Full Guide to Îlet du Gosier: Exploration, Activities and Tips

We’re off again for another article on the island of Grande-Terre, and more specifically on the islet of Gosier, a small stretch of fine sandy beach very popular with tourists and locals alike. Mélanie was already familiar with the place, having taken the family there several times. For me it was the first time. It has to be said that we live at the other end of the island and don’t get to Grande-Terre very often. We were last here a few months ago to explore the Le Moule area and in particular the Trou du Souffleur walk.

We took advantage of Mélanie’s father’s visit during the school holidays to explore the island of Gosier, one of Guadeloupe’s pearls. It has to be said that we came especially to enjoy a hydroplane experience in Guadeloupe. Click on the link above if you’d like to know what we thought of this wonderful outing.

We’ve decided to change things up a little for this type of discovery article as the year progresses. So first you’ll find all the questions you might have about the îlet du Gosier, followed by our discovery and our opinion of the place!

I hope you enjoy reading.

Here’s all the practical information you need to know about the îlet du Gosier. For our personal feedback and opinion, please see further down the article.

Many of you are probably wondering what you should know about the islet of Gosier. Here’s what you need to know:

• It is located in the commune of Le Gosier (hence its name), opposite La Datcha beach, in what is commonly known as the small marine cul de sac. Don’t miss the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin, another of Guadeloupe’s natural gems, which we explored with Mélanie,
• It’s a coral islet located around 500 metres from the coast.
• The islet is around 250 m long and 150 m wide (not a very big island, mind you!).
• It is mainly made up of white sandy beaches to the north and limestone cliffs to the south.
• Since 2003, the islet has been protected by the Conservatoire du Littoral and the Office National des Forêts.
• You’ll find a lighthouse dating from 1928, but this appears to be the third (the first dates from 1852).

Here’s a map showing the location of the ilet in question.

Here you will find all the practical information you need to get to Îlet du Gosier. There are several options. First of all, you’ll need to get to La Datcha beach in the town of Le Gosier. If you’re on the right track, it should take you 15 minutes from Pointe-à-Pitre (about 8 km). Here’s the itinerary.

The easiest way to get to the îlet du Gosier is to take the shuttle bus from the pier at Plage de la Datcha. You can park in the Calvaire park. I advise you to arrive early as it gets very full very quickly. The shuttle runs every day from 9am to 5pm. The price has risen slightly but remains €6 per adult and €5 per child (return). Allow 15 minutes for the journey.

From the beach of La Datcha, you can kayak to the islet, an ideal place to swim in crystal clear waters. Several companies offer kayak hire. I personally went with Kaya’Kool. It costs between €10 and €25 per person, depending on how long you want to spend (from 1 hour to a whole day). If the sea is calm, you can easily make the crossing in 15/20 minutes.

Swimming to the islet is another way to take full advantage of Paradise Lagoon for the more ambitious. Although the currents between the beach and the islet are not reputed to be violent, I would still recommend that you are a good swimmer to cover the 600 metres or so that separate the two. You’ll also need a good pair of Lycra and, ideally, a small waterproof bag to hold your car keys and other items for your time on the island (towel, sunglasses, etc.).

You can eat at the only small snack bar on the island, Ti Robinson, where you can enjoy Creole dishes accompanied by a good local rum. Reviews are mixed and Mélanie, who has been there once, doesn’t recommend it. The queues are always long, the prices are high and the quality is average.

Like many people, you can bring your own food and have a great time in this dream setting. If the worst comes to the worst, you can always get a good “planteur” at the bar (while you queue…).

To be clear, you don’t really come to Îlet du Gosier to do lots of activities, you come to relax on a fine sandy beach under palm trees.

This is the main reason for coming to the island: to enjoy a beautiful white sandy beach and gorgeous turquoise waters. You’re in for a treat. A word of advice: choose the beach on the right, facing the pier, which is much shadier.

You can take your snorkelling gear and explore the seabed around the island. We didn’t see much, but we didn’t go everywhere, so it’s definitely worth a look.

I admit, ‘exploring’ is a big word for such a small island! Take half an hour to explore this small island on foot, admiring its limestone cliffs and local vegetation.

If you’d like to discover the islet in a different way, here are a few activities to try:

• Flying over Gosier Island in a hydroplane: This is the experience I have been able to share with you here. Believe me, it’s magical and you’ll never forget it!
• Jet ski excursion: We’re not big fans, but it’s possible to take a jet-ski around the island and explore the surrounding area. Trips can last from 45 minutes to a full day.
• Parasailing: This is something we’re not familiar with but would love to try. I’ve heard the sensations are amazing.

Although it’s a bit further afield, if you’re looking for another great water activity in Guadeloupe, we went stand-up paddling in the mangroves at Morne-à-L’Eau!

Let’s be clear: it is impossible to stay on the îlet du Gosier. However, if you decide to spend a morning or a day there, it’s quite possible that you’ll be looking for somewhere to stay in the Gosier area. The choice will be immense and will depend on your wishes and your budget. Obviously, we can’t list all the possibilities, but here are a few ideas not far from the island.

• Villa Labrousse: This is a great place to stay with an outdoor pool, free Wi-Fi and parking in a relaxing setting with easy access to local attractions.
• Zenitude Hôtel Résidences Le Salako: This beachfront hotel boasts an exceptional location. With an outdoor pool, a large garden and direct access to the sea, it ticks all the boxes! I would say it’s a good option for a family holiday, offering good value for money.
• Studio à la plage: This 30 m² apartment is located close to Canella Beach and by the sea. It is air-conditioned and fully equipped with everything you need, including a kitchen, private bathroom and balcony overlooking the garden. It’s honestly a great place to stay near Gosier Island.

Alternatively, you can view all accommodation near Îlet du Gosier by following this link.

Now it’s time to tell you about our little visit to Îlet du Gosier during a long morning. As I said, we arrived early in the morning to take advantage of the beautiful light and to avoid the crowds, which generally guarantees a beautiful day! We arrived at around 8.30am. The sun is out and the turquoise sea right in front of us is really beautiful!

We split up with Mélanie and the kids, who took their own little shuttle bus from the pier at Anse Tabarin beach. Mélanie told me that the boat was really nice, even though it’s obviously very short, just 5 minutes, but the views are magnificent.

I set off on foot along the seafront towards La Datcha beach. We’ve decided to team up with Manawa and Kayak Kool, a small local company that hires out kayaks and stand-up paddles. It’s a different way to enjoy the area. From the jetty where I left Melanie, I walked along the coast towards Datcha beach. A small path, followed by a few steps, takes me to the edge of the turquoise water, which is truly magnificent here. I climb the small limestone cliff on the seafront and a few minutes later I find myself on the beautiful Datcha beach.

I’ve never been here before in the 3 years I’ve lived in Guadeloupe, and I have to admit that I spent a few moments enjoying the view. It’s early in the morning, there aren’t many people around and the beach is really beautiful. Granted, there’s a lot of tourist development behind it, but that’s often the case in places like this. When I arrived at the beach I went straight to Kayak Kool. I was greeted very warmly there and they were expecting me (it was written down in their little notebook, haha). I explained to them that we’d come to Gosier to try out this little kayak experience, but more importantly to go on a seaplane flight over the Sky Islands in the afternoon.

I was given a brief explanation of how the kayak works, apparently it’s not as complicated as you might think, haha… I’m fitted with a life jacket and given a briefing on the area and what I’m allowed to do with the kayak. It turns out that not only can you go to Gosier Island for a few hours or a whole day, but you can also go along the coast and the limestone cliffs, which must be great fun. I won’t have time to go this time, but I’d love to come back as it must be a pretty cool experience.

Kayak Kool offers hire by the hour, 2 hours, half day or full day. You can also hire stand-up paddle kayaks and inflatable kayaks, although it’s a bit more sporting to go to Îlet Gosier, especially if there’s a bit of a current…

We take the kayak straight to the beach, where I quickly get kitted out. I forget my slippers, but luckily I find them later. It’s a good thing I left them after more than 4 hours, I was sure someone would have stolen them. So I was wrong, haha! I set off alone in the kayak, taking advantage of the beautiful turquoise waters off the beach at La Datcha. I set course for the island and Gosier, passing in the middle of the yachts that had decided to anchor. The crossing went smoothly, I’d say in about 15 minutes. I stopped for a moment and turned back towards Gosier. It’s still a very nice place, but it’s a real shame to see the level of urbanisation from the coast to the edge of the cliffs. It really spoils the seaside…

Anyway, it wasn’t particularly difficult, even though there was no current. In other conditions, I imagine it could be a bit more complicated, but the distance is still very short…

When I arrived on the island, I saw Mélanie and the kids in the distance, who had been there for a quarter of an hour, enjoying the beautiful surroundings. The water is really beautiful and if you ignore all the tourists already there (haha), the place is really sublime. Mélanie sits in the shade on the right side of the jetty, under the coconut trees. We’re fine, except for the people who’ve come to stick themselves a metre away from our towel (but who does that?). In any case, if you want some shade and a bit of choice, my advice is to get there early, and prefer the right-hand side when you arrive at the pier. There’s also a very nice beach on the left, but there’s no shade on the beach.

As a family, we quietly enjoy this little moment that feels so good. Swimming here is a real treat, and even though we haven’t seen anything extraordinary underwater, it might be worth snorkelling around the outside of the island, at the level of the coral reef. You can easily see very dark lines through the transparent water, corresponding to the algae on the site. I can imagine turtles grazing on the seaweed, but I didn’t see any! While Mélanie rested in the shade, the children and I set off to explore this little islet. It’s the first time for them too, so everyone’s happy.

At the end of our beach, we turn to the right, among the beautiful vegetation and the mancenilla trees marked with a blue cross. For your information, the mancenilla tree is considered one of the most dangerous trees in the world, being particularly poisonous and often found near beaches in the West Indies. Contact with this tree should be avoided at all costs as all of its parts, including sap and fruit, can cause severe skin burns and toxic reactions. So be careful!

We walk along shady paths to discover this small island. Well, walk is a big word, because given the length of the island, a 5 minute walk will take you to the end! We walk along the coastline, which is less interesting for swimming; there is little water and lots of seaweed. Be careful where you step as there are a lot of pieces of glass. You could get a nasty cut if you’re barefoot like me!

We turned back and walked along the side of the on-site restaurant. We then crossed the beautiful white sandy beach and again took a small path towards the red and white lighthouse that can be seen from the beach. On the way we came across the remains of an old guard hut. It’s obviously in a poor state of repair, but I think it adds a certain charm to the place. Finally, we arrived at the majestic lighthouse, 21 metres high. Note that the lower part of the lighthouse houses the technical room. Since Hurricane Hugo in 1989 there is no lighthouse keeper.

Once there, we were able to climb the few steps that give us a great view of the coastal cliffs on this side of the island, but also, on a clear day like today, a superb view of the mountains of the island of Basse-Terre. Today you can even see Dominica without too much trouble, which is not always the case! We can even see the island of Marie-Galante, Les Saintes and part of La Soufrière!

In the end, we have to agree with Mélanie. It’s true that the island of Gosier is a very touristy place, but overall it’s still acceptable and even I would definitely recommend going there. It’s a cheap way to spend a dream day in a heavenly setting. You’ll be able to take in the sights, swim in the warm, translucent sea and just enjoy yourself. If you have the opportunity to hire a kayak, as I did, I recommend a tour of the island or even a walk along the coast, it must be great fun.

See you soon for a new article.

In the meantime, don’t hesitate to plan your visit to Pointe des Châteaux with our guide!

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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