- Local time
- 10:40
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Capital
- Basse-Terre
- Calling code
- +590
- Drive on the
- right
Overview
A French overseas department in the eastern Caribbean: the volcano, rainforest and waterfalls of Basse-Terre, the beaches of Grande-Terre and boat trips to Les Saintes and Marie-Galante. It uses the euro.
Guadeloupe is a group of islands in the eastern Caribbean, south-east of Puerto Rico, and a French overseas department, so it is part of France and of the European Union. Its two main islands, Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre, give it the nickname Butterfly Island because of their shape. Apart from a short Swedish period in 1813 and 1814, it has been French since 1635.
The two wings are very different. Basse-Terre, to the west, is volcanic and mountainous, with lush rainforest, a national park full of trails and waterfalls, and La Soufrière, an active volcano 1,467 metres high. Grande-Terre, to the east, is low, flat and dry limestone, and its southern coast is the main resort area, with calm water and beach bars. Boats link the main islands with Les Saintes, Marie-Galante, La Désirade and the uninhabited Petite-Terre. French is the official language and Guadeloupean Creole is the native one; few people understand English, although most people working in tourism speak it.
- Guadeloupe National Park: A protected rainforest on Basse-Terre, with trails for experienced and novice hikers.
- Carbet Falls: A series of three waterfalls on the Carbet River, on the lower slopes of La Soufrière.
- La Soufrière: An active volcano and the highest peak in the Lesser Antilles, at 1,467 metres.
- Les Saintes: A cluster of small islands off the south coast, a day trip by ferry.
- Marie-Galante: An island one hour by boat from Pointe-à-Pitre, with restored windmills, old sugar refineries and hiking trails.
- Mémorial ACTe: A museum in Pointe-à-Pitre on the history of slavery and the slave trade.
Places to visit
Cities
- Pointe-à-Pitre: A town with museums, a Creole market, an aquarium, a colonial fort and the Mémorial ACTe.
- Basse-Terre (town): The administrative capital, with colonial buildings, a 19th-century cathedral, the main square and the Jardin Pichon.
- Deshaies: A village on Basse-Terre that plays the fictional town of Honoré in an Anglo-French TV series.
- Le Gosier: One of the main tourist areas.
- Sainte-Anne: One of the main tourist areas.
- Saint-François: The departure point for shuttle boats to Petite-Terre; it takes part in a Colombo festival at the end of July.
Beyond the cities
- Basse-Terre (island): The western wing: green, mountainous and volcanic, with the national park and La Soufrière.
- Grande-Terre (island): The eastern wing: flat and dry, with many beaches, some of them very touristy.
- Marie-Galante (island): An island of more than 10,000 people, one hour by boat from Pointe-à-Pitre, with windmills, colonial houses and old sugar refineries.
- Les Saintes (island): Two inhabited islands, Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas, around a bay off the south coast.
- La Désirade (island): A dry island of cliffs and about 1,600 people, reached by boat or plane from Grande-Terre.
- Petite-Terre (island): Uninhabited and wild, reached by shuttle boat from Saint-François.
- Guadeloupe National Park (park): A 74,100-acre protected rainforest on Basse-Terre, with trails for all levels.
- La Soufrière (mountain): The active volcano on the southern flank of Basse-Terre, 1,467 metres high; access to the trail can be restricted.
- Carbet Falls (site): Three waterfalls on the Carbet River, one of the main sights of the island.
- Zoological and Botanical Park of Guadeloupe (site): A zoo and nature reserve on Basse-Terre with about 85 species, forest trails and hanging bridges.
Things to do
See
- See Carbet Falls Basse-Terre: Three waterfalls on the Carbet River, on the lower slopes of La Soufrière.
- Day trip to Les Saintes Les Saintes: A ferry ride along the south coast to a cluster of small islands.
- Windmills of Marie-Galante Marie-Galante: Hiking trails link restored windmills, colonial houses, old sugar refineries and cane fields.
- Visit the Mémorial ACTe Pointe-à-Pitre: A museum that tells the history of slavery and the slave trade from ancient times to today.
- Zoo de Guadeloupe Basse-Terre: About 85 animal species in a garden and nature reserve, with trails and hanging bridges.
Do
- Walk to the waterfalls Guadeloupe National Park: Some falls are 5 to 10 minutes on foot from the car park, others need 3 to 4 hours of hiking and see far fewer visitors.
- Hike La Soufrière La Soufrière: Stay on marked trails and never set out after 3 pm, as it gets dark quickly; the authorities may restrict access to the volcano trail.
- Snorkel and dive: Tropical fish swim even in water less than a metre deep; glass-bottomed boats are the option if you cannot swim.
Drink
- Tour a rum distillery Distillerie Damoiseau, Grande-Terre: Learn how rum is made and taste it; opening times can change with the season, so check first.
Shop
- Buy Madras fabric: The colourful patterned cloth typical of the Antilles, along with locally made rum.
Itineraries
A week on the two wings of Guadeloupe (7 days)
- Grande-Terre (3 nights): The beaches of the south coast, the Mémorial ACTe in Pointe-à-Pitre and a distillery tour.
- Deshaies (3 nights): Basse-Terre: the national park, Carbet Falls and, if the trail is open, La Soufrière.
- Les Saintes (1 night): A night on the small islands off the south coast.
Five days on the outer islands (5 days)
- Pointe-à-Pitre (1 night): The market, the museums and the boat to Marie-Galante.
- Marie-Galante (2 nights): Windmills, old sugar refineries and cane fields on foot.
- Saint-François (2 nights): A shuttle boat to uninhabited Petite-Terre.
Holidays and events
- 1 January 2026 · New Year's Day
- 6 April 2026 · Easter Monday
- 1 May 2026 · International Workers' Day
- 8 May 2026 · Victory Day
- 14 May 2026 · Ascension Day
- 25 May 2026 · Whit Monday
- 27 May 2026 · Abolition Day
- 14 July 2026 · National Day
- 15 August 2026 · Assumption Day
- 1 November 2026 · All Saints' Day
- 11 November 2026 · Armistice Day
- 25 December 2026 · Christmas Day
Getting there and around
| Main airports | PTP |
|---|
Getting there
By air: Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport (PTP) is the gateway. According to Wikivoyage, Air Caraïbes, Corsair and Level fly from Paris-Orly. Since 29 March 2026 Air France has flown from Paris-Charles de Gaulle rather than Orly. From North America there are flights from Montreal (Air Canada, Air France), Miami (Air France, American Airlines) and New York-JFK (JetBlue). Air Antilles, Air Caraïbes and Winair link Guadeloupe with Fort-de-France, Dominica, Saint Martin, San Juan and Santo Domingo, among others. Routes change, so check current schedules.
By boat: Express des Iles, Brudey Frères and Star Ferries sail from Martinique, Dominica and Saint Lucia, and also serve Marie-Galante and Les Saintes.
Getting around
Driving is on the right and French road rules apply, including priority to the right: at junctions you give way to vehicles coming from the right, even on minor roads, while cars already on a roundabout have priority. You must be 18 to drive, but 21 to rent a car, with a licence held for at least 2 years. Canada says you can drive with a Canadian licence for up to 6 months and must carry an International Driving Permit; the UK advice says you may need one with your UK licence, so ask the car hire company. Cars can be hired at the airport. Main roads are good, but smaller roads can be narrow, winding and potholed, driving at night can be dangerous, particularly in the mountains and on rural roads, and scooters can appear suddenly.
Buses: there is a public bus network, with routes and times on Karulis. Most routes start from Pointe-à-Pitre, including to the airport, and services are limited at weekends. Taxis are plentiful but the most expensive way to get around, with fares 40% higher from 21:00 to 07:00 and all day on Sundays and holidays.
To the other islands: boats cross from Pointe-à-Pitre to Marie-Galante in about an hour, boats and planes go from Grande-Terre to La Désirade, and shuttle boats leave from Saint-François for Petite-Terre.
Flying to Guadeloupe? PartnerCompare fares and find the cheapest datesSearch flightsWhere to stay
- Beach hotels and resorts: The southern coast of Grande-Terre is the main resort area.
- Small hotels on the outer islands: For example on La Désirade.
- Residences: Such as the Résidences de la Métisse in Saint-François.
Prices in the Wikivoyage listings, updated in February 2026, ranged from €145 a night at Hôtel la Métisse in Saint-François to at least US$690 a day at La Toubana Hotel & Spa in Sainte-Anne.
Eat and drink
Dishes to try
- Colombo: Chicken, pork, fish or shrimp cooked with colombo, a spice blend milder than curry; now the typical dish of the region.
- Accras: Small fritters, traditionally made with cod, sometimes with other fish, shrimp or vegetables.
- Boudin créole: A spicy black pudding with Creole seasoning.
- Poulet boucané: Marinated chicken smoked slowly over a mild heat, without a flame.
- Blaff de poisson: A fish stew, traditionally with snapper, tuna or mackerel.
- Fricassée de ouassous: Large freshwater shrimp, also grilled or flambéed with rum.
- Féroce d'avocat: A local take on guacamole; the heat of the seasoning varies.
- Sorbet coco: Coconut sorbet made by beach vendors in wooden tubs.
Drinks
- Ti punch: White rum, lime and cane sugar; often you get the bottle and mix your own, and the rum is at least 50% alcohol.
- Rhum agricole: Rum made from sugar cane juice; the island still has nine distilleries.
- Planteur: Rum with fruit juices.
- Rhum au coco: Rum with coconut water.
Most restaurants serve Creole food, and many are on or near a beach, by a marina or along a main road. There are also a few fine French restaurants, as well as international food and fast food. Sauce chien, made with scallions, onion, garlic, parsley, chilli and lemon juice, comes with grilled meat and fish.
Food has its own festivals: Saint-François takes part in a Colombo festival at the end of July, and every August, on the Saturday closest to Saint Lawrence Day, cooks in traditional costume parade through Pointe-à-Pitre with Creole dishes. At Pointe-Noire, an aquaculture park offers guided tours of its ouassou tanks.
Entry requirements and visas
| Passport validity | At least 3 months beyond the date you plan to leave Guadeloupe, according to the UK and Canada |
|---|
| Passport | Entry | Max stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Visa free | 90 days | Up to 90 days for tourism or business. |
| Canada | Visa free | 90 days | No tourist or business visa for stays of up to 90 days. |
Other nationalities: check the official source below.
Guadeloupe is an overseas department of France and part of the EU, but not part of the Schengen Area, so there are immigration checks even on flights from mainland France. UK and Canadian passport holders can visit for up to 90 days without a visa.
Customs officials may ask for a return or onward ticket, proof of accommodation, enough money for your stay and proof of health insurance. You need a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from, or have transited through an airport of, a country where yellow fever occurs. You cannot bring meat, milk or products containing them, with some exceptions such as baby food. Rules depend on your passport and can change: check the official link before you book.
Money and payments
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
|---|
Guadeloupe uses the euro (EUR, €), like the rest of France. Do not carry large amounts of cash, and check which cash and valuables you must declare when you arrive. Check what cash and valuables you need to declare when you bring them into Guadeloupe.
Health
| Required vaccines | Yellow fever, only if you are coming from or have transited through an airport of a country where yellow fever occurs |
|---|---|
| Recommended vaccines | Routine vaccines, including measles (MMR), Hepatitis A, recommended for all travellers, Hepatitis B, recommended for all travellers, Rabies, if you will work directly with wildlife, Mpox, for travellers at risk of sexual exposure |
| Tap water | Safe |
Canada reports no risk of yellow fever, but a certificate is required if you arrive from a country where it occurs. Dengue, Zika and chikungunya are spread by mosquitoes, so protect yourself from bites at all times; if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, discuss Zika with a doctor before you go. Check with a travel health professional at least 8 weeks before your trip. Wikivoyage says tap water is usually safe to drink, but public taps labelled eau non potable are not.
Healthcare is very good and of the same standard as in mainland France, but not all doctors speak English, and clinics often ask you to pay in advance. UK and EU visitors should bring a GHIC or EHIC, which is not a substitute for travel insurance. Some prescription medicines may not be available: bring enough for your stay in the original containers, with a copy of the prescription, in your hand luggage. For an ambulance, call 15 or 112.
This is general information, not medical advice: check with a travel health professional before you go.
Safety
- United States: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (2026-10-20)
- Canada: Take normal security precautions (2026-10-20)
- United Kingdom: No advice against travel (2026-10-20)
Canada advises normal security precautions. Petty crime such as pickpocketing, bag snatching and car break-ins is more common in tourist areas, including the old centre of Pointe-à-Pitre, beaches and the cruise ship port. Avoid deserted beaches and isolated areas after dark, do not show off jewellery or cash, keep valuables in the hotel safe and never leave them in sight in a car. Demonstrations and strikes occur and can disrupt traffic, public transport and fuel supplies; avoid them and follow local authorities. The FCDO reports that demonstrations are more likely at the moment, sometimes at short notice, and that the authorities may impose local curfews.
Water shortages are regular, and the authorities may ration water, so keep a supply at hand. At sea, some areas have strong currents or dangerous seabeds: swim where swimming is allowed and respect warning flags. Dive schools do not always follow safety standards, so check the operator and the equipment. If you hike, share your plans, stay on marked trails, never start after 3 pm and take insurance that covers helicopter rescue.
La Soufrière is an active volcano and Guadeloupe lies in an active seismic zone, where earthquakes and tremors occur regularly. The hurricane season runs from June to November. Emergency numbers: 112, or 15 for an ambulance, 17 for the police, 18 for the fire service and 196 for distress at sea.
Customs and etiquette
The culture is both French and Caribbean, and Wikivoyage suggests treating people as you would in mainland France or elsewhere in the Caribbean. Penalties for drugs are severe: pack your own luggage and never carry anyone else's bags. You are responsible for checking that any prescription medicine you bring is legal in Guadeloupe. There are strict customs rules on what you can bring in or take out, and anything that may be prohibited or taxed must be declared.
Language
| Official languages | French |
|---|---|
| English | Limited |
| Not drinking water (on public taps) | Eau non potable |
|---|---|
| Guadeloupe, in Creole | Gwadloup |
What to pack
- Your driving licence and an International Driving Permit: Canada requires one for Canadians, and the UK advice says you may need one.
- Insect repellent: Dengue, Zika and chikungunya are spread by mosquitoes.
- GHIC or EHIC, and travel insurance: For state healthcare; insurance should cover evacuation, helicopter rescue and water activities.
- A supply of water: Water shortages are regular and water may be rationed.
- Prescription medicines in their original containers: Some may not be available locally; keep them in your hand luggage.
- Proof of your return ticket, accommodation and health insurance: Customs officials may ask for them.
- Sun protection: Wikivoyage advises protecting yourself from the sun.
Quick reference
Country facts
| Capital | Basse-Terre |
|---|---|
| Population | 384,160 (2023) |
| Area | 1,628 km² |
| Time zone | America/Guadeloupe (UTC-4) |
| Calling code | +590 |
| Driving side | right |
Staying connected
| SIM and eSIM | Orange Caribbean, SFR Caribbean and Digicel run mobile networks in Guadeloupe. The country code is +590; numbers starting with 0800 are free and those starting with 089 are premium-rate. |
|---|
Emergency numbers
| Emergency | 112 |
|---|---|
| Police | 17 |
| Ambulance | 15 |
| Fire | 18 |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Guadeloupe?
Not for stays of up to 90 days with a UK or Canadian passport. Guadeloupe is not in the Schengen Area, so there are immigration checks even on flights from mainland France. Rules depend on your passport, so check the official link before you book.
What currency is used in Guadeloupe?
The euro, as in the rest of France.
Is tap water safe to drink in Guadeloupe?
Wikivoyage says it is usually safe, but public taps labelled eau non potable are not. Water shortages are regular, so keep a supply at hand.
Do I need an International Driving Permit in Guadeloupe?
Canada says Canadians must carry one, and the UK advice says you may need one with a UK licence. Ask your car hire company; the minimum age to rent is 21.
Is English spoken in Guadeloupe?
French is the official language and few people understand English, although most people working in tourism speak it.
When is hurricane season in Guadeloupe?
From June to November. Follow local weather updates if a storm approaches.
Sources This guide was last checked on · 15 sources
- Wikivoyage: Guadeloupe · Overview, Places to visit, Things to do, Itineraries, Getting there and around, Where to stay, Eat and drink, Entry requirements and visas, Money and payments, Health, Customs and etiquette, Language, What to pack, Staying connected, Frequently asked questions
- Wikidata: Guadeloupe · Overview, Money and payments, Country facts
- Government of Canada: Guadeloupe travel advice (updated 26 May 2026) · Overview, Places to visit, Things to do, Getting there and around, Entry requirements and visas, Money and payments, Health, Safety, Customs and etiquette, What to pack, Frequently asked questions
- Nager.Date: public holidays in Guadeloupe, 2026 · Holidays and events
- UK FCDO: Guadeloupe safety and security · Getting there and around, Money and payments, Safety, What to pack, Frequently asked questions
- AeroRoutes: Air France Moves Paris Orly Long-Haul to CDG in NS26 · Getting there and around
- UK FCDO: Guadeloupe entry requirements · Entry requirements and visas, Money and payments, Customs and etiquette, What to pack, Frequently asked questions
- ISO 4217 (SIX), published 2026-09-17 · Money and payments
- UK FCDO: Guadeloupe health · Health, What to pack
- US CDC: Travelers' health, Guadeloupe · Health
- US Department of State: Guadeloupe travel advisory · Safety
- UK FCDO: Guadeloupe travel advice · Safety
- UK FCDO: Guadeloupe warnings and insurance · Safety
- IANA Time Zone Database, zone.tab · Country facts
- UK FCDO: Guadeloupe getting help · Emergency numbers
Suggest an update
Travel rules, prices and timetables change. If something in this guide is out of date, tell us: we check every suggestion against an official source before changing the page.