While the island of Guadeloupe is a popular destination for French visitors, it’s a much less common travel destination for Americans. I arrived to the island with little to no idea of what to do in Guadeloupe and decided to figure it out as I went.
The international Pointe-à-Pitre Airport is located on Grande-Terre, and most people, myself included, begin their journey on this island. Luckily, the island of Grande-Terre is extremely driveable, with most destinations being an hour or less away from each other.
The size of the island makes it an ideal choice for those looking to explore a variety of sights without having to manage lengthy travel times- and opens up opportunities for spontaneous stops along the way!
I put together a super easy guide of can’t-miss places on Grande-Terre. It takes about a day to visit all of these destinations, but the trip can of course be adjusted to your personal preferences.
Sainte Anne
The costal town of Sainte Anne is a vibrant town popular with tourists for its bars, festivals and markets! The daily Artisan Market is a real treat, with fifteen vendors selling their wares along a covered craft village. There are other markets in this area, selling items such as clothing, spices, and flavored rum, so it’s the perfect place to find a great souvenir.
There are also a few cafes in this area, which makes it a good place to stop for a quick bite.
If shopping isn’t to your interests, this town also has a paved walkway along the water with great views of the ocean.
Pointe de Chateaux
One of the most visited sites in Guadeloupe is the Pointe de Chateaux- and for good reason. The stunning beach is located on the very Easternmost side of the island, with the rocky cliffs approximating the shape of a castle.
To find this beach, simply drive as far east as possible- the road will loop back around when you get to the end of the island. There are some snack shops serving food and drink here, but they didn’t seem to be open when we visited.
Taking pictures on the beach and the rocks are nice, but you can also climb up to the Pointes des colibris viewpoint over by the giant cross for a fantastic view of the island of Grande-Terre and it’s surrounding islands- you can even see as far as Basse-Terre on a clear day!
The volcanic rocks have made a ton of different tidal pools in this area. Just make sure to wear good shoes- those rocks are sharp!
Keep an eye out for wildlife here- I spotted a ton of tiny tropical birds and a huge gathering of hermit crabs.
Pointe de la Grande Vigie
Swing over to Pointe de la Grande Vigie for a great sunset view. The northernmost part of Grande Terre boasts great sunset views, with a clear eye-line of the surrounding ocean. This turned out to be a good spot for whale watching as well! Although we didn’t see any whales ourselves, we ran into a group of whale watchers who had just seen a pod pass by the island.
The limestone cliffs in this area reminded me very much of the White Cliffs of Dover- a whole ocean away! It’s funny how these things work.
Anse Bertrand
By this point, we were ready for dinner, and headed towards Anse Bertrand. We stopped at L’Anthonis for a meal, and the hospitality was unmatched. The poor waitress didn’t speak English and we didn’t speak French, but we were all down to play charades until we figured out what the other was saying.
She brought us a complimentary shot of the local rum with our dessert, which was so kind! Fair warning, the rum bottles usually look pretty suspicious- they’re typically unlabeled and have bits of fruit floating in them- but they’re delicious and worth a try!
Although L’Anthonis had a lovely open air deck for us to enjoy our meal, it was pitch dark when we got there, so we weren’t able to see much of the town. We did walk across the street to sit on large stone steps by the sea and admire the stars.
Le Gosier
Since our hotel was located in Gosier, we spent at least a little bit of time each day exploring the area.
The area by our hotel was always busy since there was a casino right next door. There was a big parking lot by our hotel, but we’d sometimes have to fight for spots if it was a particularly busy night for the casino.
Right across from the casino, there is a strip of colorful restaurants. We tried a few of these on our stay, but Keur Massai was easily our favorite- we went back twice! I specifically recommend their Poulet Yassa, a chicken dish that they served with black rice.
The main strip of the town has a bunch of little shops, including a pharmacy (where I picked up some extra sunscreen).
There are a bunch of beaches of varying sizes to choose from, though they are typically small and a bit rocky. The stunning blue water more than makes up for it, though!
The more popular Anse Tabarin had a giant rectangle of floating docks that made a calm swimming pool in the middle of the ocean, and there was a nearby “Muscle Beach” to exercise at. It even had a fun sign to take pictures with.
It’s common for people to rent a boat or even swim to the tiny Ilet Gosier with its cute lighthouse. The island is located 600 meters from shore, so make sure you’re a confident swimmer if you choose to forgo a boat- there aren’t any lifeguards to save you if you get tired!
This area is also popular for nightclubs, though I didn’t try any out myself.
Beaches
While Guadeloupe is, of course, an island, I was surprised by all the tiny beaches it had to offer. Perhaps I’m used to beachfront property being privately owned, but I was so excited to see little tiny trails down to the water everywhere we went- but particularly the Southern road along Grande-Terre.
Many of these beaches had signs designating their names, and others just had cars pulled over on the side of the road to mark the start of the trail.
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