A visit to Guadeloupe can be as varied as the flowers, cuisine and music found on the seven idyllic isles that make up its archipelago. Reactions to Guadeloupe often fall into the love-it-or-hate-it category. For some visitors, the beauty of the geography, the warmth of the native Creole population, the superlative cuisine and the potential for adventurous activities are so compelling that they never leave. Others, particularly those who arrive here for a few hours of frenzied shopping, do not care for what they experience and never return.
For many newcomers, this set of outcroppings in the blue waters of the Lesser Antilles is paradise, thanks to the pristine beaches, accommodation options and French-inspired cuisine. The boisterous backdrop of gwo-ka music, beguine dancing and other colorful Creole traditions are unique and unforgettable. Guadeloupe offers something for all tastes, budgets and philosophies in one location.
Dust off your French-language dictionary, but don't be overly concerned about your grammar. Guadeloupe natives are Creole speakers, meaning that you will hear a melange of words borrowed from English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and African dialects, spoken in a singsong patois. Listen to the locals talking among themselves and you will soon understand that laughter is never far away from any verbal exchange and that Guadeloupe is about passion for life in many forms. So relax, smile a lot and begin each attempt at communication with a sincere "Bonjour." The rest will pleasantly surprise you.
Location
On Grande-Terre, four large cruise liners can tie up at Centre Saint-John Perse, which is a five-minute walk from downtown Pointe-a-Pitre. The parklike terminal includes shops, restaurants and a branch of the tourist office. The main tourist office is just up the street, in a restored colonial mansion. Monday-Friday 8 am-5 pm, Saturday 8 am-noon. 5 Square de la Banque. Phone 590-820-930.
Some small cruise ships call on Basse-Terre at either of two small towns on the western coast, Malendure or Deshaies. Neither of these two-street villages offers much for the visitor to do, but both are ideally situated for exploring the national park, La Soufriere Volcano and the Cousteau Underwater Reserve, which are must-sees. Passengers are tendered to small jetties in both Deshaies and Malendure.
Popular shore excursions in the islands include narrated bus tours to the National Park of Guadeloupe (usually stopping at a rum distillery along the way), city tours of Pointe-a-Pitre, trips to La Soufriere and Carbet Falls (the highest falls in the Caribbean), as well as a sail on the catamaran King Papyrus (time to swim, snorkel and relax on the beach included).
