Jardin des Colibris Deshaies: our review of this Guadeloupe ecolodge

In March 2026, during our 10-day road trip around Guadeloupe, we spent three nights at Jardin des Colibris, an ecolodge perched on the hills above Deshaies, in the north-west of Basse-Terre. We were travelling with Lucas and wanted somewhere that lets you really live with nature, rather than just another hotel. Mission accomplished, with a few reservations that we’d rather share with you openly.

Here’s our full review: the gîte, the arrival, the breakfast and, above all, the garden that gives the place all its charm.

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Jardin des Colibris at a glance

An ecolodge on the hills above Deshaies

We chose Deshaies for our first nights because it’s the best base for exploring the north of Basse-Terre. The village is more peaceful than the beach resorts of Grande-Terre, its beaches are among the most beautiful in the archipelago and the rainforest starts almost at the end of the road. In our 10-day Guadeloupe itinerary, we then moved on to Trois-Rivières and Sainte-Anne, and we’d split the trip exactly the same way again.

Jardin des Colibris is in the Villers neighbourhood, on the hills above the village. The estate has around fifteen self-contained units scattered through the greenery: gîtes, wooden Creole cottages, a treehouse and a few villas, one of them with a private pool.

Arrival and parking: good to know before you book

As soon as you arrive, you realise this isn’t a standard hotel: no grand lobby, just a lush tropical garden where the accommodation hides among the trees and flowers. The only slightly less zen moment was the parking. The tracks leading to the bungalows are narrow and steep, and it took us several manoeuvres to park in front of ours.

Nothing that would put us off, and you forget all about it once you’re settled on the terrace. But if you’re renting a large car or aren’t comfortable reversing on a slope, it’s worth knowing. On arrival, a lovely surprise was waiting for us in the gîte: a bottle of punch and a little welcome note.

Our Gîte de charme at Jardin des Colibris

We stayed in a Gîte de charme, the most affordable option on the estate. Its 40 m² include an air-conditioned bedroom with a bed under a mosquito net, a bathroom, a living room with a sofa bed (perfect for Lucas) and a fully equipped kitchen, crockery included, for anyone who wants to cook. We only used it for breakfast: in the evenings, we always ate out. The décor is cheerful, all wood with touches of yellow. The air conditioning makes all the difference for a good night’s sleep in the tropics, and as for mosquitoes, we only came across two or three during our whole stay, nothing bothersome.

It’s not luxury accommodation, and that’s not what stays with you. The real highlight is the terrace, which opens onto the garden. That’s where we spent most of our time on site.

Tree frogs, hummingbirds and birdsong: the garden steals the show

From the very first evening, the terrace turned into a little wildlife observatory. Tiny tree frogs clung to the railings and walls or hid among the leaves. Lucas spent his time looking for them, and so did we, if we’re honest. Lizards completed the picture, popping out between two plant pots before darting off again.

In the morning, there’s no need for an alarm: the birds give the signal well before the sun heats up. And then there are the hummingbirds that gave the place its name. We saw them several times feeding on the flowers in the garden, hovering in mid-air, so fast you barely have time to grab your phone. These moments only last a few seconds, but they’re the ones you talk about when you get home.

Of course, living this close to wildlife has its downside: if small creatures make you uneasy, or if you’re looking for a sealed-off room, this isn’t the right choice. For us, it was exactly what we’d come for.

The breakfast kit: our main drawback

At Jardin des Colibris, there’s no buffet: breakfast is optional and comes as a kit left in your accommodation on arrival, so everyone can eat at their own pace. In principle, it’s quite clever. In practice, we never really understood the logic behind the quantities. A single box of cereal for Lucas, supposed to last several mornings, but a mountain of bread we never got to the end of! The kit is paid for once for the whole stay, without it being clear how many breakfasts it’s meant to cover.

The adult kit costs €15 for the stay and includes coffee, tea, milk, fruit juice, bread, butter and jam. The children’s kit, at €7.50, contains milk, hot chocolate powder, cereal, fruit juice and fruit purée. Our tip: check the kit on the first evening and plan a few extras, especially if you’re travelling with children.

Pool and shared spaces

The estate has a shared pool surrounded by greenery. We heard other guests enjoying it, but we didn’t take the time for a swim ourselves: we preferred to spend our days exploring the roads and beaches of Guadeloupe.

Things to do near Jardin des Colibris

That’s the other big advantage of the place: everything is just a few minutes’ drive away. Grande Anse, the largest beach on Basse-Terre, is right below, and the more secluded Petite Anse is just as close. The beaches of La Perle and Leroux, further north, are perfect for a wilder end to the day.

Close by, Deshaies Botanical Garden deserves half a day, ideally with lunch there. The village of Deshaies and its little bay are lovely for a late-afternoon stroll. For an overview of the island, all our ideas for things to see are gathered in our Guadeloupe section.

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Our verdict on Jardin des Colibris, Deshaies

Our verdict is very positive. The setting is exceptional, wildlife is part of everyday life, it’s perfectly quiet and the location lets you explore the whole north of Basse-Terre without spending your days in the car. The tricky parking and the oddly portioned breakfast are the two things we’d improve, but they count for little compared with the overall experience.

If you’re expecting the services of a standard hotel, reception and buffet included, look elsewhere. If you love nature, places with character and the idea of sipping your coffee while a hummingbird flits past, it’s a wonderful base for discovering Deshaies. We wouldn’t hesitate to go back on our next trip to Guadeloupe.

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