Open Travel Guide
Beaches in Guadeloupe

Best Beaches in Guadeloupe 2026

Where to swim, surf, and do nothing in Guadeloupe — and which stretch of coast suits which kind of day.

By Updated

The short answer: start with Grande Anse de Deshaies, Plage de la Caravelle and Plage de Saint-François. This guide profiles 14+ beaches in Guadeloupe, with prices, timing, and the practical notes that decide whether each one earns a place in your plan.

Beaches profiled
14
Reading time
~12 min
Last updated
May 2026

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 beaches

A ranked editor’s shortlist of the coastline worth planning a day around in Guadeloupe.

    • Restaurants on beach
    • Sun loungers for hire
    • Showers
    • Parking (free)

    Grande Anse de Deshaies

    Deshaies, northern Basse-Terre~60 km from Pointe-à-Pitre airport (1 hr drive)

    • Public section free
    • Water sports hire
    • Restaurants nearby
    • Parking

    Plage de la Caravelle

    Sainte-Anne, Grande-Terre35 km from Pointe-à-Pitre (45 min drive)

    • Quiet sheltered bay
    • Restaurants within 200m
    • Parking

    Plage de Saint-François

    Saint-François, eastern Grande-Terre50 km from Pointe-à-Pitre (1 hr drive)

    • Dive centres
    • Snorkel hire
    • Restaurants
    • Parking

    Plage de Malendure

    Bouillante, western Basse-Terre~60 km from Pointe-à-Pitre (1 hr 15 min drive)

    • Clear turquoise water
    • Snorkelling off beach
    • No facilities — bring own food/water

    Plage Pompierre (Les Saintes)

    Terre-de-Haut, Les SaintesAccessible only by scooter or walk (20 min from Bourg des Saintes) — ferry to island required

    • Town beach
    • Restaurants on seafront
    • Markets nearby
    • Parking

    Plage de Sainte-Anne

    Sainte-Anne, Grande-Terre35 km from Pointe-à-Pitre (45 min drive)

    • Protected bay
    • Snorkelling
    • Sparse shade (bring umbrella)
    • Parking

    Anse de la Gourde

    Saint-François, Grande-Terre55 km from Pointe-à-Pitre (1 hr 10 min drive)

    • Quiet
    • Shade trees
    • Parking
    • No facilities — bring supplies

    Plage de Clugny

    Sainte-Rose, northern Grande-Terre coast30 km from Pointe-à-Pitre (40 min drive north)

    • Naturist area
    • Fine white sand
    • Sheltered bay

    Anse Crawen (Nudist Beach)

    Near Sainte-Anne, Grande-TerreAccessible only by a short walk from Anse Tarare car park (10 min)

    • Calm lagoon
    • Snack bars on beach
    • Palms for shade
    • Parking

    Plage du Souffleur (Port-Louis)

    Port-Louis, northern Grande-Terre50 km from Pointe-à-Pitre (50 min drive north)

    • Peaceful, locals beach
    • Trees for shade
    • Small car park

    Plage de Tillette (Grande-Terre)

    Morne-à-l'Eau, Grande-Terre25 km north of Pointe-à-Pitre (30 min)

    • Remote
    • No facilities
    • Steep path to reach
    • No crowds

    Plage de la Feuillère

    Near Deshaies, Basse-Terre~62 km from Pointe-à-Pitre; 15-min steep trail from car park

    • Calm crystalline water
    • Town beach
    • Restaurants nearby

    Plage du Bourg (Marie-Galante)

    Grand-Bourg, Marie-GalanteFerry from Pointe-à-Pitre (~45 min); then within Grand-Bourg

    • Calm water
    • Fishing village setting
    • Small parking area

    Plage de Petite-Anse (Deshaies)

    Deshaies, northern Basse-Terre~60 km from Pointe-à-Pitre (1 hr) — 2 km south of Grande Anse

What to bring

A short packing list for a comfortable beach day — adjust for season and the specific spot.

  • Sun protectionHigh-SPF sunscreen, hat, polarised sunglasses, light long-sleeve cover-up.
  • HydrationReusable bottle, salty snacks for longer days, electrolyte sachets if it’s hot.
  • FootwearWater shoes for pebble or rocky entry, flip-flops for sand, dry pair for the trip home.
  • Swim & coverQuick-dry towel or sand-resistant mat, change of swimwear, light cover-up for restaurants.
  • Cash & valuablesSmall notes for beach clubs and rentals; waterproof pouch for phone, keys, cards.
  • ExtrasReef-safe sunscreen near protected coastline, a book, a small first-aid kit for jellyfish or scrapes.

Beach safety

Hard-earned guidance — read this before you swim, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the coast.

Critical

Swim where lifeguards are posted and follow flag warnings — green is safe, yellow is caution, red means no swimming. Rip currents are the leading beach hazard worldwide.

Caution

Watch for tide changes and marine life — jellyfish blooms, sea urchins on rocky entries, occasional shark or stingray advisories. Don’t swim alone, especially at dawn or dusk.

Tip

Reapply sunscreen every 90 minutes and after every swim. Take shade between 11 am and 3 pm — the sun is harsher than people expect, even when the air is cool.

Practical

Keep valuables out of sight or back at the accommodation. Beach theft is a small-but-real risk at busy beaches; never leave bags unattended while you’re in the water.

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