Full guide to Îlet du Gosier: exploring, activities, and tips

We’re back with another article on Grande-Terre, and more specifically on Îlet du Gosier, a small strip of fine sand that is popular with both tourists and locals. Mélanie already knew the place well, having been there several times with the family. For me, it was a first. To be fair, we live at the other end of the island and don’t make it over to Grande-Terre very often. The last time we were here was a few months ago, when we explored the Le Moule area, especially the Trou du Souffleur walk.

We made the most of Mélanie’s father’s visit during the school holidays to explore Îlet du Gosier, one of Guadeloupe’s little gems. To be honest, we mainly came to try a seaplane experience in Guadeloupe. Click the link above if you’d like to know what we thought of this lovely outing.

We’ve decided to change things up a little for this kind of discovery article as the year goes on. So, first you’ll find answers to all the questions you might have about Îlet du Gosier, followed by our own visit and what we thought of the place!

I hope you enjoy the read.

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

Many of you are probably wondering what there is to know about Îlet du Gosier. Here’s the essential information:

• It is located in the commune of Le Gosier (hence its name), opposite La Datcha beach, in what is commonly known as the Petit Cul-de-Sac Marin. Don’t miss the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin, another of Guadeloupe’s natural gems, which we explored with Mélanie,
• It is a coral islet located around 500 meters from the coast.
• The islet is around 250 m long and 150 m wide (not exactly a huge island, as you can imagine!).
• 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, although it appears to be the third one on the site (the first dates back to 1852).

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

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

The easiest way to get to Îlet du Gosier is to take the shuttle from the Anse Tabarin pier, near La Datcha beach. You can park at Parc du Calvaire. I recommend arriving early, as it fills up very quickly. The shuttle usually runs daily from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., with an annual closure in September. The fare is €6 per adult and €5 per child (round trip). Allow around 5 to 10 minutes for the crossing.

From La Datcha beach, you can kayak to the islet, an ideal spot for swimming in crystal-clear water. Several companies rent out kayaks. I personally went with Kaya’Kool. It costs between €10 and €25 per person, depending on how long you want to go for (from 1 hour to a full day). If the sea is calm, you can easily make the crossing in 15 to 20 minutes.

Swimming to the islet is another way to make the most of Paradise Lagoon, if you’re feeling ambitious. Although the currents between the beach and the islet are not known to be particularly strong, I would still recommend being a good swimmer to cover the roughly 600 meters between the two. You’ll also need a good Lycra top and, ideally, a small waterproof bag for your car keys and anything else you’ll need once you’re on the island (towel, sunglasses, and so on).

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

Like many people, you can bring your own food and enjoy it in this dreamy setting. At worst, you can always pick up a good planteur at the bar (while you wait in line…).

To be clear, you don’t really come to Îlet du Gosier for a packed schedule of activities. You come to relax on a fine sandy beach under the palm trees.

This is the main reason to come to the island: to enjoy a beautiful white sandy beach and gorgeous turquoise water. You’re in for a treat. One tip: choose the beach on the right as you face the pier, as it has much more shade.

You can bring your snorkeling 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! Set aside half an hour to walk around this little islet, taking in its limestone cliffs and local vegetation.

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

• Flying over Îlet du Gosier by seaplane: This is the experience I was able to share with you here. Believe me, it’s magical, and you won’t forget it anytime soon!
• Jet ski excursion: We’re not big fans, but it is possible to take a jet ski around the island and explore the surrounding area. Trips can last anywhere from 45 minutes to a full day.
• Parasailing: This is something we haven’t tried yet but would love to. I’ve heard the sensations are amazing.

Although it’s a bit farther away, 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 Îlet du Gosier. However, if you decide to spend a morning or a day there, you may well be looking for somewhere to stay in the Le Gosier area. There are plenty of options, and your choice will depend on what you want and your budget. Obviously, we can’t list every possibility, 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 has an excellent location. With an outdoor pool, a large garden, and direct access to the sea, it ticks all the boxes! I’d say it’s a good option for a family vacation, with good value for money.
• Studio à la plage: This 30 m² apartment is close to Canella Beach and right by the sea. It is air-conditioned and fully equipped with everything you need, including a kitchen, a private bathroom, and a balcony overlooking the garden. Honestly, it’s a great place to stay near Îlet du Gosier.

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 mentioned, we arrived early to enjoy the beautiful light and avoid the crowds, which usually helps set the tone for a lovely day! We got there at around 8:30 a.m. The sun was out, and the turquoise sea right in front of us was truly beautiful!

Mélanie and the kids split off from me and took their own little shuttle from the pier at Anse Tabarin beach. Mélanie told me the boat ride was really nice, even though it was obviously very short, just 5 minutes, and the views were beautiful.

I set off on foot along the seafront toward La Datcha beach. We had decided to team up with Manawa and Kayak Kool, a small local company that rents out kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. It’s a different way to enjoy the area. From the jetty where I left Mélanie, I walked along the coast toward Datcha beach. A small path, followed by a few steps, took me to the edge of the turquoise water, which is genuinely stunning here. I climbed the small limestone cliff along the seafront and, a few minutes later, found myself on beautiful Datcha beach.

In the 3 years I’ve lived in Guadeloupe, I had never been here before, and I have to admit I spent a few moments just enjoying the view. It was early in the morning, there weren’t many people around, and the beach was 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 received a very warm welcome, and they were expecting me (it was written down in their little notebook, haha). I explained that we’d come to Le Gosier to try this little kayaking experience, but above all to take a seaplane flight over the Sky Islands in the afternoon.

I was given a quick explanation of how the kayak worked. Apparently, it’s not as complicated as you might think, haha… I was fitted with a life jacket and briefed on the area and what I was allowed to do with the kayak. It turns out that not only can you go to Îlet du Gosier for a few hours or a full day, but you can also paddle along the coast and the limestone cliffs, which must be great fun. I didn’t have time to do it this time, but I’d love to come back, as it sounds like a really cool experience.

Kayak Kool offers rentals by the hour, for 2 hours, for a half day, or for a full day. You can also rent stand-up paddleboards and inflatable kayaks, although getting to Îlet du Gosier is a bit more athletic that way, especially if there’s a bit of current…

We took the kayak straight to the beach, where I quickly got myself set up. I forgot my flip-flops, but luckily I found them later. After more than 4 hours, I was sure someone would have taken them. Turns out I was wrong, haha! I set off alone in the kayak, making the most of the beautiful turquoise water off La Datcha beach. I headed for the islet, passing between the yachts that had anchored there. The crossing went smoothly, in about 15 minutes, I’d say. I stopped for a moment and looked back toward Le Gosier. It’s still a very pretty place, but it’s such a shame to see how urbanized the coastline is, right up to the edge of the cliffs. It really spoils the seafront…

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

When I arrived on the island, I spotted Mélanie and the kids in the distance. They had been there for about 15 minutes already, enjoying the lovely setting. The water is really beautiful, and if you ignore all the tourists already there (haha), the place is honestly gorgeous. Mélanie had settled in the shade on the right-hand side of the jetty, under the coconut palms. We were fine, apart from the people who came and set up barely a meter from our towel (but seriously, who does that?). In any case, if you want shade and a bit more choice, my advice is to arrive early and go for the right-hand side when you reach the pier. There’s also a very nice beach on the left, but there is no shade on that side.

As a family, we quietly enjoyed this little moment that felt so good. Swimming here is a real treat, and even though we didn’t see anything extraordinary underwater, it may be worth snorkeling around the outside of the island, near the coral reef. Through the clear water, you can easily see very dark lines that correspond to the seagrass on the site. I can picture turtles grazing there, but I didn’t see any! While Mélanie rested in the shade, the kids and I set off to explore this little islet. It was their first time too, so everyone was happy.

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

We followed the shaded paths to discover this small island. Well, “walk” is a big word, because given the size of the island, a 5-minute stroll will already take you to the end! We walked along the coastline, which is less interesting for swimming, with very shallow water and lots of seaweed. Watch where you step, as there are many pieces of glass. You could get a nasty cut if you’re barefoot like I was!

We turned back and walked along the side of the restaurant on the island. We then crossed the beautiful white sandy beach and took another small path toward the red-and-white lighthouse you can see from the beach. Along the way, we came across the remains of an old guard hut. It’s obviously in poor condition, but I think it gives the place a certain charm. Finally, we arrived at the majestic lighthouse, which stands 21 meters high. Note that the lower part of the lighthouse houses the technical room. Since Hurricane Hugo in 1989, there has been no lighthouse keeper.

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

In the end, we have to agree with Mélanie. It’s true that Îlet du Gosier is a very touristy place, but overall it remains manageable, and even I would definitely recommend going there. It’s an inexpensive way to spend a dream day in a heavenly setting. You can enjoy the views, swim in the warm, translucent sea, and simply have a good time. If you have the chance to rent a kayak, as I did, I recommend going around the island or even paddling along the coast. It must be great fun.

See you soon for a new article.

In the meantime, feel free 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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