Road trip in Guadeloupe: the must-see stages

If you are planning to take a road trip in Guadeloupe soon, then this article should interest you. Today I am listing the must-see stages of your itinerary on this fabulous island with Creole flavors, featuring beaches, wild nature, small villages, and local specialties.
Welcome to Karukera, the island of beautiful waters, as the Native Americans called them.

The beaches: from Gosier to Saint François

After you have managed your car rental in Guadeloupe, Take the road towards the south coast of Grande Terre and start your exploration of the island by enjoying the beautiful white sandy beaches lined with coconut trees. A true postcard-worthy scenery!

Gosier Visit the beaches of Datcha, Les Deux Oursins and Petit-Havre

St. Anne Visit the beaches of La Caravelle, Bourg Beach, Helleux Beach, Bois-Jolan Beach and Pierre et Vacances Beach.

Saint Francis Visit the beaches of Anse à la Barque, Raisins Clairs Beach, Lagon Beach, Kahouanne Bay Beach, Tarare Bay Beach, and la Gourde Bay Beach.

The Pointe des Châteaux

Head to the eastern tip of the island. Located 11 kilometers from Saint François, Pointe des Châteaux is one of the most visited natural sites in the region. Guadeloupe. Swept by the winds and battered by the waves of the Atlantic, this site offers magnificent views. You almost feel like you are in Brittany with a feel of being at the edge of the world.

Attention, it is not recommended to swim at Pointe des Châteaux, but you can go a little further on the beach of Grande Anse des Salines.

The tip of Grande Vigie

Continue your road trip in Guadeloupe by heading to the north of the island to Pointe de la Grande Vigie. Once again, you will be in for a visual treat from the steep cliffs, 80 meters above the sea.

On the way, make a stop in the municipality of Le Moule to enjoy the Creole atmosphere and the beautiful wooden houses. Then go to the beach of La Porte d’Enfer. After passing by Pointe de la Vigie, head to Basse Terre, passing through Anse Bertrand and Port-Louis (swimming in the bay of Le Souffleur).

The village of Deshaies

Welcome to the north-western coast of the Low Land and more specifically in the charming commune of Deshaies, nestled between the sea and the mountains, known for its Creole houses, its gentle way of life, its authentic surroundings, and its pretty little church.

Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the huge Grande Anse beach and the botanical garden as well.

An essential stop on your road trip in Guadeloupe.

Volcan de la Soufrière

Change of scenery: after discovering the coastline, continue your road trip in Guadeloupe by venturing into the Guadeloupe National Park to visit the Soufrière volcano, also known as the Old Lady.

The volcano reaches an altitude of 1467m and attracts hiking enthusiasts. It takes 2 hours of hiking to reach the summit, starting from the parking lot of the Yellow Baths.

The landscapes and flora change as you ascend, and once you reach the summit you can tour the crater in 30 minutes and contemplate this lunar-like landscape.

Attention, it is advisable to check the weather before climbing the volcano and to stay well within the marked trails.

Route of the Crossing

As its name suggests, the Traverse Route runs from east to west through Basse Terre. 35km of lush vegetation where it’s a pleasure to stop at a few places to enjoy the wild nature and swim in the waterfalls.

By the way, I recommend you make a stop at the Cascade aux Ecrevisses and also go hiking from the Maison de la Forêt.

The Cousteau Reserve

The Cousteau Reserve is a protected underwater reserve where fishing is prohibited. However, you can come and admire the underwater world by snorkeling or scuba diving. Since I don’t have a diving license, I only had one dive at a depth of just a few meters.

The underwater wildlife and flora are magnificent. You can see multicolored fish, coral, and even the stone bust of Commandant Cousteau, who came to film some scenes for his film The World of Silence in the 1960s. It was he who recommended at the time that this fabulous site be protected.

I recommend you go for a diving trip with the agency Les Heures Saines. They are very professional and the team is very friendly! After this trip at sea, you can enjoy a little bit of the beach in Malendure, located right next to the Cousteau reserve.

Visiting a distillery

Before heading to Pointe-à-Pitre, I recommend you make a stop at Capesterre-Belle-Eau to visit the Longueteau distillery, one of the oldest rum distilleries on the island. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the process of making the famous nectar. You can also try some rum (in moderation) and buy souvenirs to take back to the mainland.

Pointe-à Pitre

We have arrived, and this is the final stage of our road trip in Guadeloupe. Pointe-à-Pitre is the capital of this Guadeloupean archipelago, ideally located between Basse Terre and Grande Terre. I recommend you visit the Darse market and the Saint Antoine covered market, where you can find many souvenirs (arranged rum, spices, fabrics, handicrafts, etc…).

Take a stroll through Victoire Square and go a little further to see Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul Church, known for its beautiful white and yellow facade.

But my main highlight in Pointe-à-Pitre is the ACTe Memorial, a unique museum that opened in 2015 and deals with the topic of slavery. The visit is quite emotional and you learn a lot about the horrific living conditions and the suffering of the victims. This museum is a place of remembrance to never forget what happened here just a few centuries ago.

The ACTe Memorial covers an area of nearly 8,000 square meters and was symbolically built on the site of an old sugar factory.
I can only recommend spending two hours in this surprising museum with its perfect scenography.