Guadeloupe is an overseas department and region of France in the Caribbean, shaped like a butterfly formed by two main islands — volcanic Basse-Terre to the west and coral-limestone Grande-Terre to the east — connected by a narrow channel crossed by the Rivière Salée. Together with outer islands Les Saintes, Marie-Galante, and La Désirade, it offers volcanic hikes, world-class snorkeling, rum distillery tours, and sun-drenched beaches, all wrapped in an authentically French Caribbean culture.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Guadeloupe.
-
1
La Soufrière Volcano
La Soufrière is an active stratovolcano rising to about 1,467 metres, the highest point in the Lesser Antilles and the dominant feature of Basse-Terre's interior. It last had a significant eruptive phase in 1976, which forced a temporary evacuation of the surrounding area, and it remains monitored for volcanic activity today. The standard route from the Savane à Mulets parking area is a hike up bare volcanic ground past steaming fumaroles to the crater rim.
-
2
MÉMORIAL ACTe
MÉMORIAL ACTe is a large memorial and museum built on the site of a former sugar factory in Pointe-à-Pitre, dedicated to the history of slavery and the slave trade in the Caribbean and the wider Atlantic world. Its permanent exhibition traces the transatlantic slave trade, plantation society in Guadeloupe, and the long path to abolition and civil rights, using a mix of artifacts, film, and interpretive displays. The building itself, with its dark latticed facade evoking the roots of a silk-cotton tree, is a landmark on the Pointe-à-Pitre waterfront.
-
3
Les Saintes (Îles des Saintes)
Les Saintes is a small archipelago off the southern tip of Basse-Terre, reached by ferry, with Terre-de-Haut as the main inhabited island. The islands were settled by Breton and Norman fishing families rather than through the plantation economy that shaped the rest of Guadeloupe, which gives the villages a different architectural and cultural feel. Terre-de-Haut's main village is compact enough to explore on foot or by rented golf cart, with Fort Napoléon overlooking the bay.
-
4
Grande Anse de Deshaies
Grande Anse is a long stretch of golden sand backed by palm and sea grape trees on Basse-Terre's northwest coast, near the village of Deshaies. It is one of the largest beaches in Guadeloupe and known for calm, swimmable water for most of its length, making it popular with both visitors and locals. The northern end near the rocks tends to have more shade and slightly more surf.
-
5
Réserve Cousteau / Îlet Pigeon
The Réserve Cousteau is a protected marine area off Malendure beach surrounding the Pigeon Islets, named for Jacques Cousteau, who rated the site among the world's best diving spots after filming here in the 1970s. The reserve protects coral formations and reef fish in relatively shallow water, which makes it accessible to snorkellers as well as divers. Boats and glass-bottom boats run regularly from Malendure beach out to the islets for those who want to explore beyond swimming distance from shore.
-
6
Chutes du Carbet
The Chutes du Carbet are three waterfalls cascading down the eastern slopes of the Carbet mountains within Guadeloupe's national park, with the first fall recognized as one of the tallest in the Caribbean. Each fall has a different access difficulty: the second fall is reached by a well-maintained path suited to most visitors, while the first and third require longer, more demanding hikes. The falls feed the Carbet river and sit within dense rainforest that stays wet and green year-round.
-
7
Jardin Botanique de Deshaies
The Jardin Botanique de Deshaies is a landscaped tropical garden on the hillside above Deshaies, developed from a former private estate and opened to the public in the early 2000s. It brings together plants from across the tropics — heliconias, orchids, and palms among them — arranged around ponds, a koi pool, and shaded paths that descend toward views of the coast. Free-roaming birds, including Caribbean flamingos and parrots, are part of the grounds rather than kept in traditional enclosures.
-
8
Pointe des Châteaux
Pointe des Châteaux is the easternmost tip of Grande-Terre, where limestone cliffs have been carved by the Atlantic into jagged formations that give the point its name. A path leads from the parking area out along the headland to a large cross at the highest point, with the ocean visible on both sides as the land narrows. The exposed, wind-battered coastline here is markedly rougher than Guadeloupe's sheltered Caribbean-side beaches.
-
9
Morne-à-l'Eau Cemetery
This hillside cemetery is known for its checkerboard tombs, black-and-white (and some blue-and-white) tiled graves stacked in tiers up the slope, a style distinctive to the region rather than typical French cemetery design. It's a working cemetery, not a tourist attraction built for visitors, so the pattern effect comes from the sheer number of tombs viewed together from a distance or the access road above. On the night of All Saints' Day, families light candles at the graves, turning the whole hillside into a field of flickering light, though that is a specific one-night event, not something you'll see on an ordinary visit.
-
10
Cascade aux Écrevisses
A waterfall reached by a short, well-marked trail off the Route de la Traversée, the road that cuts through Basse-Terre's rainforest and the Parc National de la Guadeloupe. The name means 'crayfish waterfall,' referring to the freshwater crayfish once common in the stream below it. It's one of the most accessible falls in the park, a modest cascade rather than a dramatic drop, set in dense tropical forest with the sound of the stream and birdlife around it.
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Items
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Items
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Visit popular attractions early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid crowds and harsh midday light.
Book tickets online in advance for major attractions to skip long queues and sometimes save money.
Many cities offer multi-attraction passes that include public transport. Calculate whether they save you money based on your itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to visit Guadeloupe?
US citizens do not need a visa for stays up to 90 days. Guadeloupe is an integral part of France and the EU. A valid passport is required.
Is a car necessary in Guadeloupe?
Yes, for exploring both Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre. Car rentals are available at Pointe-à-Pitre airport from Europcar (+590 590 21 13 52), Avis, Hertz, and Sixt. Buses cover main routes but are infrequent.
What currency is used?
The euro (€). ATMs are widely available in Pointe-à-Pitre, Le Gosier, Sainte-Anne, and Basse-Terre. US dollars are not accepted.