
- Snorkel the Cousteau Reserve. Swim among turtles and coral gardens around the Pigeon Islets off Malendure.
- Watch sunrise at Pointe des Châteaux. Stand on the wild, wave-battered headland at Grande-Terre's eastern tip.
- Island-hop to Les Saintes. Take a ferry to Terre-de-Haut for a pretty bay, Fort Napoléon and laid-back village life.
- Tour a rum distillery. Learn how rhum agricole is made from fresh cane juice on Basse-Terre or Marie-Galante.
- Visit the Mémorial ACTe. Explore the powerful museum on slavery and Caribbean history in Pointe-à-Pitre.
- Kayak through the mangroves. Paddle the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin lagoon, a protected area of mangroves and reef.
Source: full Guadeloupe guide on RoamSun
Eat and drink
- Bokit – fried bread sandwich with fillings
- Accras – crispy salt-cod fritters
- Colombo – Creole curry with chicken or goat
- Ti' punch – rum, lime and cane sugar drink
Source: RoamSun Guadeloupe guide
Money and safety
Currency: Euro (EUR). Currency and plug checker.
Tipping: Service usually included; rounding up is appreciated.
Emergency numbers: 112 general · 17 police · 18 fire · 15 ambulance.
- The currency is the euro.
- Cards are widely accepted, and ATMs are common in towns, though fewer on the small islands.
- Guadeloupe is generally safe, but don't leave valuables in cars or unattended on beaches.
- Check volcanic activity updates and trail conditions before hiking La Soufrière.
Source: RoamSun Guadeloupe facts
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Guadeloupe?
Dec–May – dry season with sunshine and lower humidity. Tropical and warm all year, wetter from July to November.
What time zone is Guadeloupe in?
Guadeloupe uses America/Puerto_Rico.
What plug and voltage does Guadeloupe use?
Guadeloupe uses plug type C, E at 230 V. Check whether your devices are dual-voltage before you plug in.
What is the calling code for Guadeloupe?
The international calling code for Guadeloupe is +590.
Do you tip in Guadeloupe?
Service usually included; rounding up is appreciated.
What is the emergency number in Guadeloupe?
112 general · 17 police · 18 fire · 15 ambulance.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Guadeloupe?
Traffic drives on the right.