1 week in Guadeloupe - the recommended itinerary

As I write these few lines, it has been more than three and a half years since we left French Polynesia to come and live in the Guadeloupe archipelago. And I must say we have absolutely no regrets about our choice. After eight years of blogging, we continue to share with you our best tips, addresses, deals, and discoveries. Nevertheless, living in one place year-round is very different from being on holiday there. So it’s hard for us to write as much as we would like about the Guadeloupe islands, but we are launching a series of articles on the territory. Today, in this article, I’m sharing the itinerary we recommend for one week in Guadeloupe. If you are planning your vacation here, don’t hesitate to read our article to find out how much a trip to Guadeloupe costs.

I admit that, personally, I find these so-called “template articles” a bit difficult, because travel remains something very personal—and where personal preferences exist, there are countless possibilities depending on each person’s desires, budget, and choices. So no, there is no perfect itinerary for one week’s vacation in Guadeloupe. I write from my own perspective; others would surely propose completely different ideas or stays according to their own vision. But at the same time, if you’re here reading these lines, it’s because you want an authentic text—the opinion of someone who has lived on site for almost four years now—and in any case, it’s always more interesting than picking up a ready-made itinerary somewhere.

So, here it is: I’m giving you my vision—or rather our vision with Mélanie—of an itinerary that seems very interesting to consider if you want to discover Guadeloupe and have only one week of vacation. Let’s not kid ourselves: even though Guadeloupe is only an eight-hour flight from France, one week on site is far, far too short to visit the whole island. You will only scratch the surface, but it will give you an excellent reason to come back for a longer stay. After this article, we will follow up with more classic itineraries for two weeks and, surely, three weeks in Guadeloupe. In the meantime, don’t hesitate to also read our complete guide on things to do in Guadeloupe during your stay.

Let’s dive straight into the heart of the matter with a day-by-day plan—the ideal itinerary, in our opinion, that we recommend if you want a great overview of these magnificent islands of Guadeloupe.

Depending on the time you arrive at the airport, I would simply recommend finding accommodation outside of Pointe-à-Pitre, perhaps around Les Abymes or Morne-à-l’Eau, with the idea of getting a little ahead on the Grande-Terre tour you can do the next day. Because even if you think Guadeloupe is not that big, think again. It’s no coincidence that some people spend three weeks or a month on holiday here…

In the morning, you can head out on the road towards the town of Petit-Canal where you can make a first stop at the former slave prison. Unfortunately, the site has recently been fenced off and you can no longer enter the old prison as before to see the magnificent trees that have literally invaded the place; it looks like a mini Angkor Wat in Cambodia, for those who know the site.

You can continue your drive for 15 to 20 minutes towards the town of Port-Louis. The main attraction of this stop is to take a dip at Souffleur Beach. If you can, try to avoid weekends and holidays, as it can be really packed, which really spoils the experience. But, for the record, you can continue along the beach road and push further north into a much quieter area where there are carbets for shade. The water is magnificent, the setting splendid, and the little swim will remind you that you are indeed in the Caribbean. If you’re lucky and the weather is good, you will have a magnificent view of the north of Basse-Terre and of the communes of Le Lamentin and Sainte-Rose.

Once you’ve completed this stop, you can continue about a 20-minute drive to the north tip of the island of Guadeloupe, in the commune of Anse-Bertrand, at the place called Pointe de la Grande Vigie. You can easily park there and enjoy the spot thanks to a short walking circuit that lets you admire splendid views of the immense limestone cliffs, battered by waves from the Atlantic Ocean. The place is really nice, honestly, and it’s well worth spending time there: the small trail on the point allows you to stroll through the vegetation, which is rather rare on that side of the island, and gain a beautiful perspective on the landscape of northern Grande-Terre.

Knowing that you are at the island’s extremity, you can simply continue the road to descend toward the commune of Le Moule. You can make several photo stops along the limestone cliffs on the way down, and even a stop at the famous Porte d’Enfer Beach, which is impressive to see. Indeed, it is unfortunately often filled with sargassum in recent years, those famous seaweeds that wash up, depending on the season, on Guadeloupe’s east coast. Nonetheless, the setting remains splendid and you have a small cove nestled between the limestone cliffs. It is also the starting point of several hikes along the limestone shoreline that are really nice, notably the Customs Trail and the Trou du Souffleur. But if you decide to spend only one day in northern Grande-Terre, you will not have time for these hikes which are fairly long and can be tiring, knowing that there is no shade at all in those areas. I invite you to read my article on this hike, which is really nice to do if you have a bit more time.

Depending on how long you spend at each spot and whether you feel like eating at a restaurant, it will almost certainly be lunchtime. Unfortunately, there isn’t much around, and the simplest option will likely be to stop in the commune of Le Moule. You can eat at one of the seafront restaurants, for example at L’Autre Bord Beach, or grab an excellent chicken from Au Bon Poulet and find a little spot to settle.

For the afternoon, and to stay in the area, I recommend heading to Pointe des Châteaux, the northeastern tip of Grande-Terre, in the commune of Saint-François. Again, on a one-week trip to Guadeloupe, you clearly won’t have time to stay there very long, but I invite you to read the article cited above if you want an overview of the hikes possible in the area. Nonetheless, you can spend a good hour parking in the free lot at Pointe des Châteaux and walking to the famous cross you see right in front of you. The views in good weather are truly splendid, both of La Désirade and Marie-Galante.

The day will already be really full with that, and you will struggle to do much more. Depending on your preferences, I would recommend staying around Saint-François or Le Gosier to spend the next day, or at least the morning, on Îlet du Gosier, in the commune of the same name.

If you stayed on Grande-Terre, you can easily reach Îlet du Gosier by shuttle, which departs right in front of La Datcha Beach. I recommend arriving very early to enjoy the beauty of the beach, which is really superb. The water is clear and the sea is generally very calm. From this beach, you board for a five-minute boat ride to the islet just in front of you. This is something we often recommend to all tourists, and even to family who come to see us in Guadeloupe. It’s a very nice and especially economical way to discover a little paradise spot.

On the agenda: beautiful white-sand beaches, a bit of snorkeling (fins, mask, snorkel), walks through the low vegetation of the islet, and quite simply a perfect way to enjoy the surroundings. If you prefer (which I almost always recommend), you can prepare a small picnic the day before, with a cooler, and bring it all to the islet. The on-site restaurant is not really outstanding: it can get crowded and it’s not cheap either.

If you’re feeling more athletic, you can simply paddle or kayak from the beach to the islet. I invite you to read our detailed article above to learn about all the possibilities available to you. But clearly, it’s looking like a great day ahead.

If you don’t want to spend the whole day there, you can take the first shuttle in the morning to avoid the crowds, spend the morning, then return around noon. That will allow you to enjoy the beaches around in the afternoon. You’ll also be able to spot iguanas. On that note, feel free to explore Guadeloupe’s wildlife in our dedicated guide.

In my view, with so little time for your vacation, I wouldn’t particularly recommend spending more time on Grande-Terre. Instead, to have a somewhat logical itinerary and avoid retracing your steps fifteen times, I recommend heading down to the commune of Petit-Bourg the next day and considering a day along the Route de la Traversée. For your information, it’s the road that allows you to cross Basse-Terre from east to west (or the other way around, depending on where you start!). It offers a superb glimpse of Guadeloupe’s tropical interior vegetation.

Again, you’ll have to make choices, and it won’t be possible to see and do everything, although, in my opinion, that shouldn’t be the goal. Along the Route de la Traversée, you can enjoy the magnificent green landscapes.

Like any self-respecting tourist, you can make a quick stop at the Cascade des Écrevisses. To be frank, it is indeed a beautiful roadside waterfall, easily accessible with a few minutes’ walk on a fully maintained path, but the crowds can clearly spoil the place. Unless you arrive very early in the morning, you might not have the spot to yourself.

Take advantage of that to stop next at the Maison de la Forêt (in the center of the route): you can do several small walks in the forest, of your choice, which will already allow you to fully enjoy nature. On the way, we did the Mamelle Pigeon hike, which is really nice and easy, even with children. It can be an idea. Further on, a sign indicates Bras-David: it’s a small riverside spot with carbets where we like to stop. Depending on your departure time, it may be a bit early for lunch, but otherwise it’s perfect for a picnic.

Depending on the time spent hiking, you will soon arrive on the windward coast, between the towns of Bouillante and Pointe-Noire. If you did not feel like stopping at the Cascade des Écrevisses, you can also choose an alternative small walk towards the Saut d’Acomat. Our article details all this: it is here a short walk that, after a somewhat slippery descent, leads to a beautiful waterfall where you can swim at the foot, or even a little lower. It’s also a good spot for a picnic, but be careful on the descent, which can be slippery.

You can now consider discovering the Maison du Cacao, a very nice spot that explains everything you need to know about this crop. In addition, there is a small, pleasant garden to explore, and, frankly, I find it one of the must-see attractions. It now seems that you must increasingly book in advance; so be sure to call before you go to ensure you won’t be turned away. In any case, if you stopped at the Saut d’Acomat, you are only five minutes from the Maison du Cacao.

You can end the day with a sunset from the Bouillante town center. A quick swim in the ultra-warm zone at the exit of the geothermal plant can also be nice, although, between us, it can sometimes be very crowded and the experience is not always very authentic…

For this fourth day, I invite you to spend a good time in the northern region of the island of Basse-Terre. First, head to the village of Deshaies. It’s a charming little spot that, admittedly, has become more and more touristy, but it’s worth wandering around the village for a moment.

Since you’re on holiday in Guadeloupe, it seems obvious to visit a botanical garden, and the Deshaies Botanical Garden is one of the most beautiful gardens on the island. I invite you to read our detailed article on the subject to give you an overview of what to expect: clearly, you will be amazed and discover numerous plant species. The garden is very well laid out: it forms a nice loop through varied vegetation, which is very interesting. The Valombreuse Garden, located in Petit-Bourg, can also be an interesting alternative, but there isn’t much to do around it. Exploring the garden will easily take two to three hours, and you can eat on site without any problem; note the great ice creams to enjoy at the end.

If you’re in the area, it’s really nice to take the time to discover some beautiful beaches in northern Basse-Terre. I’m thinking in particular of Plage de la Perle or Grande Anse Beach in Deshaies. Both are truly magnificent and, in good weather, offer a view of the island of Montserrat opposite. The area is also perfect for a sunset, so make the most of it. However, be careful of the current, which can be very strong at certain times of the year.

In the commune of Sainte-Anne, there are also very nice things to do, but I’ll mention them below as alternatives. In one week, clearly, it’s not possible to do everything; if you have more time during your stay in Guadeloupe, a day trip to discover the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin is a must. But if you only have one week, you can also swim at Plage des Amandiers, which is a well-equipped and very pleasant beach.

For this fifth day, I suggest heading back down the leeward coast to the commune of Bouillante and the famous Cousteau Reserve. In my opinion, even if you have very little time for your vacation in Guadeloupe, this is a day not to be missed. I have already written a very comprehensive article explaining everything you need to know about the Cousteau Reserve and how to discover it; I invite you to consult it for full details.

To tell you briefly, it is a reserve located off Malendure Beach. It is mainly composed of the Pigeon Islets. There are, of course, several ways to explore the reserve, but the one I ultimately recommend the most, and the most economical, remains exploring it by kayak from Malendure Beach. It won’t cost much and it’s a really pleasant, calm, and budget-friendly way to reach the Pigeon Islets and appreciate the beauty of the landscape. You can also visit the Cousteau Reserve by glass-bottom boat for those who don’t want to kayak or aren’t comfortable in the water. It’s a pleasant way to spend a few hours in the area and enjoy it. Finally, you can, of course, go diving in the Cousteau Reserve, as we did with the Heures Saines dive club. There is also a dedicated article about that diving experience that you can read to get an idea of the site.

Regarding kayaking, which is what I recommend most, you can rent directly on the beach and paddle about 30 minutes to the islets. There you will discover a beautiful white-sand beach, turquoise water, and plenty of fish. Depending on your tropical snorkeling experience, you will be blown away by the setting—it’s really fantastic. Personally, I would recommend leaving as early as possible from Malendure Beach to avoid the crowds, as it can get very busy in high season. Once on the islets, you can explore on foot and, of course, bring a picnic to spend the day there.

Malendure Beach, although completely crowded in high season, is also the place to see turtles from the shore. You just need to put on your fins, mask, and snorkel and swim around, particularly above the seagrass beds on the seabed. I think it can be a very beautiful experience; you have everything you need to spend the day there without any problem.

For the remainder of your stay in Guadeloupe, you will clearly have to choose. I have deliberately labeled this “Discovering South Basse-Terre,” and I almost want to rename the title “Hiking in Basse-Terre.” Because if there is one thing to do in this region of Guadeloupe, it is to discover the natural wonders and the lush forest of South Basse-Terre.

Unfortunately, you will not be able to do everything, far from it. Here, I would say it depends on what you want to prioritize, but my heart would recommend in any case attempting the ascent of the Soufrière volcano, which remains legendary and constitutes a superb hike for breathtaking views. As usual, there is a complete article on the blog that will give you all the information to hike the Soufrière.

But to tell you briefly, I consider it a hike accessible to most people, even children. The hike itself does not present any particular difficulty; the challenge is more about the weather you will encounter. Indeed, the Soufrière volcano is often shrouded in clouds, and you will need a bit of luck for a clear view at the summit. In any case, I advise you to start as early as possible, ideally at dawn if you can, to avoid, firstly, the crowds and, secondly, the heat, which can be stifling in high season—although you are at altitude, so it may be more temperate. On the return, enjoy a swim in the famous Bains Jaunes, a natural hot water pool at the start of the Soufrière trail. It’s always nice to relax and soak your feet after a hike.

If you do not feel up to climbing the Soufrière volcano, there are of course many other hikes in the area. I could also suggest visiting Galion Waterfall, which departs from the same trailhead as the Soufrière hike. It allows you to see a magnificent waterfall with usually few people. The Paradis Waterfall in Vieux-Habitants is also a very beautiful spot. The same goes for the Carbet Falls, although you need to go through Petit-Bourg to reach them.

In any case, plan for a day in South Basse-Terre and consider a great hike. If you’re not avid hikers and want a quick immersion in Guadeloupe’s rainforest, you can also visit the Bassin Bleu from the commune of Gourbeyre. It’s a short 30-minute walk on a flat, well-maintained trail that leads to a very nice waterfall and other pools where you can swim. It’s usually a spot we take family and friends to when they come on holiday in Guadeloupe.

Depending on the hike you choose, you may have time to visit a distillery: the Bologne Distillery in Basse-Terre. Unfortunately, in only seven days of vacation in Guadeloupe, you probably won’t have time for more than one hike and to discover more of South Basse-Terre, which is full of splendid spots. The proof: it’s where we decided to live.

This unfortunately marks the end of your stay with this last day. For this, I suggest spending a day on the Les Saintes archipelago. A must, in my opinion, if you come to visit Guadeloupe, even on a short trip. If you are in the southeast of the island of Basse-Terre, off the commune of Trois-Rivières, take a day to discover Terre-de-Haut island. As you will see in my dedicated article, even though I would tend to say you need more days to visit the island, with only seven days on the program, you will have no choice but to make this round-trip in one day.

On the agenda: a one-hour boat ride from Trois-Rivières, and upon arrival, discovering a small, peaceful island, admittedly increasingly touristy, but still at acceptable proportions. For your day there, you have several options depending on your desires and budget. You can take a half-day boat trip, as we did with Mawaly Excursion, or opt for Les Saintes Activities, which offers paddleboarding, kayaking, Seabob, etc. You can also decide to organize the day yourself: visit Fort Napoléon, have a good lunch, and relax on the beach in the afternoon. Terre-de-Haut is truly a place where one feels good and it clearly contrasts with Guadeloupe; it’s a must. Terre-de-Bas island is also interesting, but less essential with only one day.

That’s it—I’ll stop here for a seven-day itinerary idea in Guadeloupe. It’s already a great opportunity to come here. And if you follow everything written on this page during your week in Guadeloupe, you’ll already be very pleased. Even if I admit it will leave you with a slightly superficial visit, because Guadeloupe truly deserves much more time than one week. We don’t always have the time or the necessary leave to do more, so I think this article can still be really interesting for those who have very limited time.

Of course, it will depend on each of you and your desires, and there would of course be other opportunities to seize even on a short stay. But I will now write a complete guide for a stay of about ten days in Guadeloupe, if you have a bit more time.

As usual, here are the essentials for spending one week in Guadeloupe: general but always useful information.

Of course, the first question to ask is how to get to Guadeloupe, and there’s no problem on that front, since we have written a complete guide on everything you need to know. The majority of people reading this article will obviously be French speakers, so largely from France, but also from Belgium or Switzerland, as well as our Québécois friends, whom we increasingly meet when hiking here, for example. It must be said that the best season to visit Guadeloupe perfectly matches the harshness of the Québécois winter; so I understand that they come for some time to enjoy the tropical warmth of the place.

I won’t repeat everything I wrote in my article on the subject, but know that, to summarize, the era when one could find plane tickets for €300/€400 from Paris to Guadeloupe is now over. That was really a great time and now it has become difficult to find affordable fares, especially if you are not flexible with dates. During the summer holidays, for example, you sometimes struggle to find tickets for less than €800 or €900. In short, it’s not easy, and I strongly recommend varying your dates as much as possible and adapting to fare fluctuations. You can use a flight comparison tool like Skyscanner, which will help you find the best prices on the right dates.

The same advice goes for our Québécois friends, who still have several direct flights per week between Montreal and Pointe-à-Pitre. I know because we’ve been going to Canada for several years in July or August. And after only five hours of flight, you’re in this little paradise. Expect fares around €500.

As is often the case when travelling to islands, your only option for getting around Guadeloupe is to rent a car. The territory is really too large, and although public transport exists, it will not make your life any easier. If you really want to save money, you can hitchhike and get around by bus, but if you want more independence and peace of mind when travelling between destinations, I recommend renting a car when you arrive at the airport.

Unfortunately, we haven’t yet managed to negotiate a partnership with a car rental agency in Guadeloupe, but we hope to do so soon. In the meantime, I would highly recommend checking out the car rental comparison site Discover Cars. We found some great deals for our recent trip to Montreal and even used the site to rent a car for a month in Costa Rica. We’ve never had any problems, and honestly, the prices are sometimes very attractive. As with airline tickets, don’t hesitate to vary your dates. It’s also worth thinking backwards and looking at car rentals first, then adapting your trip if you have the flexibility to do so.

To be honest, I almost deleted this section of the article because it’s hard to recommend places to stay based on your itinerary choices. As is often the case, accommodation recommendations depend heavily on personal preferences and, above all, budget. However, I will soon be writing an article summarising our accommodation recommendations in Guadeloupe by area, which will serve as a good starting point.

In the meantime, though, I would recommend consulting the map below. You can search for accommodation and filter by your preferred criteria.

That said, for accommodations for a week in Guadeloupe, I would recommend splitting your time half-and-half between Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre. Here are two accommodations in each area that I recommend for your stay:

On Grande-Terre

• Les Z’Alizés : a lodge with well-decorated, fully equipped bungalows (kitchen and terrace) in a peaceful garden with a large pool. Enjoy without moderation!
• Île Tropical Lodges : offers air-conditioned independent cottages in the heart of a lush garden with a beautiful pool, barbecue, and optional breakfast.

On Basse-Terre

• Jardin des îlets : here you are truly in a garden with several lovely houses featuring a terrace, kitchen, and above all a superb panorama of the sea! We were lucky enough to stay there; we tell you all about our experience at Jardin des îlets in a full article.
• TropicAngel : this lodge offers several bungalows and rooms set in nature with sea views, a pool, tropical garden, and spa. We tried it recently and I can tell you it was a real favorite for us. To learn more about our stay there, I invite you to read our write-up on TropicAngel in Pointe-Noire.

That’s it for this one-week itinerary article for Guadeloupe.

If you’re in the planning stage, our article on when to go to Guadeloupe will be very useful to you!

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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