Country

GuadeloupeGwadloup

First trip: 4 nights on Grande-Terre (Sainte-Anne or Saint-François) for beaches, then 3 on Basse-Terre (Deshaies or Bouillante) for the national park and diving, plus a day or two on Les Saintes or Marie-Galante by ferry.

Open Grande-Terre Plan a trip Compare in Americas

More: share, save offline, report a correction

2 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days

Key facts

Best months: Dec–Jun by month →
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Language: French official
Plugs: C · E · 230 V
Time zone: UTC−4 all year

Month by monthIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 3Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bah…

Caribbean ↗Several islands (Turks and Caicos above all, also the Bahamas and Jamaica) jail visitors for a single stray bullet or cartridge in their luggage; empty every bag and pocket before you pack.
Caribbean ↗From August to October keep a free last day before your flight home and check the national hurricane centre daily; airports close when a named storm approaches.
Caribbean ↗Wearing camouflage clothing is illegal for civilians in several islands, including Barbados, Antigua, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Grenada, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica; leave it at home, children's clothes included.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…

Understand in one strip

Capital: Basse-Terre (prefecture); Pointe-à-Pitre and Les Abymes are the economic centre
Status: French overseas department and region; EU outermost region, not in Schengen
Language: French official; Guadeloupean Creole (Kréyòl Gwadloup) widely spoken; English limited
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Plugs: Types C and E; 230 V 50 Hz
Driving: Right-hand side; French rules, many roundabouts
Tipping: Service included; round up for good service
Emergency: 112 · 15 SAMU · 17 police · 18 fire · 196 sea rescue
Time zone: UTC−4 all year

Guadeloupe is an overseas department and region of France and an EU outermost region, but outside the Schengen area, so entry rules are French overseas rules and can differ from mainland France. It is an archipelago: the butterfly-shaped main island (flat Grande-Terre and mountainous Basse-Terre) plus Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and La Désirade. Rent a car, split the stay between the two halves, and treat hurricane season (June–November) as the main planning constraint.

About Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe has been French since 1635, with British occupations and a revolutionary interlude when slavery was abolished in 1794 and brutally restored by Napoleon in 1802. Final abolition came in 1848. It became a department in 1946. About 380,000 people live across the archipelago; strong unions and protest movements, notably the 2009 general strike, shape politics.

Where's good this month

Each region's weather and verdict, holidays, crowds

NovemberGo with a planCrowds medium· Prices medium

Route du Rhum arrivals in Pointe-à-Pitre in race years (2026 — check); rains ease late.

Where's good: no region is at its best; pick the fair ones below

Grande-Terre and the outer islandsLe Gosier, Sainte-Anne, Saint-François, Marie-Galante, Les SaintesPoor
Poorwet: daily rain
Flat limestone islands: sunnier and drier, with a dry season (carême) January–May. Sargassum hits south- and east-facing beaches mainly March–September.
Basse-Terre highlands and west coastLa Soufrière, national park, Deshaies, BouillantePoor
Poorwet: daily rain
The mountains catch heavy rain all year; La Soufrière's summit is often in cloud. The Caribbean coast (Côte sous le vent) is calmer and drier.

Holidays and festivals in November

All Saints · 1–2 Nov — Candlelit cemeteries (Morne-à-l'Eau is famous).

Pick a route

Nights per stop, as the guide plans them

7 days10 days14 days

Butterfly island

Sainte-Anne, 4 nightsNo guide yet
Deshaies, 3 nightsNo guide yet

Mémorial ACTe on the way; Soufrière day from Deshaies.

Main island and Les Saintes

Sainte-Anne, 4 nightsNo guide yet
Terre-de-Haut (Les Saintes), 2 nightsNo guide yet
Deshaies, 4 nightsNo guide yet

Ferry from Trois-Rivières; leave the car on the mainland.

Archipelago

Pointe-à-Pitre, 1 nightsArrival + day plans
Saint-François, 3 nightsNo guide yet
Marie-Galante, 3 nightsNo guide yet
Terre-de-Haut (Les Saintes), 3 nightsNo guide yet
Deshaies, 4 nightsNo guide yet

Book ferries ahead; return via Pointe-à-Pitre.

Customize this route Explore cities

Top destinations in Guadeloupe, ranked

For a first or second trip

Ranked for a first trip with a car and one ferry.

Sainte-Anne and Saint-François
No guide yet
Beaches and Pointe des Châteaux.
3–4 nights in Sainte-Anne and Saint-François · Best Dec–May
Deshaies and Bouillante
No guide yet
Cousteau reserve and west-coast bays.
3 nights in Deshaies and Bouillante · Best Dec–May
Les Saintes
No guide yet
Small-island bay and fort.
1–2 nights in Les Saintes · Best Dec–May
Marie-Galante
No guide yet
Rum and empty beaches.
1–2 nights in Marie-Galante · Best Dec–May
Pointe-à-Pitre
Arrival + day plans
Mémorial ACTe and markets.
0–1 nights in Pointe-à-Pitre · Best All year

Decide the trip

What the country is like, who it suits and how long to give it

Open Decide the tripClose Decide the trip7 partsUnderstand in one strip · At a glance · Understand · First vs second trip · Good for · Time math · Fit my nights

Understand in one stripCapital · Status · Language · Currency · Plugs · Driving · Tipping · Emergency · Time zone9 parts

Capital: Basse-Terre (prefecture); Pointe-à-Pitre and Les Abymes are the economic centre
Status: French overseas department and region; EU outermost region, not in Schengen
Language: French official; Guadeloupean Creole (Kréyòl Gwadloup) widely spoken; English limited
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Plugs: Types C and E; 230 V 50 Hz
Driving: Right-hand side; French rules, many roundabouts
Tipping: Service included; round up for good service
Emergency: 112 · 15 SAMU · 17 police · 18 fire · 196 sea rescue
Time zone: UTC−4 all year

Guadeloupe: open now, and what is next

2 regions planned

On this page

1 of 3 regions open, with where to sleep and for how long
1 trip line with arrival paths and day plans
How to split 4, 7, 10 days
Money: cash, cards and ATMs
Safety notes and the rules that apply on every page below

Coming as the guide grows

Basse-Terre — National park, La Soufrière, waterfalls, Deshaies and the Cousteau reserve · 3–4 nights
Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and La Désirade — Smaller islands by ferry; day trips or 1–2 nights · 1–3 nights

Meanwhile

Pointe-à-Pitre

At a glance

1–5, with the reason

Each bar is 1 to 5. Green means the score makes the trip easier, amber is middling, red is harder; the words next to each score say what that end of the scale means, so colour is never the only signal.

Cost4/5 · expensive

French prices plus island mark-ups; bokits and gîtes help.

Cash necessity2/5 · cards everywhere

Cards widely; cash on small islands.

English on the ground2/5 · rare

French and Creole; little English.

Connectivity4/5 · fast everywhere

Good 4G/5G; EU roaming may apply (check).

Transport ease2/5 · hard work

Car needed; ferries good.

Safety3/5 · middling

Low risk in tourist areas; more crime in Pointe-à-Pitre at night.

Heat / climate risk3/5 · middling

Hot and humid; cooler in the highlands.

Understand

People, belief, history that matters on the ground

People: Mostly of African and mixed descent; Indian-descended, béké, Syrian-Lebanese and mainland French communities; Les Saintes has fishing families of European descent.
Belief: Mostly Catholic.
Economy: Public sector, tourism, bananas, sugar and rum.
Land: About 1,630 km² (629 sq mi); La Soufrière 1,467 m is the highest peak in the Lesser Antilles.About 629 sq mi (1,630 km²); La Soufrière 1,467 m is the highest peak in the Lesser Antilles.

History that still shows on the ground · 7 dates

When	What happened	Where you meet it today
1635	French colony founded	Sugar and slavery.
1794	First abolition under the Revolution	Victor Hugues takes the island back from Britain.
1802	Slavery restored; Louis Delgrès dies resisting at Matouba	National hero.
1848	Final abolition	27 May holiday.
1946	French department	French institutions.
2009	44-day general strike (LKP)	Protest against cost of living.
2015	Mémorial ACTe opens	Caribbean centre on slavery.

Read or watch before you go

Maryse Condé — Segu and I, Tituba.
Simone Schwarz-Bart — The Bridge of Beyond.

First trip vs second trip

Which regions, and what to leave

Trip	Go to	Why	Leave for later
First trip (7–10 nights)	Grande-Terre 4 + Basse-Terre 3 + Les Saintes 2	Beaches, rainforest and a small island.	One base for everything.
Slow islands	Marie-Galante 3 + Les Saintes 3 + Deshaies 3	Quiet villages, rum and bays.	Day-tripping only.
French Antilles pair	Guadeloupe 6 + Martinique 6	Ferry or short flight.	Forgetting a passport for the Dominica stop.
Hiker	Basse-Terre 5 (Soufrière, Carbet falls, Trace des Contrebandiers)	The highest peak in the Lesser Antilles.	Hiking in afternoon storms.

Good for…

Where each kind of traveller does best

Verdict is how well Guadeloupe works for that traveller.

Easy with a car and some French.

1Sainte-Anne — lagoon beach.

Time math

How to split a stay, by total days in the country

4 days in total: Grande-Terre 4 with a Basse-Terre day
7 days in total: Grande-Terre 4 + Basse-Terre 3
10 days in total: Grande-Terre 4 + Basse-Terre 3 + Les Saintes or Marie-Galante 2 + a buffer

Which regions fit my nights?

Tick the regions you are weighing up. The nights are the ranges this guide gives for each region.

Regions you want to see

Grande-TerreBeaches and resorts (Le Gosier, Sainte-Anne, Saint-François)3–5 nights
Basse-TerreNational park, La Soufrière, waterfalls, Deshaies and the Cousteau reservePage still planned3–4 nights
Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and La DésiradeSmaller islands by ferry; day trips or 1–2 nightsPage still planned1–3 nights

Nights you have

Tick the regions you are considering.

Cities

Regions, cities and the places between them

Open CitiesClose Cities5 partsRegions · Cities · Other destinations · See · Do

Regions

3 regions · 1 open

Grande-Terrepublished

Beaches and resorts (Le Gosier, Sainte-Anne, Saint-François)

3–5 nights in this region

Pointe-à-Pitre

Basse-Terreplanned

National park, La Soufrière, waterfalls, Deshaies and the Cousteau reserve

3–4 nights in this region

Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and La Désiradeplanned

Smaller islands by ferry; day trips or 1–2 nights

1–3 nights in this region

Cities

The ones to know; each says what Voykit has for it

Pointe-à-PitreArrival + day plans

Economic hub: markets, Mémorial ACTe, cathedral and ferries.

Basse-TerreNo guide yet

Prefecture at the foot of La Soufrière; Fort Delgrès.

Le GosierNo guide yet

Closest resort town to the airport.

Sainte-AnneNo guide yet

Lagoon beach and family resort town.

Saint-FrançoisNo guide yet

Marina, golf and gateway to Pointe des Châteaux.

DeshaiesNo guide yet

Fishing village on Basse-Terre's north-west; botanical garden.

Terre-de-HautNo guide yet

Main village of Les Saintes.

Other destinations

Parks, bays, heritage sites, islands

Place	What	Getting there	Why go / verdict
La Soufrière	Volcano	Trail from Savane à Mulets, Saint-Claude	Summit hike of 3–4 h return; check alert level and trail status.
Chutes du Carbet	Waterfalls	Capesterre-Belle-Eau	Rainforest falls; some trails close after storms.
Réserve Cousteau (Îlets Pigeon)	Marine reserve	Malendure, Bouillante	Snorkelling and diving with turtles.
Pointe des Châteaux	Headland	East of Saint-François	Cliffs and views to La Désirade.
Les Saintes (Terre-de-Haut)	Islands	Ferry 20–60 min	Bay, Fort Napoléon and small beaches.
Marie-Galante	Island	Ferry 1 h	Rum distilleries, windmills and empty beaches.
Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin	Lagoon and mangrove	Boat from Sainte-Rose	Mangroves, islets and a large reef.
Jardin botanique de Deshaies	Garden	Deshaies	Gardens with parrots and views.
La Désirade	Island (nature reserve)	Ferry from Saint-François	Iguanas and quiet.

Show all 9 placesShow fewer

See

By theme, not by list

Pointe-à-Pitre

Mémorial ACTe · Darboussier
Marché Saint-Antoine · Centre
Cathedral of Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul · Centre

Mornings; the centre empties after dark.

National park

La Soufrière · Saint-Claude
Chutes du Carbet · Capesterre-Belle-Eau
Route de la Traversée · Across Basse-Terre

Start early; bring rain gear.

Outer islands

Fort Napoléon · Terre-de-Haut
Distillerie Bielle · Marie-Galante
Plage de la Feuillère · Marie-Galante

Stay a night to see them without day-trippers.

Do

Where, when, what it costs

Activity	Where	Best months	Cost (2026 estimate)	Verdict
Snorkelling and diving	Réserve Cousteau, Les Saintes	All year	€20–70 (≈ US$25–85)	Turtles at Malendure; follow reserve rules.
Hiking La Soufrière	Basse-Terre	Dry season, early	Free; guide €40–80 (≈ US$50–95)	Fumaroles near the top; paths can close.
Canyoning	Basse-Terre rivers	Dry season	€60–90 (≈ US$70–110)	Only with certified guides.
Rum tasting	Damoiseau, Longueteau, Bielle, Bellevue	Cane season Feb–Jun for working mills	Free–€15 (≈ US$18)	Marie-Galante rum is strong (up to 59%).
Kayak in the mangrove	Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin	All year	€35–60 (≈ US$45–70)	Calm water, many birds.
Whale watching	Côte sous le vent	Jan–May	€60–80 (≈ US$70–95)	Humpbacks and sperm whales; certified operators.

Connect the cities

Ready-made routes, the route builder and the legs between cities

Open Connect the citiesClose Connect the cities2 partsItineraries · Route builder

Itineraries by length

Nights per stop (the number after each place); fly the long legs

Two halves of the main island plus one ferry island.

7 days

Butterfly island

Sainte-Anne → Deshaies

Sainte-Anne4n
Deshaies3n

Mémorial ACTe on the way; Soufrière day from Deshaies.

10 days

Main island and Les Saintes

Sainte-Anne → Les Saintes → Deshaies

Sainte-Anne4n
Terre-de-Haut (Les Saintes)2n
Deshaies4n

Ferry from Trois-Rivières; leave the car on the mainland.

14 days

Archipelago

Pointe-à-Pitre → Saint-François → Marie-Galante → Les Saintes → Deshaies

Pointe-à-Pitre1n
Saint-François3n
Marie-Galante3n
Terre-de-Haut (Les Saintes)3n
Deshaies4n

Book ferries ahead; return via Pointe-à-Pitre.

Build a route

Days and interests in, cities, nights, transfers and cost out

Days in Guadeloupe

Interests (optional)

Based on: Main island and Les Saintes (10 days, itineraries by length)

Sainte-Anne4 nights
Transfer not on file yet: check the A-to-B tool.
Terre-de-Haut2 nights
Transfer not on file yet: check the A-to-B tool.
Deshaies4 nights

Ferry from Trois-Rivières; leave the car on the mainland.

Open the trip planner

What this route costs

StyleTravelers

Sainte-Anne4 nights€1,700≈ US$2,000
Terre-de-Haut2 nights€850≈ US$1,000
Deshaies4 nights€1,700≈ US$2,000

Total, 2 travelers

€4,500≈ US$5,000

Per person per day: €250≈ US$250

2026 estimate (check): rooms for two, food, local transport and sights; international flights, visas and insurance excluded. Tweak it in the budget calculator.

This month

Weather and crowds by month

Open This monthClose This month2 partsYear at a glance · Climate

Year at a glance

Every month in one list: how it rates, how busy and pricey it is, and which holidays land in it.

Good value and quiet: Jun
Busiest or big holidays: Jan–Mar, Dec
Rated avoid: Sep

Jan
GoodCrowds: highPrices: high
- Carnival (high impact)
- New Year's Day (low impact)
Feb
GoodCrowds: highPrices: high
- Carnival (high impact)
Mar
GoodCrowds: highPrices: high
- Carnival (high impact)
- Mi-Carême (medium impact)
- Good Friday and Easter Monday (medium impact)
Apr
GoodCrowds: mediumPrices: high
- Good Friday and Easter Monday (medium impact)
May
GoodCrowds: lowPrices: medium
- Abolition of slavery (Guadeloupe) (medium impact)
- Labour Day and VE Day (low impact)
- Ascension and Whit Monday (low impact)
Jun
GoodCrowds: lowPrices: low
- Ascension and Whit Monday (low impact)
Jul
CautionCrowds: mediumPrices: medium
- Bastille Day (low impact)
- Victor Schœlcher Day (low impact)
Aug
CautionCrowds: mediumPrices: medium
- Fête des Cuisinières (medium impact)
- Assumption (low impact)
Sep
AvoidCrowds: lowPrices: low
Oct
CautionCrowds: lowPrices: low
Nov
CautionCrowds: mediumPrices: medium
- All Saints (medium impact)
Dec
GoodCrowds: highPrices: high
- Christmas (high impact)

Climate by region and month

When each region works

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Grande-Terre and the outer islandsLe Gosier, Sainte-Anne, Saint-François, Marie-Galante, Les Saintes	best	best	best	best	ok	wet	wet	storm	storm	storm	wet	best
Basse-Terre highlands and west coastLa Soufrière, national park, Deshaies, Bouillante	ok	best	best	best	ok	wet	wet	storm	storm	storm	wet	ok

best: dry, mildok: workablewet: daily rainstorm: typhoon or flood risk

Grande-Terre and the outer islands: Flat limestone islands: sunnier and drier, with a dry season (carême) January–May. Sargassum hits south- and east-facing beaches mainly March–September.
Basse-Terre highlands and west coast: The mountains catch heavy rain all year; La Soufrière's summit is often in cloud. The Caribbean coast (Côte sous le vent) is calmer and drier.

January to May is the best time; hurricanes are the risk from August to October (Maria in 2017 and Fiona in 2022 caused damage).

Cost

What a day costs, and how to pay

Open CostClose Cost4 partsMoney at a glance · Daily budget · Costs · Money & passes

Money at a glance

Cash or card, ATMs, a day's spend, tipping

Currency and cash

Euro (EUR)

Card-friendly; small cash for markets

Cash or card

Cards work in most shops and restaurants; carry cash for markets, beach snack bars and the smaller islands.

ATMs

ATMs are scarce on La Désirade and in some Marie-Galante villages.

A day, per person

Budget€78–150 (≈ US$95–180)
Mid-range€175–325 (≈ US$250–400)
Comfort€405–800 (≈ US$500–950)

Per person per day, bed included

What that covers ↓

Tipping

Restaurants: Service included; round up.
Guides and dive crews: €5–10 (≈ US$6–12).

Money & passes Card, cash or ATM: the cheapest way to pay Tipping calculator

Budget per day, per person

2026 estimate · converted to your currency · totals include a bed

Per person per day, sharing a room at mid and comfort. Flights excluded. 2026 estimate.

Tier	Bed	Food	Transport	Sights	Extras	Total, bed included
BudgetGîte, bokits, buses and a ferry	€35–60 (≈ US$45–70)	€25–40 (≈ US$30–50)	€8–15 (≈ US$10–18)	€0–15 (≈ US$0–18)	€10–20 (≈ US$12–25)	€78–150 (≈ US$95–180)
Mid-rangeHotel, restaurants, car, a dive	€70–120 (≈ US$85–140)	€50–80 (≈ US$60–95)	€25–45 (≈ US$30–55)	€15–50 (≈ US$18–60)	€15–30 (≈ US$18–35)	€175–325 (≈ US$250–400)
ComfortResort, fine dining, charters	€180–350 (≈ US$250–450)	€100–160 (≈ US$120–190)	€45–80 (≈ US$55–95)	€50–150 (≈ US$60–180)	€30–60 (≈ US$35–70)	€405–800 (≈ US$500–950)

Costs per day

Per person, 2026 estimate

Budget

€85–130 (≈ US$100–160)

Gîte or studio, bokits and snack bars, buses and a ferry.

Per person per day

Mid-range

€170–260 (≈ US$200–350)

Hotel or gîte with pool, restaurant meals, rental car, a dive.

Per person per day · Includes a bed

Comfort

€350 (≈ US$450)+

Resort, fine dining, boat charters.

Per person per day · Includes a bed

Typical price	Amount
Bokit sandwich	€4–8 (≈ US$5–10)
Creole plate of the day	€15–22 (≈ US$18–30)
Ti' punch	€3–6 (≈ US$4–7)
Ferry to Les Saintes return	About €25–45 (≈ US$30–55) — check
Dive at the Cousteau reserve	€50–70 (≈ US$60–85)
Car rental per day	€35–60 (≈ US$45–70)

2026 estimate, per person. Groceries are pricier than in mainland France.

Budget calculator

DaysTravellersStyle

Beds1 room × 10 nights€1,100(≈ US$1,300)
Food and drink2 × 10 days€1,400(≈ US$1,700)
Local transport2 × 10 days€900(≈ US$1,100)
Sights and tours2 × 10 days€700(≈ US$850)

Trip total, 2 travellers

€4,500(≈ US$5,000)

Per person per day: €250(≈ US$250)

2026 estimate. Beds priced per room for two; international flights, insurance and visas excluded. Add ferries to Les Saintes or Marie-Galante (about €25–50 return — check).

Money & passes

Cash necessity: 2/5 (5 means cash for most things)

Currency is the euro (EUR).
Cards work in most shops and restaurants; carry cash for markets, beach snack bars and the smaller islands.
ATMs are scarce on La Désirade and in some Marie-Galante villages.

Before you fly: eSIM before you fly · Visas and entry

Getting in

Before you go, entry rules and the first day

Open Getting inClose Getting in5 partsBefore you go · Arrive · Entry · Documents · First 24 hours

Before you go

Dated steps for your passport

What to sort, and by when, before a trip to Guadeloupe. Pick your passport and flight date; everything else follows.

My passportI fly on

Add your flight date to turn “weeks before” into dates.

No visa needed: 90 days
Visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180 under French overseas rules. Return or onward ticket and proof of funds may be asked.
Entry rules France-Visas ↗
Arrival and customs
No arrival form; passport check at the airport or ferry terminal.

Passport valid long enough
90 days before
Passport valid at least 3 months after departure, issued within 10 years (for visa-exempt non-EU visitors — check).
Passport check
Travel insurance
30 days before
Valid in Guadeloupe.
Insurance check
Vaccines and medicines
30 days before
Some vaccines need weeks or two doses; carry prescriptions in their boxes.
Health Medicine rules
Driving permit (only if you drive)(optional)
30 days before
EU and most foreign licences for short stays.
Driving abroad
eSIM or roaming
2 weeks before
Orange, SFR Caraïbe, Digicel and Free Caraïbe SIMs in Pointe-à-Pitre and malls.
eSIM finder
Cards and cash
2 weeks before
Card-friendly; small cash for markets (cash need 2/5). ATMs are scarce on La Désirade and in some Marie-Galante villages.
Money & ATMs
Pack a plug adapter (type C or E)
7 days before
Sockets here: type C, E. US plugs need an adapter. Mains is 230 V against 120 V at home: phone and laptop chargers cope (check the label says 100–240 V); hair dryers and straighteners usually do not.
Packing list

Lead times are Voykit's safe margins, not official deadlines (check the official portal). The full countdown with calendar reminders: Before-you-go countdown · Passport check.

Arrive

PTP

Pointe-à-Pitre International (Pôle Caraïbes)

About 20–40 min to the Grande-Terre beaches; an hour or more to Deshaies

Entry: visas and borders

2026 rules — confirm on the official portal

Guadeloupe applies French rules for the overseas departments, not Schengen rules. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens enter with a passport or ID card. Passports exempt from Schengen short-stay visas (US, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan, Mexico, Brazil and others) are visa-free for 90 days in any 180. Others need a visa valid for Guadeloupe; a plain Schengen visa is not valid unless endorsed for the French overseas departments. Dominica and Saint Lucia nationals can make short visits visa-free (about 15 days — check). EES and ETIAS are not applied here (check).

My passport

Visa-free90 days

Visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180 under French overseas rules.

Cost: Free
Form to fill: Passport only.
Arrival card: No arrival form; passport check at the airport or ferry terminal.
Passport: Passport valid at least 3 months after departure, issued within 10 years (for visa-exempt non-EU visitors — check).
Onward ticket: Return or onward ticket and proof of funds may be asked.

France-Visas ↗

Who	Rule	Stay	Watch
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens	Free movement	Unlimited	Passport needed for the ferry via Dominica.
Schengen-visa-exempt passports	Visa-free	90 days in any 180	Counted separately from Schengen — check.
Dominica and Saint Lucia	Short visits visa-free	About 15 days — check	Longer stays need a visa.
Visa-required nationals	Visa valid for Guadeloupe via France-Visas	As granted	A plain Schengen visa is refused at boarding.

By land and river

Crossing	To / from	Mode	Visa there	Trap
Pointe-à-Pitre – Roseau	Dominica	L'Express des Îles, about 2 h	Dominica entry rules	Leaving the EU: passport, not ID card.
Pointe-à-Pitre – Fort-de-France	Martinique	L'Express des Îles via Dominica, about 3.5–4 h	French rules	Stop in Dominica; passport needed.
Trois-Rivières / Pointe-à-Pitre – Terre-de-Haut	Les Saintes (domestic)	Ferry 20 min from Trois-Rivières, about 1 h from Pointe-à-Pitre	None	Rough channel; last boat back mid-afternoon — check.
Pointe-à-Pitre – Grand-Bourg	Marie-Galante (domestic)	Ferry about 1 h	None	Book ahead in holidays.

Flights to Paris-Orly and CDG (Air France, Air Caraïbes, Corsair) take about 8–9 hours; seasonal flights to Montreal and US cities — check.
Air Antilles and others fly to Saint-Martin (Grand Case), St Barth and Martinique — check.

Documents checklist

Tick as you go; saved in this browser

0/4 ready

Passport or EU ID cardbefore bookingNon-EU: passport valid 3 months after departure.
Visa for the French overseas departmentsbefore bookingOnly if not visa-exempt. Official site ↗
European Health Insurance CardEU residentsValid in Guadeloupe.
Driving licenceif rentingEU and most foreign licences for short stays.

First 24 hours

Tick these before you leave the airport

Do these on arrival.

Car: Collect the rental at PTP.
Buses are sparse.
Water: Buy bottled water and ask the host about water cuts.
Supply is irregular.
Data: EU roaming or local SIM.
Maps and ferry bookings.
Ferry: Book Les Saintes or Marie-Galante.
Holiday boats fill.
Beach check: Look at the sargassum forecast.
Some beaches close to swimming.

Getting around

Modes, times and the clock

Open Getting aroundClose Getting around2 partsGet around · Local time

Get around

Door-to-door, 2026 estimate

Mode	Pointe-à-Pitre → Deshaies	Cost	Use it when	What breaks
Rental car	Airport – Sainte-Anne 30 min; airport – Deshaies about 1 h	€35–60 (≈ US$45–70) a day — check	Almost essential outside Pointe-à-Pitre.	Rush-hour jams around Pointe-à-Pitre, Baie-Mahault and Les Abymes.
Ferry to the outer islands	Les Saintes 20–60 min; Marie-Galante about 1 h	€25–50 (≈ US$30–60) return — check	Frequent daytime boats.	Swell can cancel; seasickness on the Marie-Galante crossing.
Bus (Karu'lis and others)	Town to town	€1.50–4 (≈ US$2–5) — check	Cheap on main roads.	Irregular; little after 18:00 or on Sundays.Irregular; little after 6:00 PM or on Sundays.
Taxi	Airport – Le Gosier 15–20 min	€25–35 (≈ US$30–45); to Sainte-Anne €45–60 (≈ US$55–70) — check	Easy on arrival.	Night and Sunday surcharges.
Scooter or e-bike	Les Saintes, Marie-Galante	€25–40 (≈ US$30–50) a day	The way to see the small islands.	Steep hills on Terre-de-Haut.

Local time

What time it is there now, compared with the clock on your device.

Pointe-à-Pitre
…
Checking your clock…America/Guadeloupe

Practical

Money rules, safety, holidays, health, phones and phrases

Open PracticalClose Practical14 partsNext 90 days · Holidays · Safety & health · Safety · Safety by region · Health · Scams · Emergency card · Practical · Connect · Talk · Survival phrases · Cope · Who travels

Holidays in the next 90 days

What closes, sells out or costs more

Dec 25
in 52 days
ChristmasBig impact
Dec 25
Chanté Nwel through December; peak season.
Jan
date varies
CarnivalBig impact
January–March · exact day moves, check
Sunday parades with skin-drum groups; Vaval burned on Ash Wednesday.
Jan 1
in 59 days
New Year's DayMinor
Jan 1
Public holiday.

The full holiday list Holidays on your dates Festivals by month

Holidays and festivals

Operational effect, not a calendar

When	What	Impact	What it does to a trip
1 Jan	New Year's Day	low	Public holiday.
Jan – Ash Wednesday	Carnival	high	Sunday parades with skin-drum groups; Vaval burned on Ash Wednesday.
Mid-Lent (check)	Mi-Carême	medium	Extra parade in Lent.
Mar–Apr (check)	Good Friday and Easter Monday	medium	Beach camping; crab dishes.
1 and 8 May	Labour Day and VE Day	low	Public holidays.
27 May	Abolition of slavery (Guadeloupe)	medium	Commemorations; closures.
May–Jun (check)	Ascension and Whit Monday	low	Long weekends.
14 Jul	Bastille Day	low	Fireworks.
21 Jul	Victor Schœlcher Day	low	Public holiday in Guadeloupe.
August (check)	Fête des Cuisinières	medium	Cooks' parade in Creole dress and a feast in Pointe-à-Pitre.
15 Aug	Assumption	low	Public holiday.
1–2 Nov	All Saints	medium	Candlelit cemeteries (Morne-à-l'Eau is famous).
25 Dec	Christmas	high	Chanté Nwel through December; peak season.

Show all 13 datesShow fewer

Safety and health at a glance

Advice, risky areas, water, shots, numbers, scams

Emergency numbers

Where to take care

3/5 for a careful visitor · Low risk in tourist areas; more crime in Pointe-à-Pitre at night.

medium Pointe-à-Pitre and Les Abymes · Robbery and gun crime at night; the centre empties after dark.

Tap water

Tap water supply is patchy, with scheduled cuts ('tours d'eau') in some communes; drink bottled. Tap water by country

Health

Main risks: Dengue and chikungunya, Sargassum gas, Chlordecone, Flash floods.

Top scams

1. Car break-ins · Leave nothing in the car.
2. Unofficial taxis · Use the rank.
3. Fake ferry-ticket sites · Book with the operator directly.

Safety Stay healthy Emergency card Scam spotter Health check

Safety

Traffic drives on the right; Basse-Terre's roads are steep and winding.
Emergency: 112 (all services), 15 medical (SAMU), 17 police, 18 fire, 196 sea rescue.
Flash floods: do not stay in rivers or gorges when heavy rain starts.
Do not leave valuables in parked cars at beaches and trailheads.
Crime is higher than in Martinique, mostly in parts of Pointe-à-Pitre and Les Abymes at night; take a car or taxi after dark.
Hurricane season (Jun–Nov): follow local warnings and your airline; if a storm is forecast, leave early or shelter where your accommodation tells you.

Guadeloupe is linked by fast ferry to Dominica and Martinique, and by short flights to Saint-Martin and St Barths.

What four governments say

Comparison not available yet for this country

Read each government's own advice: US State Dept, UK FCDO, Australia Smartraveller, Canada Travel Advice.

Strikes and disruptions

Official notices for the next 90 days. Open the full calendar.

No official-source strike or disruption notices for the next 90 days

That is not a promise that nothing is planned. This calendar lists only what a government or a public authority has published. Check US State Dept, UK FCDO, Australia Smartraveller, Canada Travel Advice and the transport operator for your dates.

Safety by region

Risk to a careful visitor, not a crime index

Tourist areas are low risk; crime is concentrated in urban Pointe-à-Pitre and Les Abymes.

Region	Risk	What to watch
Pointe-à-Pitre and Les Abymes	medium	Robbery and gun crime at night; the centre empties after dark.
Grande-Terre beaches	low	Car break-ins.
Basse-Terre	low	Flash floods, trail closures.
Outer islands	low	Rough crossings.

Stay healthy

Risk	Where / when	Do this
Dengue and chikungunya	Island-wide	Repellent; cover up at dusk.
Water supply and quality	Parts of Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre	Bottled water; follow local notices.
Sargassum gas	Affected beaches	Avoid if asthmatic or pregnant.
Chlordecone	Some rivers and soils in southern Basse-Terre	Don't eat river fish or crayfish you catch.
Flash floods	Rivers and waterfalls	Leave the water when rain starts.
Medical care	CHU in Pointe-à-Pitre/Les Abymes and clinics	EU visitors bring the EHIC; others need insurance.

Scams and overcharges

Trap	Where	Defence
Car break-ins	Beaches, waterfall car parks	Leave nothing in the car.
Unofficial taxis	Airport, ferry port	Use the rank.
Fake ferry-ticket sites	Search ads	Book with the operator directly.

Emergency card

Numbers, disasters, who to call

Guadeloupe emergency numbers — screenshot this card

112

European emergency

Medical emergency (SAMU)

Police / gendarmerie

Fire and rescue

196

Sea rescue (CROSS Antilles-Guyane)

Natural and on-the-ground hazards

Hazard	When / where	Do this
Hurricanes	Jun–Nov, peak Aug–Oct	Follow Météo-France alerts and the Préfecture.
Volcano	La Soufrière is monitored by the observatory	Check the alert level before hiking.
Earthquakes	Any time	Drop, cover, hold.
Flash floods	Rainy season	Keep out of rivers in rain.

Alerts and apps

Météo-France for vigilance alerts.

Police, embassies, paperwork

Lost passport: police report, then your consulate (often in Paris or a neighbouring island — check).

Insurer and 24-hour linePolicy numberWhere I'm staying

Kept only in this browser; nothing is sent anywhere.

Emergency card · Guadeloupe

My passport: — · find my embassy
Insurance: —
Staying at: —

Hospitals with emergency care

CHU de la Guadeloupe (Pointe-à-Pitre / Abymes) · Les Abymes, Pointe-à-Pitre
Pharmacies · Every district, Pointe-à-Pitre

Emergency numbers, every country

Practical

Plugs, water, tips, hours

CtypeEtype

230 V · 50 Hz

European plugs.

Tap water: Tap water supply is patchy, with scheduled cuts ('tours d'eau') in some communes; drink bottled.
Toilets: In cafés, malls and some beaches.
Weekly closing days: Many restaurants close Sunday evening and Monday; hotels close in September–October.

Tipping by situation

Situation	What locals do
Restaurants	Service included; round up.
Guides and dive crews	€5–10.

Opening hours

What	Typical hours	Watch
Shops	Mon–Sat 08:30–12:30 and 14:30–18:00Mon–Sat 8:30 AM–12:30 PM and 2:30 PM–6:00 PM	Long lunch.
Markets	Mornings	Pointe-à-Pitre's Saint-Antoine market is busiest Saturday.

Connect

Orange, SFR Caraïbe, Digicel and Free Caraïbe SIMs in Pointe-à-Pitre and malls.
EU roam-like-at-home plans usually cover Guadeloupe (check).

Google MapsA French-language weather and alerts app, such as Météo-FranceWhatsApp (used by guesthouses and boat operators)Ferry operator sites (Val'Ferry, CTM Deher, L'Express des Îles — check)

Numbers: Country code +590; mobiles start 0690/0691.
Payments: French cards, contactless widely.
Wi-Fi: In hotels and cafés.

Talk

French everywhere, Creole in daily life. English is thin outside dive shops and bigger hotels.

Where	Lingua franca	English	Note
Main island	French and Guadeloupean Creole	Limited	'Bonjou' / 'bonswa'.
Les Saintes	French; local Creole	Limited	Fishing families of Breton and Norman descent.

'Ka ou fè?' is 'how are you?' in Guadeloupean Creole.

Survival phrases

10 phrases · tap one to show it full screen

Translate a sign or menu Diet and allergy card

Cope

Embassies, laundry, lockers, media, lost things

Consulates: Few foreign consulates; many nationalities are covered from Paris or other islands — check.
Supermarkets: Large stores around Baie-Mahault and Les Abymes.
Pharmacies: In every town; pharmacie de garde at night.

Travellers with specific needs

Short and factual

Traveller	On the ground	Do this
Families	Calm lagoon beaches (Sainte-Anne, Bois Jolan), Malendure turtles.	Gîtes with kitchens.
LGBTQ+	French law; social attitudes conservative.	Discretion outside resorts.
Hikers	La Soufrière and the national park.	Start early; check the volcano alert level.
Wheelchair users	Newer hotels adapted; ferries and villages hard.	Ask about adapted beach access at Sainte-Anne.

Culture and food

Rules, manners, what to eat, where to sleep and what to buy

Open Culture and foodClose Culture and food6 partsRules · Respect & laws · Eat · Drink · Sleep · Buy

Country rules

Inherited by every page below

Entry follows French rules for overseas departments, which can differ from mainland France and the Schengen area: a Schengen visa alone is not valid unless it is endorsed for Guadeloupe. Check France-Visas for your passport.
Sargassum seaweed can pile up on some beaches, mainly in spring and summer: check conditions before booking a beach base.
La Soufrière is an active volcano: check the alert level and trail status before hiking.
Tap water supply is unreliable in parts of Guadeloupe, with scheduled cuts and occasional quality warnings: keep bottled water at your lodging.

Etiquette

French is the official language and Creole is widely spoken; start every exchange with 'bonjour' or 'bonsoir'.
Beachwear is for the beach: cover up in towns and shops.
Shops often close for a long lunch and on Sunday afternoons.

Carnival (January to Ash Wednesday): Weekly parades build to several days of events before Lent; roads close.
Christmas–New Year and French school holidays: Peak season; flights from Paris fill early.
Route du Rhum finish (November 2026, every four years): Sailors and spectators fill Pointe-à-Pitre marina and hotels — check dates.
Hurricane season (Jun–Nov, peak Aug–Oct): Storms can close airports and ports for days; ferries and small flights are cancelled first.

Respect and laws that surprise

What gets visitors fined, refused or arrested

Topic	The rule	What happens
Greetings	Bonjour or bonsoir first, every time.	Cool service.
Beachwear	Cover up in towns.	Disapproval.
History	Memorials to slavery deserve quiet respect.	Offence.
Protests and strikes	Keep away from road blocks.	Clashes.
Nature	Stay on marked trails; no collecting coral or shells in the reserves.	Fines.

Everyday manners

Situation	Do	Avoid
Greeting	Bonjour on entering; kisses among friends	Skipping the greeting
Dress	Cover up in town	Swimwear in shops
Dining	Relax; ask for the bill	Expecting fast service
Talking	Food, rum, Carnival	Treating it as a foreign colony

Eat

Regional food, diets, allergy card

Creole cooking with salt cod, seafood, spices and Indian curries, plus bokits (fried bread sandwiches) as the everyday street snack and French bakeries in every town.

Region	Style	Order this
Grande-Terre	Beach snack bars, lolos and seafood	Bokit, grilled fish, lambi
Basse-Terre	River crayfish and country cooking	Ouassous, colombo
Marie-Galante and Les Saintes	Island specialities	Bébélé, tourment d'amour

Dish finder

Region

Diet

13 of 13 dishes

BokitIsland-wide
Bokit
Fried bread pocket filled with salt cod, chicken or ham and cheese.
Evening snack · Usually has fish/seafood, chicken, milk · vegetarian version exists — ask
AccrasIsland-wide
Accras de morue
Salt-cod fritters.
Aperitif · Usually has fish/seafood, egg, milk
ColomboIsland-wide
Colombo de cabri / poulet
Curry of goat or chicken.
Lunch · Usually has chicken
Fish blaffIsland-wide
Blaff
Fish poached in lime and herb broth.
Lunch · Usually has fish/seafood, fish stock or sauce
Octopus fricasseeCoast
Fricassée de chatrou
Octopus in tomato and spice sauce.
Lunch · Usually has fish/seafood
River crayfishBasse-Terre
Ouassous
Freshwater prawns in Creole sauce (farmed).
Dinner · Usually has fish/seafood
BébéléMarie-Galante
Bébélé
Tripe stew with green banana, breadfruit and dumplings.
Sunday · Usually has beef, pork
Creole blood sausageIsland-wide
Boudin créole
Spicy blood sausage.
Aperitif · Usually has pork
DombrésIsland-wide
Dombrés
Dumplings with red beans or crayfish.
Lunch · Usually has pork, fish/seafood · vegetarian version exists — ask
ConchCoast
Lambi
Grilled or stewed queen conch.
Lunch · Usually has fish/seafood
Tourment d'amourLes Saintes
Tourment d'amour
Tartlet with coconut jam and sponge.
Snack · Usually has egg, milk · vegetarian version common
Coconut sorbetIsland-wide
Sorbet coco
Hand-churned coconut ice.
Beach · Usually has milk · vegetarian version common
Christmas hamIsland-wide
Jambon de Noël
Pineapple-glazed ham.
Christmas · Usually has pork

Tags describe the usual recipe, not every kitchen. Stocks and sauces hide animal products: ask, or show the allergy card below.

Table manners

Bokit stands open in the evening; lunch plates are the value meal.

Allergy / diet card — show it, do not say it

Je suis gravement allergique à ___. Ce plat contient-il ___ ?

“I am severely allergic to ___. Does this dish contain ___? (French; in Creole: 'An alèjik a ___' — check spelling)”

Peanuts: arachides / cacahuètes (Creole: pistach)
Tree nuts: fruits à coque
Shellfish: crustacés et fruits de mer (Creole: chatrou, lanbi, krab, wasou)
Fish: poisson (Creole: pwason)
Milk: lait / produits laitiers
Egg: œuf (Creole: zé)
Wheat / gluten: blé / gluten (farine)
Pork: porc (Creole: kochon)

Diets: the reality

Diet	On the ground	Do this
Vegetarian	Limited at Creole places; gratins, rice and vegetables help.	Say 'végétarien, sans poisson'.
Halal	Few options.	Seafood as a fallback.
Gluten-free	Bokits and accras are wheat.	Grilled fish with rice.

Drink

Laws, what to order, what it costs

Legal age: 18.
Drink-driving: French limit 0.5 g/l; frequent checks.

Drink	What it is	Typical price
Ti' punchTi' punch	Rhum agricole, lime and cane syrup.	€3–6 (≈ US$4–7)
PlanteurPlanteur	Rum and fruit juice punch.	€6–10 (≈ US$7–12)
ShrubbShrubb	Orange-peel rum liqueur at Christmas.	€5–8 (≈ US$6–10)
Coconut waterEau de coco	From roadside sellers.	€2–4 (≈ US$3–5)
Cane juiceJus de canne	Fresh-pressed.	€3–5 (≈ US$4–6)
Local beerBière Corsaire / Lorraine	Regional lagers.	€3–5 (≈ US$4–6)

Marie-Galante rum is often bottled at 59%: go slowly.

Sleep

Types, registration, booking

Type	Price (2026 estimate)	Use it for	Watch
Gîte or studio	€55–110 (≈ US$65–130)	Everywhere	Check water tanks and air conditioning.
Hotel	€120–220 (≈ US$140–300)	Le Gosier, Sainte-Anne, Saint-François, Deshaies	Many close in Sept–Oct.
Resort or villa	€250 (≈ US$300)+	Saint-François, Deshaies	Minimum stays at Christmas.

Registration and the law

Tourist tax per person per night — check.

Booking reality

Book French school holidays and the Route du Rhum arrival period early.

Buy

Tax-free, bargaining, customs

Rum, spices, vanilla, madras cloth and Les Saintes' tourment d'amour cakes.

Prices and bargaining

Fixed prices; mild haggling for crafts at the market.

What to bring home

Item	Where	Watch
Rum from Marie-Galante and Basse-Terre	Distilleries	Check allowances.
Spice mixes and vanilla	Marché Saint-Antoine	Buy sealed packs.
Salako hats	Les Saintes	Traditional fishermen's hats.

Customs allowances on arrival

What	Limit or rule
Returning to the EU	Outside the EU VAT area: duty-free limits apply — check

Deep dive

Questions, where next, photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive3 partsGo next · Deep dive · Sources

Go next

Pointe-à-Pitre

City page

Places and arrival.

Martinique

Ferry via Dominica or 45 min flight

The sister island.

Dominica

Ferry about 2 h

Rainforest and hot springs.

Saint-Martin

Flight about 1 h

French and Dutch sides.

Antigua and Barbuda

Short flight

Beaches and English Harbour.

Caribbean

Subregion

Island pairs.

Sources compared: Wikivoyage — Guadeloupe · Wikivoyage (French) — Guadeloupe. Section coverage was checked against these community guides (CC BY-SA) as secondary sources; the text on this page is Voykit's own, with facts cross-checked against the official sources above.

Deep dive

3 min read · 6 chapters

This deep dive is for the traveller who wants to understand an archipelago that is French, Creole and fiercely political at once. The six chapters cover the colony and its two abolitions, people and music, Creole food and rum, the volcanic and limestone islands, the small outer islands, and Guadeloupe today, from the Mémorial ACTe to strikes and water cuts.

1Freedom won, lost and won again1 min

The Kalinago called the island Karukera. French settlers arrived in 1635 and turned it into sugar plantations worked by enslaved Africans; Britain occupied it several times in the 18th century.

During the French Revolution, the Convention abolished slavery in 1794, and Victor Hugues retook Guadeloupe from the British with an army that included freed men. In 1802 Napoleon restored slavery. Colonel Louis Delgrès and his followers resisted and, surrounded at Matouba, chose to blow themselves up rather than surrender.

Slavery was finally abolished in 1848, after campaigns led by Victor Schœlcher. Indian indentured workers arrived from 1854. Guadeloupe became a French department in 1946.

First abolition: 1794
Slavery restored: 1802
Final abolition: 27 May 1848 (local date)

See itMémorial ACTe →

2People, gwoka and Carnival1 min

Most Guadeloupeans are of African or mixed descent, with Indian-descended families in the east of Grande-Terre and fishing communities of European descent on Les Saintes. Creole is the language of home; French the language of school and the state.

Gwoka, drum music that grew from the plantations, was added to UNESCO's intangible heritage list in 2014. Carnival brings out 'groupes à po', bands of skin drums and conch horns that march for hours. Zouk, the dance music of the 1980s, was born here and in Martinique with the band Kassav'.

Writers such as Maryse Condé and Simone Schwarz-Bart made Guadeloupe central to French-Caribbean literature.

Gwoka on UNESCO list: 2014
Population: About 380,000

See itMarché Saint-Antoine →

3Bokits, colombo and strong rum1 min

The bokit, a pocket of fried dough filled with salt cod, chicken or ham, is Guadeloupe's own street food, descended from the 'johnny cake' of plantation days. Colombo curry came with Indian workers; blaff and court-bouillon show the French and African roots of Creole fish cooking.

Rhum agricole is distilled from fresh cane juice. Marie-Galante, known as the island of a hundred windmills, still has three distilleries, and its white rum is often bottled at 59%. In August the Fête des Cuisinières, a cooks' festival since 1916, parades women in madras dress through Pointe-à-Pitre.

Fête des Cuisinières: Since 1916, August
Marie-Galante distilleries: Bielle, Bellevue, Père Labat

4Two wings: limestone and volcano1 min

The main island is really two, split by a narrow channel, the Rivière Salée. Grande-Terre to the east is flat limestone with white beaches and cane fields; Basse-Terre to the west is volcanic, covered in rainforest and crowned by La Soufrière, at 1,467 m the highest peak in the Lesser Antilles.

The Guadeloupe National Park covers the Basse-Terre forest and the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin lagoon. Off Bouillante, the Pigeon islets form the Cousteau reserve, named after the diver who filmed there.

La Soufrière erupted in 1976, forcing the evacuation of about 70,000 people; it is still monitored and trail access changes with its activity.

La Soufrière: 1,467 m
1976 evacuation: About 70,000 people

5Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and La Désirade1 min

Les Saintes are a cluster of small volcanic islands south of Basse-Terre. Terre-de-Haut's bay is overlooked by Fort Napoléon, and the fishermen wear the salako, a flat hat of Asian origin. The islands saw the Battle of the Saintes in 1782, a British naval victory over France.

Marie-Galante is round, flat and rural, with ox carts, sugar mills and long empty beaches. La Désirade, a long ridge to the east, is a geological reserve and home to iguanas.

Staying a night on any of them gives a slower Guadeloupe after the day-trip boats leave.

Battle of the Saintes: April 1782

6Strikes, water and memory1 min

Guadeloupe has some of France's strongest unions. In 2009 the LKP collective led a 44-day general strike against the cost of living, and in 2021 protests over Covid rules turned violent. Food prices, jobs and the power of import companies remain central issues.

Water supply is a daily problem in many communes, with old pipes losing much of the water and scheduled cuts. The pesticide chlordecone, used on banana farms until 1993, has left long-term contamination.

The Mémorial ACTe, opened in 2015 on the site of an old sugar factory in Pointe-à-Pitre, is a major centre for the history of slavery. Every four years the Route du Rhum yacht race finishes in the city; the 2026 edition arrives in November (check).

LKP general strike: 2009, 44 days
Mémorial ACTe: Opened 2015

See itPointe-à-Pitre airport arrival →Guadeloupe country guide →

Read, watch, wordsReading · Watching · Glossary · Sources4 parts

Reading

Segu — Maryse CondéSaga that roots Caribbean families in West Africa.
I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem — Maryse CondéA Barbadian-born woman in colonial America.
The Bridge of Beyond — Simone Schwarz-BartGenerations of women in rural Guadeloupe.

Watching

Death in Paradise — BBC series, filmed in DeshaiesA light look at Basse-Terre's coast.

Glossary

Term	Local	Meaning
bokit		Fried bread sandwich.
gwoka		Drum music and dance.
salako		Fishermen's flat hat of Les Saintes.
lolo		Small shop or roadside stall.
tour d'eau		Scheduled water cut.
Karukera		Kalinago name for the island.

Read for this deep dive

Background reading only: the text above is written by Voykit, not copied from these pages.

Sources

officialFrance-Visas (official)
officialService-Public — visas for French overseas territories
officialGuadeloupe Islands Tourist Board
officialPréfecture de la Guadeloupe
officialParc national de la Guadeloupe
officialL'Express des Îles (ferries)
officialUK FCDO travel advice: Guadeloupe
secondaryWikivoyage — Guadeloupe

Open Grande-Terre Up to Caribbean

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About Guadeloupe

Holidays and festivals in November

Read or watch before you go

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Budget calculator

By land and river

What four governments say

Strikes and disruptions

Natural and on-the-ground hazards

Alerts and apps

Police, embassies, paperwork

Tipping by situation

Opening hours

Etiquette

Everyday manners

Dish finder

Table manners

Diets: the reality

Registration and the law

Booking reality

Prices and bargaining

What to bring home

Customs allowances on arrival

Reading

Watching

Glossary

Read for this deep dive

Ask about Guadeloupe