10 Days in Guadeloupe: A Complete Itinerary to Explore the Archipelago

Guadeloupe is one of those destinations that ticks all the boxes: white sand beaches, lush jungle, waterfalls, a volcano, culinary specialties… and that typical Caribbean laid-back lifestyle we love.

Yet, to be completely honest with you, it wasn’t a destination that was at the very top of my bucket list. And in the end… what a wonderful surprise!

If you’re looking for an itinerary in Guadeloupe, you’re in the right place. We spent 10 days in Guadeloupe exploring the archipelago on a road trip, alternating between Basse-Terre, wild and mountainous, and Grande-Terre, more touristy with its heavenly beaches.

After our trip to Martinique a few years ago, we really wanted to discover another island in the French West Indies… and Guadeloupe completely won us over with the diversity of its landscapes and its wilder side.

👉 This 10-day itinerary in Guadeloupe feels to us like the perfect balance between discovery, nature, and relaxation. Shall we take you along? 🌴

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Guadeloupe Fact Sheet

Guadeloupe, nicknamed the butterfly island, is a French archipelago located between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. In fact, we should say the islands of Guadeloupe, because they are made up of several main islands:

• Basse-Terre: volcanic and lush, ideal for hiking with La Soufrière, waterfalls, and the rainforest
• Grande-Terre: flatter, known for its beaches and lagoons
• Marie-Galante, La Désirade, and Les Saintes.

There are also more secluded islets like Petite-Terre or those in the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin.

Overview of Our 10 Days in Guadeloupe

We left from Thursday to the following Saturday with an overnight flight. Here’s the summary of our itinerary in Guadeloupe!

Day 1: arrival in Pointe-à-Pitre
Day 2: Malendure Beach and Route de la Traversée
Day 3: Pointe-à-Pitre, botanical garden, and beach around Deshaies
Day 4: Les Saintes
Day 5: La Soufrière and Vanibel
Day 6: Carbet Falls, Bologne Distillery, and kassaverie
Day 7: Wild north of Grande-Terre
Day 8: Pointe des Châteaux and the beaches of Saint-François and Sainte-Anne
Day 9: Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin and the beaches of Sainte-Anne
Day 10: Last beaches, Datcha, and return to the airport.

Itinerary in Guadeloupe: Our 10-Day Road Trip Day by Day

We preferred to start with Basse-Terre, to finish with Grande-Terre and its beaches. It’s up to you to decide whether you prefer lounging at the beginning or the end of your vacation, hehe!

Day 1: Arrival in Pointe-à-Pitre and Sunset at Grande Anse

After a long flight, we pick up the car and head straight toward Deshaies. I slightly underestimated how long it would take us to leave PTP, and we almost missed the sunset!

👉 Allow about 45 minutes to 1 hour of driving.

No time to drop off our bags at our accommodation, we head straight to Grande Anse Beach. Huge, lined with coconut trees… clearly one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. The sunset here is magical and sets the tone for the trip.

➺ We spend 3 nights at Jardin des colibris in Deshaies, a superb address, I’ll tell you more about it!

Day 2: Malendure Beach and Route de la Traversée

The advantage of jet lag is that we wake up early. Very early… As a result, it’s 7:30 a.m. and we’re already on Malendure Beach… haha! This is THE spot to see turtles while snorkeling. Unfortunately, we won’t see any that day… Maybe because of the rain over the previous days… In fact, sadly, we won’t see any turtles during the whole stay, a big disappointment for me :-(.

We have lunch on the beach, then we cross the island via Route de la Traversée. Jungle vibes guaranteed. We stop at Cascade aux Écrevisses, very easy to access, then at Maison de la Forêt. Perfect for a first immersion in Guadeloupe’s nature.

We end the day at Grande Anse Beach again, before having dinner in Deshaies!

➺ Night in Deshaies at Jardin des colibris,

Day 3: Pointe-à-Pitre, Deshaies Botanical Garden, and Beaches

It’s still drizzling this morning, so we change our plans and head off to visit Pointe-à-Pitre. It’s not our favorite part of the trip, but we think it’s important to visit the island’s capital and form our own opinion!

In the afternoon, back to nature with Anse Tillet: wilder and less crowded than the other beaches, and a visit to the botanical garden in Deshaies. (I followed the advice of my friend Aurélie, who prefers this one to Valombreuse).

And once again, the end of the day at Grande Anse for another incredible sunset!

➺ Night in Deshaies at Jardin des colibris,

Day 4: Day Trip to Les Saintes

Spoiler: one of our favorite stops of the trip ❤️. We’re up very early again, we leave our pretty accommodation and head to Trois-Rivières! We take the boat to Terre-de-Haut, with the following on the agenda:

• stroll through the village
• beaches
• Fort Napoléon

The bay is ranked among the most beautiful in the world, and we understand why! I wrote a dedicated article about our day in Les Saintes! It’s possible to sleep on the island, and it must be really nice! But for the rest of our itinerary, we head back on one of the last ferries!

➺ Night at An Eol Caraibes in Trois-Rivières.

Day 5: La Soufrière Hike and Vanibel Estate

This morning, it’s pouring rain, but Monsieur has a 7 a.m. appointment to start the ascent of La Soufrière, the highest point in Guadeloupe. Although he did the hike without us (we went to splash around in the pool once the sun came back), I’ll write a dedicated article for you! He chose the guided version, which allows you to go all the way to the top and see the fumaroles.

The trail starts at Bains Jaunes and the climb takes about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on your pace. The higher you climb, the more spectacular the scenery becomes: vegetation thins out, volcanic rocks, fumaroles… and that very distinctive sulfur smell. Once at the top, the atmosphere is almost unreal, between mist and a lunar landscape. Unfortunately, with the rainy weather, visibility was almost nonexistent once he got up there, but he loved the experience!

💡 Note: bring good shoes, it can be slippery.

Once back, we switch atmospheres with a visit to the Vanibel estate (official website here). Located in the hills, this estate lets you discover how coffee, cocoa, and vanilla are grown. It was really fascinating for coffee lovers like us! The visit was led by a truly passionate guide, we really recommend it!

➺ Night at An Eol Caraibes in Trois-Rivières.

Day 6: Carbet Falls and Heading to Grande-Terre

This morning, we head to Chutes du Carbet, in the heart of the rainforest. It’s one of the must-sees in Basse-Terre, with several accessible and impressive waterfalls… Well, that’s what I read everywhere… We only saw the parking lot, because that’s exactly when it started raining unbelievably hard again… Visibility was very poor, we didn’t have a change of clothes…. so we gave up… We have to come back!

We then get back on the road toward Sainte-Anne, with a few planned stops along the way.

First stop at Bologne Distillery to discover the different stages of rum production. I had spotted several distilleries on the island, but this one fit perfectly into our itinerary without a big detour. Bologne had also been recommended to us for its more authentic side and still “in its original state” feel. The visit is free and of course ends with a tasting.

For lunch, we head to Kassaverie Ti-Kabet. A real discovery! There, we learn how kassavs are made, those cassava flatbreads typical of Guadeloupe… before tasting them, of course!

Then we get back on the road, crossing the island to reach Sainte-Anne. A total change of scenery: here, it’s all about beaches and turquoise water.

➺ Night at Pierre & Vacances in Sainte-Anne.

Day 7: The Wild North of Grande-Terre

Today, we were supposed to visit Petite-Terre, the stop I was looking forward to the most… To see turtles, rays, sharks…. But if you were paying attention, you saw that the weather played a few tricks on us… We received a text message: “For weather reasons, your excursion to Petite Terre is canceled”…. After the missed turtles in Malendure, the Carbet Falls…. Bad things come in threes! We really have to come back to Guadeloupe!

For this new day, we set off to explore the wild north of Grande-Terre! Less touristy, rawer… and honestly magnificent.

We start with Porte d’Enfer, an impressive natural formation where the sea rushes between the cliffs. Then we head to Pointe de la Grande Vigie, the northernmost point of the island. The view is incredible, with sheer cliffs and the ocean as far as the eye can see.

We continue with Trou à Man Louis, more secluded. But our stomachs are starving, so we head to Anse Laborde, where we had spotted some restaurants! A huge, huge favorite for this beach! Turquoise water, sand so white it looks pink… Incredible!

We switch beaches for an afternoon snack, heading to Plage du Souffleur!

Then on the road back, we stop one after another at the former slave house (which is threatening to collapse and is therefore inaccessible), then at the Morne-à-l’Eau cemetery. Once again, it’s incredible! We never visit cemeteries for personal reasons, but this one is so unusual that we gave in. These checkerboard patterns everywhere are surprising and truly crazy!

➺ Night at Pierre & Vacances in Sainte-Anne.

Day 8: Pointe des Châteaux and the Beaches of Saint-François

Impossible to visit Guadeloupe without passing by Pointe des Châteaux! It’s one of the island’s most iconic sites. We park among the first arrivals, then walk a few minutes to the first viewpoint. But it’s especially up there that the landscape is spectacular, between rocks, wind, and raging ocean. It climbs a bit, and it can quickly get hot, so I recommend coming early in the morning! We actually wanted to come for sunrise, but we had no energy left because of the day before haha!

We pass by Plage de la Douche, which I found really uninteresting… I was expecting something much more spectacular… Then the Saint-François market (really tiny!), and Plage des Raisins Clairs. But in the end, we settle at Sainte-Anne Beach, which we find more practical with a child. Our article about Pointe des Châteaux here!

➺ Night at Pierre & Vacances in Sainte-Anne.

Day 9: Excursion in the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin

It wasn’t originally planned, but given the cancellation of the Petite Terre excursion, we thought we could do another one… and there weren’t many options left… considering everything is booked weeks in advance. There was a day trip to Marie-Galante (but that seemed way too short to me) or a half-day to discover the mangrove and Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin. The choice was quickly made!

So we set off on a boat excursion in the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin, one of the island’s richest ecosystems. And it was really so great!

On the agenda:

• navigation through the mangrove
• stop on islets
• snorkeling in crystal-clear water and the most beautiful beach of the vacation!

We loved this half-day, very different from the rest of the trip. In any case, remember to book well in advance! And another tip: plan your excursions at the beginning of your stay, so if they are canceled, you’ll have more room to reorganize…

We have lunch in Le Morne, then head off to discover the Sainte-Anne market and tour the beaches! (I’ll write an article about the beaches of Guadeloupe!)

➺ Night at Pierre & Vacances in Sainte-Anne.

Day 10: Last Beach and Return

Last wake-up in Guadeloupe… and inevitably a little tug at the heartstrings. We made the most of it, but there are so many things to do in Guadeloupe!

We hang around the hotel pool, and on the way to the airport, we stop at Gosier Beach. Lucas even takes one last dip hehe!

The Practical Corner to Organize Your Itinerary in Guadeloupe

Organizing a trip to Guadeloupe is relatively simple, but a few tips can really make a difference in fully enjoying your stay. Here’s everything you need to know before you go!

Where to Stay in Guadeloupe?

To optimize your itinerary in Guadeloupe, we recommend changing accommodations during your stay rather than staying in the same place. The island is bigger than it seems and travel times can quickly get longer, especially on Basse-Terre.

Here are the areas we tested and approved:

• Deshaies: perfect for exploring the west coast, its wild beaches, and the surrounding nature. We stayed at Jardin des colibris, I’ll probably write a dedicated article about it!
• Trois-Rivières: ideal for easily reaching Les Saintes, La Soufrière, or Carbet Falls. Here we stayed in a super cute bungalow!
• Sainte-Anne: an excellent base for enjoying the beaches and lagoon. We stayed at Pierre & Vacances because I got an employee discount rate… We don’t necessarily love this kind of accommodation… Plus, our room wasn’t very recent, everything is very expensive… Mixed experience, but we had the pool… And it’s practical with kids!

👉 If we had to do it again, we would keep exactly this organization, but we would probably choose accommodation in the center of Sainte-Anne.

Where to Eat in Guadeloupe?

Guadeloupe is a destination that is as delicious as it is exotic! We recommend alternating between restaurants and small local snack spots. That way, you’ll be sure to taste lots of specialties! We thought we’d eat a lot of fish, but in the end, we mostly had a lot of chicken!

Our favorite addresses:

• Les balançoires during our day in Les Saintes
• D’lo An Bouch in Le Morne
• Le Lucullus in Sainte-Anne
• Paradise Kafé in Deshaies

What to Eat in Guadeloupe?

Obviously, I’ll write a dedicated article about Guadeloupean specialties, but in the meantime, here are the must-tries:

• salt cod accras
• bokit, perfect on the go
• colombo (chicken or fish)
• kassavs (cassava flatbreads)
• coconut sorbet, often sold on the beaches
• tourments d’amour.

The best spots aren’t necessarily the most touristy: don’t hesitate to try the small local stands. And we sometimes ate better at simple snack spots than in some restaurants.

How to Get Around Guadeloupe?

A car is essential to visit Guadeloupe. Public transportation is very limited and not well suited to a tourist itinerary. This way, you can access more secluded beaches, explore nature, chase sunsets…

We rented with BSP Auto as usual! We’ve been using them for several years now, and we’re never disappointed! No hidden fees, smooth communication, and of course they always have the best rates, hehe. Perfect!

When Is the Best Time to Visit Guadeloupe?

Guadeloupe enjoys a pleasant tropical climate year-round, but the best time to travel is generally between December and May, during the dry season.

Normally, you’ll enjoy pleasant temperatures, sunnier weather, and less rain, which is ideal for enjoying the beaches, hikes, and boat excursions.

The wet season, from June to November, is still entirely possible, with warmer temperatures and more frequent showers, often short.

Well, all that is the theory. Personally, we still had several showers, admittedly short, but over several different days. One of our hosts told us that over the last 3 or 4 years, she no longer really sees a difference between seasons.

Whale Watching in Guadeloupe 🐋

Between January and April, you can spot humpback whales as well as dolphins, mainly off the coast of Basse-Terre. Several boat excursions are offered, especially in the AGOA sanctuary area.

Personally, we didn’t do it because we had booked the excursion to Petite-Terre (which is quite a budget), but it must be a pretty incredible experience if you travel to Guadeloupe during this period.

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This 10-day road trip in Guadeloupe was clearly a wonderful trip! A few disappointments, like the cancellation of our excursion to Petite Terre or the rain at Carbet Falls… But above all, it gave us good reasons to go back, haha!

What we loved was the diversity of the landscapes: going from the jungle of Basse-Terre to the heavenly beaches of Grande-Terre in just a few hours is quite unique.

The itinerary we’re sharing here allows you, in our opinion, to see the essentials without rushing, while really enjoying the island’s atmosphere.

👉 If we had to do it again, we would follow exactly the same route… perhaps adding a few days to explore the surrounding islands even more, like Marie-Galante.

If you’re preparing your trip, we hope this itinerary in Guadeloupe will help you organize an unforgettable stay 🌴

FAQ – 10-Day Itinerary in Guadeloupe