7 days Guadeloupe: Grande-Terre + Basse-Terre + Saintes + Marie-Galante

Trip map

Click each numbered marker to see the corresponding day.

Day by day

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrival Pointe-a-Pitre

   Direct Paris-Pointe-a-Pitre (PTP) flight (8h, Air France/Air Caraibes/Corsair/French Bee, €400-1200 return). No visa (French territory). Land at Pole Caraibes airport (3 km from PTP centre). Rental car MANDATORY (€40-70/day). Direction Grande-Terre: settle hotel in Sainte-Anne (Eden Palm €100-180) or Saint-Francois (La Cocoteraie €200-350, La Toubana €250-400). Quieter and beaches: Saint-Francois. Livelier: Sainte-Anne. Evening first ti-punch + bokit (fried Creole sandwich €5-8) in village.

   Tips

   • · No visa: Guadeloupe = French territory. ID card sufficient for EU.
   • · Rental car ESSENTIAL: book 2-3 months ahead in high season
   • · Sainte-Anne hotels (Eden Palm €100-180) or Saint-Francois (La Cocoteraie €200-350)
   • · Direct Paris-PTP flight: 8h, €400-1200 return depending on season
   Pointe-à-Pitre →
2. 2

   Day 2

   Pointe-a-Pitre + Grande-Terre beaches

   Morning Pointe-a-Pitre: Saint-Antoine market (spices, flowers, exotic fruits 7am-1pm), Memorial ACTe (world slavery museum, spectacular architecture, €15), Place de la Victoire, Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul church. Afternoon drive to Sainte-Anne: Caravelle beach (Club Med, white sand, turquoise water) or Bois Jolan beach (protected lagoon, ideal families with children). Evening local restaurant Sainte-Anne (Le Touloulou €30-50).

   Tips

   • · Memorial ACTe: €15, allow 2-3h, closed Mondays - ONE OF THE BEST Caribbean museums
   • · PTP market: opens 7am, peak crowds 9-11am
   • · Caravelle Sainte-Anne beach: €5 fee if Club Med, free elsewhere
   • · Bois Jolan: ideal lagoon for kids, shallow, calm water
   Pointe-à-Pitre →Sainte-Anne (GLP) →
3. 3

   Day 3

   Saint-Francois + Pointe des Chateaux

   Morning Saint-Francois: marina, craft market, Anses beach (Anse a la Gourde most beautiful). Afternoon Pointe des Chateaux (10 min from Saint-Francois): far east of Guadeloupe, spectacular wind-battered cliffs, summit cross (10 min climb trail, 360° view over archipelago + La Desirade). Petite Anse beach (golden yellow sand, crystal clear water) on the way back. Dinner La Plantation (revisited Creole cuisine, €50-80/person).

   Tips

   • · Pointe des Chateaux: summit cross accessible 10 min walk, exceptional panoramic view
   • · Anse a la Gourde: one of the most beautiful beaches Grande-Terre, beginner surf possible
   • · La Plantation: book 48h ahead, marina view terrace
   • · Buy sirop de batterie (brown sugar local distillery) as gift to bring back
   Saint-François →
4. 4

   Day 4

   Basse-Terre: Soufriere volcano + Carbet falls

   Drive to Basse-Terre (1h from Sainte-Anne). Soufriere hike (1467m, active volcano, 3-4h round trip from savane a Mulets): technical passages, frequent fog at summit, fumaroles, sulphur lake. Mandatory equipment: walking shoes, waterproof, 2L water, snacks. Alternative Carbet Falls (3 cascades, 2nd accessible 30 min, 115m high). Lunch D'Asses or Habitation Cote sous le Vent. Afternoon Deshaies botanical garden (created by Coluche, €15, 2-3h visit).

   Tips

   • · Soufriere: 6am departure to avoid summit fog, full equipment mandatory
   • · Alternative 2nd Carbet Falls (115m) accessible 30 min walk - less technical
   • · Deshaies botanical garden: created by Coluche (deceased 1986 humorist), €15 entry
   • · TV series: Deshaies = 'Death in Paradise' BBC filming (Catherine cafe on square)
   La Soufrière →Deshaies →
5. 5

   Day 5

   Les Saintes: Terre-de-Haut

   Day excursion Les Saintes from Trois-Rivieres (25 min ferry, €30-40 return) or Saint-Francois (1h, more expensive). Arrive Terre-de-Haut: climb Fort Napoleon (museum + cactus garden, €5, 15 min from port). Bike rental tour (€10/day): Pompierre beach (ideal protected lagoon), Pain de Sucre (Saintes signature rock), Anse Crawen (snorkeling). Lunch Restaurant Mango or Couleurs du Monde (fish €25-35). Saintes Bay listed among the world's most beautiful bays by UNESCO. Return ferry end of day.

   Tips

   • · Trois-Rivieres-Saintes ferry: Express des Iles company, 25 min, €30-40 return
   • · Bike rental at port: €10/day, IDEAL to tour the island (4 km around)
   • · Fort Napoleon: €5, 1h visit, panoramic view over bay + Pain de Sucre
   • · Pompierre and Anse Crawen beaches: snorkeling excellent (coral fish)
   Terre-de-Haut →
6. 6

   Day 6

   Marie-Galante: rum + beaches

   Day excursion Marie-Galante from Saint-Francois (45 min ferry, €40-50 return) or Pointe-a-Pitre. Visit 3 AOC agricultural rum distilleries (free tasting or €5/distillery): Bielle (most famous), Bellevue, Pere Labat - difference between pure cane juice agricultural rum vs traditional. Visit Bezard windmill (restored 18th c.). Local lunch. Afternoon Anse Canot beach or Plage de la Feuilliere (white sand, turquoise water, few people). Return ferry evening. Saint-Francois dinner.

   Tips

   • · Saint-Francois-Marie-Galante ferry: 45 min, €40-50 return
   • · 3 AOC distilleries accessible by car: Bielle, Bellevue, Pere Labat
   • · Marie-Galante = 'Big Galette' for its round shape
   • · Anse Canot beach: one of the most beautiful in Guadeloupe, uncrowded
   Capesterre →
7. 7

   Day 7

   Beach morning + Paris return

   Free morning depending on flight: last swim Grande-Terre (Raisins Clairs beach at Saint-Francois or Sainte-Anne lagoon shore). Hotel brunch. Rum shopping at distillery (Damoiseau, Bielle, Longueteau - €25-50/bottle aged agricultural). Return car at airport. 3h margin. Direct Pointe-a-Pitre → Paris CDG/Orly flight (8h30 return). End of trip.

   Tips

   • · AOC distilleries accessible by car: Damoiseau (Grande-Terre, Le Moule)
   • · Aged agricultural rum: €25-50/bottle distillery vs €60-100 airport
   • · 3h PTP airport margin
   • · Typical souvenirs: AOC rum, vanilla, spices (turmeric, chili), Creole jewellery
   Pointe-à-Pitre →

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