We tested the massage in the Parc aux Orchidées

I have to admit that this is something of a first for an article of this kind. Usually we write articles about specific destinations, places or hikes here in Guadeloupe. However, for once, I thought I would shake things up a bit and give our readers something a little bit different. Today I’m going to tell you about an experience that Mélanie and I had: We had a massage at the Parc aux Orchidées in Pointe-Noire, here in Guadeloupe.

It may seem odd at first to write a short article about an experience like this, but I think it could be of real interest to residents who are looking for good places to relax and spend quality time as a couple, or even to tourists who may be in the same situation.

This is not a sponsored post, in case you’re wondering. If it were, we would state so every time and the law of June 2023 requires us to clearly state this for your information. We are in full control of the content of this article and our opinions. For our massage services at the Parc aux Orchidées, we paid in full on two occasions.

Try the Maison de la Banane in Trois-Rivières if you’re looking for another nice place to explore!

Let me take you on a journey of discovery. In the first place, it will be a description of the massage services on offer at Parc aux Orchidées. In fact, there’s a lot more to the place than that. We’ll go into more detail in the practical information section at the end of this article. But the story I’m about to tell you is a bit special. I was personally in the process of looking for a place to propose to Mélanie, whose wedding is scheduled for August 2025. I’d already heard about the place, in particular for the massages, but also for the peace and quiet it offered. So I decided to make a reservation to try it all out.

As I mentioned earlier, we decided to spend some quality time with Mélanie and opted for a small package that included 30 minutes in the jacuzzi and a 1 hour massage. It goes without saying that you feel great when you come out. The first time we went to see Mélanie, we were enchanted by the Tropical Garden. I’m not going to go into detail about the whole garden, but the history of it is very interesting. It was created over 40 years ago by Jean-Claude Rancé. He was a local man who knew the wild orchids of Guadeloupe inside out. He took the opportunity to create a small, welcoming garden with beautiful orchids, other flowers and some really interesting trees. Since 2016, the garden has been taken over by Nathalie and Arnaud, the new owners. Arnaud knows the garden very well. He gave us a 15-minute tour with lots of interesting explanations. It’s free, which is always a nice touch.

As soon as we arrived, we discovered the place: it’s simple, in the middle of nature, with birds flying all around, it feels good. We met Arnaud and Nathalie. They gave us a brief introduction to the place before taking us to the jacuzzi room. To be honest, we felt really comfortable! We were finally ready for our massage after 30 minutes in the jacuzzi and a cup of tea!

I kept the two masseuses in the loop until Mélanie had changed, so that she could bring me the ring when the massages were over. We chose a Lomi Lomi massage (1h30) for the first time. Overlooking the swimming pool, we entered the airy wooden room. The room was perfect, as quiet and relaxing as we wanted, with some background music. We had a 1 hour and 30 minute massage and, frankly, it was really exceptional. The two masseuses were just what we were looking for.

I have to admit that I’m starting to get a little nervous about proposing on the way out. Nathalie had prepared a beautiful arrangement of flowers, vines and leaves in which she had placed the box containing the ring. Mélanie was over the moon and the setting was perfect for a proposal. Rest assured, she said yes!

We enjoyed our first experience so much that we decided to come back a second time, especially to celebrate a special event: the publication of our French Polynesia travel guide. Having worked hard for almost a year, we were proud of ourselves and decided to treat ourselves. This time we returned for a 20-minute peeling followed by an hour-long Abhyanga massage.

As usual, we were warmly welcomed by Arnaud and Nathalie. We rediscovered the pleasant atmosphere of the place. We changed our clothes for the famous peeling session. You’ll probably laugh because I was the one who did the booking, but I had no idea what a peeling was, haha. The masseuses had a good laugh. Anyway, it was really nice to have my body massaged with a preparation made out of cane sugar, flower extracts and citrus fruits.

After this invigorating session, we returned to the same room as the first for another, supposedly more energetic massage. Personally, I really enjoyed this massage, which lasts an hour, even though it’s a lot more ‘intense’. The sensations afterwards are really great.

We rounded off this beautiful morning with a meal at Sunset B in Bouillante. I must say that we really enjoyed it. The concept is really nice, as there are 2 or 3 dishes depending on the day’s arrivals, which makes it easier to choose. We had the meat dish (beef stew) and the fish dish (stock market) and two delicious desserts. We hadn’t eaten so well in a long time!

In any case, if you’re looking for a place to get a massage on the leeward coast, this is the place to go.

Here’s some useful information to keep in mind.

I just wanted to let you know that you will be able to take advantage of a number of services on site. I simply invite you to consult their website to find out how long it takes and how much it costs. However, you can enjoy Jacuzzi, peeling, reflexology, spa massages, special massages for pregnant women, Lomi Lomi, Swedish and Abhyanga massages. You can often choose between an individual or duo package, with the average price being around €80 for an hour’s massage and €110 for 1 hour.

As always, it depends on where you start from. We’re just south of Basse-Terre, so it’s about an hour’s drive, or an hour from the town of Basse-Terre if the traffic is good. The itinerary is available here.

We haven’t tried accommodation on site yet. But you should know that it’s quite possible. The Parc aux Orchidées has four fully equipped bungalows. They sleep two or four people. Please note that children are only accepted if they are over 12 years of age. We haven’t been to the bungalows yet, but they seem to be really nice, rather basic, but reasonably priced.

You can book directly via the following link!

If you’re in the area and decide to stay overnight, there are plenty of things to do nearby, some of which are listed below:

Swimming at the beautiful beaches around Deshaies (La Perle, Grande Anse, Petite Anse, etc.).
Walk to the Saut des Trois Cornes, starting from Sainte-Rose.
If the weather is good, don’t hesitate to take the Route des Mamelles, which crosses the island from west to east. The vegetation is truly impressive and well worth the detour.
There are also a number of walks in the region: Saut d’Acomat, Mamelle Pigeon, Maison de la Forêt, a stop at the Cascade des Écrevisses, etc.

I’m going to stop here for this article. In any case, if you are tempted by the experience, don’t hesitate to get a massage at the Parc aux Orchidées. You won’t be disappointed!

See you soon.

Written by Sylvain PONS

Since 2021, I've been living in the Guadeloupe archipelago with Mélanie and our two children. We are exploring these beautiful islands and discovering the treasures that we are happy to share with you!

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