When I was planning my trip to Guadeloupe, I was basing a lot of my travel itinerary on photos I’d seen online- the best way to plan a trip, really!
Although Guadeloupe is a popular destination amongst French tourists, it was a lot more mysterious coming from the US. In fact, most of my friends had never heard of the island- though rest assured, they have heard nothing but rave reviews since I got back.
For the uninitiated, the butterfly-shaped island is located in the Caribbean between Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda. Although the main two “wings” of Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre are the most popular, Guadeloupe is actually made up of six inhabited islands, each with their own distinct personality.
Unlike some Caribbean destinations such as Mexico or the DR, Guadeloupe’s tourism places more emphasis on nature than all-inclusive hotels.
How to Get Around
While it’s still possible to go to Guadeloupe to spend an entire vacation lounging at the beach, visitors would be missing out by not at least stopping by Basse-Terre’s famous volcano, La Grande Soufrière.
Guadeloupe is known for it’s vibrant landscapes, gorgeous beaches, it’s hiking, and it’s culture- all of which is best appreciated when traveling by car.
Although I did see buses, they seemed to run infrequently, and never to where I wanted to go. Make sure to rent a car for the freedom to explore the island at your leisure- and don’t miss the hot springs!
Weather
With an average temperature of 80F/27C, it’s pretty much always going to be warm in Guadeloupe. However, the best time to visit it usually between December and May, which is dry season on the island.
On my visit in March, it rained every single day like clockwork, but just for a short, intense, burst before the sun came back out. That’s how the island stays so green!
Keep an eye on the weather if traveling from June-November as it’s hurricane season on the island and Guadeloupe can be affected by these weather patterns.
Definitely pack a raincoat regardless of when you choose to visit!
Language
Guadeloupe is a Department of France, which means that they are a fully integrated region of France- basically the same as any part of mainland France. Everyone on the island speaks French and most of them speak Creole. Gwada is a popular local nickname for the island!
Not as many residents speak English- or at least not many who were willing to give it a try while I was there!
This is always a risk when you’re tragically monolingual, but I was caught off guard since I had just been to France with minimal communication issues! Given how few Americans know about Guadeloupe in the first places, I imagine they don’t see half as many English-speaking tourists.
It’s a good idea to read through a phrase sheet of French vocabulary before visiting- especially greetings and thank yous! It’s always polite to put a little effort in!
Currency
Since Guadeloupe is part of France, they use the same currency: Euros! We were able to use our credit cards mostly everywhere- especially since we pre-booked some of our excursions through our hotel. Just be mindful that American Express is not always accepted internationally.
Smaller restaurants and and markets frequently preferred cash, though, so it’s a good idea to keep some on you!
Drinks
Ti’ Punch is a popular rum based mixed drink consisting of white rum, lime, and cane sugar. In Guadeloupe it is frequently served in a small glass as an aperitif and I legitimately thought people were taking an afternoon shot of tequila until I figured out what I was looking at.
Ti’ Punch is traditionally served unmixed- chacun prépare sa propre mort (“each prepares their own death”)- the drinker is able to prepare the drink to their own preference.
I also highly recommend Planter’s punch, a traditionally Jamaican cocktail made of rum, lime juice, and cane sugar that is tasty no matter where you drink it!
Guadeloupe is known for its rum- you may want to stop for a distillery tour on your visit.
Food
Being an island, Guadeloupe is known for its fish dishes- particularly their accras (cod fritters). Bokit is traditional fried sandwich thats perfect to take to the beach, and fresh churned coconut sorbet is the perfect way to cap of the day!
Boudin Créole is a popular blood sausage, along with its cousin Boudin Blanc, made with seafood.
Since I’m not a huge fan of fish, I stuck to chicken and ended up eating an alarming amount of chicken curry over my visit.
Visiting Les Saintes? Keep an eye out for Tourment d’Amour; a traditional tart made with coconut, banana, or guava filling.
Hopefully these quick notes will help get you started planning your own trip to the island. Check out my other posts for more island-specific ideas!
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