What to do in Bouillante?

We took advantage of an extended long weekend this May to discover a new accommodation on the leeward coast. If that interests you, feel free to read another full review of Le Jardin des Îlets, a magnificent guesthouse offering eight lodgings just above Malendure Beach, within walking distance. But that isn’t today’s topic. We used this stay to get an on‑site overview of all the things to do and see in Bouillante.

Although I think that, overall, Basse‑Terre Island is much less visited than Grande‑Terre with its white‑sand beaches, Bouillante is still certainly one of the must‑see spots during a stay in Guadeloupe—especially with discovering the Cousteau Reserve. In fact, we even recommend this stop if you’re spending a week in Guadeloupe.

Located on the leeward coast of Basse‑Terre, the town really has a lot to attract visitors: hiking, cultural discoveries, beaches, swimming with turtles, kayaking, or diving in the Cousteau Reserve…

So we decided to write a full article that will give you the essentials of what to do in Bouillante. We’ll very likely continue this type of article on other towns in Guadeloupe to give an overview of spots not to miss around the island.

As I said, there are many things you shouldn’t miss, and this overview will give you a good idea of the whole.

Deliberately, I won’t repeat everything I said in my full article on Malendure Beach, but of course, it’s the town’s flagship spot. If you make the effort to come off‑season or early in the morning, you can enjoy this very beautiful gray‑sand beach and, above all, swim with turtles from the shore. However, you should know that depending on the season and time of day, the beach can be literally packed, and the experience is clearly much less pleasant. So, as often, pay special attention to your timing when visiting the beach.

We therefore recommend spending half a day or a full day at the spot, naturally including a visit to the reserve. It’s a must.

From Malendure Beach, you can also discover the famous Cousteau Reserve, whether by kayak, scuba diving, snorkeling, or the glass‑bottom boat (although, in my opinion, that’s of rather limited interest).

It’s obviously unmissable during your time in Bouillante. Personally, I would strongly recommend renting a kayak for the day and bringing your own lunch. You’ll have an excellent day. If you haven’t tried scuba diving yet, this is also the moment.

It’s the second time I’m telling you this, but we also wrote a complete guide to all the hot springs in Guadeloupe. You’ll find all the details you need to discover these spots. As the town’s name suggests, you can bathe in several places to enjoy its natural hot springs. You can choose between the town entrance, where hot water comes out at the geothermal plant, but also—and we definitely recommend this more—the Thomas Hot Bath. Be careful here, as the water can be really scalding, and accidents can happen if you’re not careful. There’s also the famous Bain du Curé on Anse à Sable Beach, but overall interest is limited unless you simply want a little beach break, which can be super nice.

Let’s be honest from the start: Bouillante isn’t the Guadeloupe town with the most beautiful beaches—at least in the usual sense of white sand and coconut palms! Obviously, there’s the famous Malendure Beach, ideal for swimming with turtles, but you’ll also find other beaches like Anse à la Barque (very nice but not necessarily easy for swimming) or Petite Anse, which is indeed very beautiful with turquoise water (the water is said to be of poor quality because it’s right below a nursing home). There are also lesser‑known, harder‑to‑reach beaches such as Anse du Dépôt, Anse à Sable, and Anse Colas.

So, of course, if you’re looking for white sandy beaches, coconut palms, and turquoise water, you’d be better off heading to Grande‑Terre or northern Basse‑Terre around Deshaies or Sainte‑Rose. From there, you can discover the Grand Cul‑de‑Sac Marin.

In this article, I also wanted to mention all the free or paid activities to do in Bouillante. I had to make choices, and not everything is necessarily here, but you’ll find the essentials.

Shamefully, I’d say, it’s a hike I did a long time ago, so I haven’t written the blog post. Even though I remember it, I’ll go back with my family to refresh my opinion. As the name suggests, you’re not far from Malendure Beach. This hike requires two cars, since the start is at one place and the finish at another: it’s not a loop. At first glance it might seem easy, but it’s actually tiring on the legs. You’re under forest cover, it can get very hot, and you occasionally get some beautiful views of the surrounding turquoise sea. Not necessarily unmissable, but still very nice.

Not many people know this hike, and for good reason: the access on foot is very difficult, and it’s usually done as a canyoning outing. We haven’t had time to go yet, but from all the photos we’ve seen, it seems like a truly magical place, and above all without many people or tourists. If you’re a bit adventurous and a canyoning session excites you, in my opinion, it’s definitely something to do.

Here’s another lovely little walk, known locally, but which we haven’t had the chance to try yet. This hike starts as you leave the town of Bouillante, on your left. A trail skirts Morne Lézard, passes Pointe à Lézard, Pointe Machette, Anse Machette, and ends at Anse à Sable at the famous Bain du Curé, where there’s a hot spring. We’ll definitely try it next time.

Among the must‑do activities in Bouillante, a dive in the Cousteau Reserve can be really great. Of course, depending on where you’ve dived in the world, you might be more or less happy or disappointed with what you see underwater, but it’s still a beautiful experience. Personally, with Mélanie, we dived and tried the experience with the Les Heures Saines dive club. We tell you all about it in our detailed article.

In my opinion, it’s a very nice place for a first dive: you’ll already see plenty for a first time.

Here’s another very interesting activity to do in the Cousteau Reserve. Indeed, if you don’t feel like scuba diving or kayaking across, opting for a snorkeling tour can clearly be a good idea. For a few hours, a provider will take you by boat, and with fins, mask, and snorkel you can observe the surrounding ecosystem—plenty to see without too much effort. It remains a very nice and above all economical activity. Several providers offer this kind of snorkeling tour, but we particularly recommend this one.

Of course, I already mentioned it above, but this is clearly the activity we 100 % recommend to discover the reserve. You’ll have several providers to choose from, but we particularly recommend this one.

In my opinion, it’s the most economical, eco‑friendly, and independent way to quietly discover the reserve and the islets. Take half a day, or even a full day, to snorkel there (the same as the snorkeling tour mentioned above) and climb to the tops of the small islets for beautiful viewpoints!

Another option I discuss in the Cousteau Reserve article is going with the Nautilus, the famous glass‑bottom boat available from Malendure Beach. Personally, we weren’t big fans, but it has to be said that for people who are afraid of water or don’t want to swim, it’s a very nice way to discover the reserve, observing a bit of the seabed while touring the islets by boat.

Yet another activity in Bouillante that we haven’t had the chance to test yet. The last time I went canyoning was in Tahiti, deep in the island, and it was truly amazing. I really need to go back with Mélanie to try it here. Several spots are locally known for canyoning, notably Ravine Bourceau or the Bois Malaisé Waterfalls I mentioned earlier.

For thrill seekers, note that it’s also possible to go jet skiing in the area from Malendure Beach. I admit we’re not huge fans by nature, but we should try it anyway, because as I often say, only idiots never change their minds. To be continued if we decide to test it, but know that it’s definitely possible.

I talked above about activities to do, but there are also several discoveries you can consider during your stay in Bouillante.

For those interested, here’s a visit we find quite worthwhile during your vacation in Bouillante. We’ve been several times and often take visitors and tourists there when they come to see us in Guadeloupe. It’s a very nice guided tour, including a small tropical garden. You’ll have the chance to learn more about how cocoa is produced, its different stages, and you can even taste some products. It’s also ideal for buying local products and bringing souvenirs to your loved ones. A great visit, but it often requires a reservation these days, especially in high season. If you’d like to know more about the detailed visit, I invite you to read our full article on La Maison du Cacao.

Recently opened, here’s another visit we had the chance to test in partnership with Manawa. It’s simply a fully laid‑out park in the forest where you can walk around, discover local flora and its peculiarities, and even swim in a waterfall on the edge of the site. The place is really well arranged, and you can even book a carbet on‑site to eat or have a barbecue—everything is set up for that. Does it seem worth it to us? We were a bit mixed: although we understand major improvements were needed, I find the price a bit high for what there is to do. However, you can come for a good coffee in late afternoon on the beautiful wooden terrace that offers a fine sea view. We also wrote a full article on Le Parc de la Source to learn more.

Even though we’re not big zoo fans by default, we’ve gone several times with the kids to see the animals at the Guadeloupe Zoo, and I must say each time we’re pleasantly surprised. You won’t find animals that don’t belong here, and the zoo is really well integrated into its natural environment. There are plenty of very pleasant forest walkways, and the atmosphere is really nice. It’s different from the zoos we saw as kids in France, which felt more like highways where you walked from cage to cage to see poor animals locked up. Sure, the animals are still in captivity, but the general feeling is rather good, and if you want to spend a nice time with the family, the kids will be delighted.

Since the zoo is on the Route de la Traversière, you can also enjoy some treetop adventure with the kids. There are several courses of varying difficulty, and it’s really nice to see them move around in a beautiful, well‑preserved natural environment. Feel free to continue along the Route de la Traversière and do a hike around the Maison de la Forêt (though you’re then in Petit‑Bourg).

That’s it, I’ll stop here on things to do and see in Bouillante, but know that it’s really a beautiful town worth stopping in for several days.

As usual, here’s some practical information and tips for visiting Bouillante.

Obviously, it all depends on where you’re coming from. Since this article is written in French, most of you will be arriving from France, Belgium, Switzerland, or Quebec. Flight prices have really increased in recent years, especially from France, and depending on the season, a ticket will cost you between €500 and €1,000. Gone are the days when you could find round‑trip flights for €350 from Paris. From Quebec, count on €500 to €600 almost all the time.

Once you’re there, I strongly advise renting a car to be completely independent during your stay in Guadeloupe. Public transport is underdeveloped, and it can quickly become a hassle.

Since you’ll be arriving by plane, you’ll land in Pointe‑à‑Pitre. Bouillante is about an hour’s drive away via the Traversière. It’s perfectly doable even if you arrive late at night, so you can reach your accommodation directly.

Here’s a big question that often interests many people. To be frank: you’ll find tons of accommodations for all tastes and budgets in the town. It’s a well‑developed tourist area, and the offer is really present. I won’t list every place we recommend in Bouillante, but here are a few great addresses:

• Le Jardin  des  Îlets: this is the accommodation we recommend—by far—in Bouillante. We stayed there for six nights over two trips and really loved it. The location is great, just a five‑minute walk from Malendure Beach: perfect for swimming with turtles and sunbathing. The view from the accommodation is superb, and you’re completely independent with a fully equipped kitchen and even the possibility of having breakfast delivered. For us, it’s flawless. We also wrote a full review to give you our opinion on Le Jardin des Îlets; feel free to read it to make up your own mind.
• Gites La Nantillaise: another lovely accommodation offering three rooms with a pool. The welcome is top‑notch, the place is clean and modern: another great spot!
• Les Gîtes Kajou: perched on the heights before the town of Bouillante, here’s an accommodation with a great reputation. You’ll have access to a beautiful one‑bedroom house, well equipped, clean, with a small terrace area, garden, and pool!

Here are a few good addresses we know and have tested (there are others, of course):

• Galet Beach: an (almost) feet‑in‑the‑water restaurant at Anse à Sable, cuisine with local influences in a relaxed setting, perfect for an evening as a couple or with friends.
• La Touna: a very good local address, refined bistronomy right opposite the Pigeon Islets, dishes mixing Caribbean and French flavors with an exceptional panoramic view. A safe bet.
• Sunset B: a classic we love! Local cuisine revisited in a former colonial house, warm atmosphere, perfect for enjoying the sunset. The plus? A few dishes to choose from—no getting lost!
• Le Rocher de Malendure: locally known for its grilled fish and seafood, large terrace overlooking the sea and the divers. Pretty good overall, the view is great.
• Òganik: an excellent spot for wood‑fired pizzas. Fresh ingredients, thin crust, laid‑back vibe. Tested and approved!

That’s it, I’ll stop here with my article on the things to see and do in Bouillante.

See you soon for a new article.

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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