Hi,
I know I've been absent for a while because I was travelling (but hey, I need content to fill up this blog, right ? hihi)
Today's post is dedicated to a fantastic island in the Caribbean Sea which is called Guadeloupe.
Let me share with you peeps all my heart favourite places there.
Marie Galante Island, Moustique Beach
So, as I usually do, dealing first with the hotel. We were living in a studio belonging to the Pierre&Vacances "village".
Everything there is great : breakfast is plentiful, pool and beach are beautiful, garden is wide, reception and tourism desks are super helpful and efficient ... BUT the room and the kitchen : dirty and uncomfortable, sorry for the rough honesty. We randomly chose this hotel and it was only half a good idea ! haha
Even though, once you are out of your room, all is perfectly fine.
If you also plan to go to Guadeloupe, definitely chose your hotel around Saint-François and Sainte-Anne areas, where you'll find the most beautiful beaches and the most living districts.
Pierre&Vacances private beach
The decision to go to the Caribbean islands was completely unpredicted, and we luckily found very cheap flight tickets Paris- Pointe-à-Pitre on Expedia with XL Airways from 19th to 26th of May.
Right before leaving, we booked a Renault Clio on SIXT car rental website (through Expedia) which cost around 200€ for one week + insurances.
Let me tell you, having a car in Guadeloupe is INDISPENSABLE if you plan to stroll a bit around so at least you know you can rely on Sixt company.
Very easy and quick, much recommended.
The two people that really helped me and inspired me planning my trip were my friend Rosalie who had been there before and Mélanie, owner of the blog The Bond Bun, who wrote an incredibly exalting article about this place few weeks before I left (don't forget to check it out !)
Let's start with la Cascade aux Écrevisses which was one of my favourite activity there. It is basically a waterfall in the middle of jungle, neighbouring a stunning mountain stream. The water is veeery cold but once inside, you really feel reconnecting with yourself.
Cascade aux Écrevisses
Another nice waterfall there is Les Chutes du Carbet. These are three waterfalls, only reachable if you hike, but don't worry, the first waterfall is accessible after 30 min walk only, and the two other ones are several hours walking (apparently very worthy but I didn't have proper hiking shoes and this could have been dangerous). Also located in the jungle, the way is really pretty but the stream is too strong so you cannot swim, you can only admire the landscape.
Premier Saut point in Les Chutes du Carbet
A tremendously hilarious thing to do there is to get sprayed over with waves in a place called La Douche ("The Shower" - I assume you don't need any further explanations after you've seen the pic down below haha!)
Such a funny experience, it is a very quick stop that won't take you more than 15 minutes on your way to Pointe des Châteaux (a place that you probably won't miss anyway), so why not taking a little break to La Douche on the way ?
La Douche in Saint-François.
Now, I introduce you to Pointe-des-Châteaux. When you park there, you walk through a beautiful beach, not much looking like Caribbean, more "oceanic" style, but very pretty. You get to a snake trail that you climb for more or less 20 minutes until the giant cross standing there. The overview from the top is so worthy.
Right next to the parking, lies an adorable tropical restaurant where you can take your lunch break.
Pointe-des-Châteaux belvedere
Pointe-des-Châteaux tropical restaurant
At a point of the stay, we felt like spending a day resting by the pool and followed my friend Rosalie's advice that had told us to absolutely go to La Toubana Hotel to enjoy the day there. Believe me, this wasn't a loss of time.
The pool, the terrace, the stunning private beach, the delicious restaurant : everything is awesome in this hotel !
Toubana's pool
Toubana's private beach
There is a place that everybody will tell you about : Botanical Garden in Deshaies.
My personal opinion is that this place is quite handsome but a little too pricy (around 16€ p/p) knowing you will see plants and trees that are everywhere, growing wildly, on the island anyway. So, no major discover. Still nice if you have children because the place is very kids-friendly with a bunch of activities for them.
Deshaies Botanical Garden's wildlife
Ok let's be true, what is the reason one goes to the Caribbean if not PARADISIAC beaches ?
Let me show you what were my favourite ones.
Frankly, May is a rainy season. A very strong shower can strike you anytime during the day (no worries, it is hot and very short) but don't let few drops discourage you from going to the beach, beach ("let's go get away, way").
You will be amazed discovering beaches that either own white, either black, either golden sand.
Grande-Terre (Upper side of the island) :
SAINTE ANNE
In the middle of the city, you meet this dreamy beach. I mean... What else ?
I also achieved one of my biggest dream there : drink coco water directly from a coconut !
BOIS JOLAN
This beach is one of the heavenliest ones. And if you come at sunset hour, you'll be delighted to attend drums "concerts" and beach parties.
CARAVELLE
Not so easy to reach but soooooo wonderful, as soon as we landed there, it was love at first sight ! Definitely my favorite one.
You can also go to SAINT-FRANÇOIS BEACH but we unfortunately were there when it was too cloudy, so no pictures to be showed ...
Very pretty beach though !
BASSE-TERRE (Southern part of the island) :
MALENDURE
Volcanic sand beach, and as we arrived right after the rain, the sand was even blacker, thus even more impressive. We stayed there until sunset, the atmosphere is very nice, many activities are available : scuba-diving, stand-up paddling and many restaurants. We had a blast !
Sunset at Malendure with The Pigeons' island right in front
GRANDE ANSE
On this beach, the sand is neither white nor black but GOLDEN. In between mountains and jungle, this beach offers a lagoon AND the sea, so you chose wherever you prefer swimming in.
We stand-up paddled and kayaked there, both in the lagoon and the beach and it was so much fun.
The gentleman that owns the paddles rental hut is very nice and patient (and also a great underwater photographer) will take time to teach you all the basics for you to paddle as a pro !
Wait for sunset, everything gets completely orange and magical, the show is really unforgettable !
EXCURSIONS
Petite-Terre
After I read this article I was soooo into discovering Petite-Terre (Small Land) so we booked a day there with Uhaina Croisières company. Petite-Terre is a mini island not so far from Guadeloupe, uninhabited, and considered as a natural reserve.
The catamaran leaves at 7:15 am from Saint-François marina and the ride to reach Petite-Terre lasts more or less 1:30 (3h inbound and outbound) - BE CAREFUL IF YOU ARE SEASICK (much recommended to take pills before haha).
On the boat, the staff is super nice, friendly, French and English speaking, and they will explain to you everything about Petite-Terre's wildlife.
Once you reached Petite-Terre you're gonna discover a HEAVEN on Earth, translucent water, white sand and a ton of palm trees.
The staff will provide you all the necessary equipment to snorkel. We were lucky enough to see sharks (inoffensive ones), turtles, rays and a lot of iguanas (circa 12000 living on the island).
The lunch is a typical Creole meal (fave food ever) compound by fresh salad and vegetables, rice with a fish and bananas barbecue made on the beach.
Leaving the island around 4pm to head back to Guadeloupe.
Seriously, this day will be remembered !
Petite-Terre island
On Uhaina's catamaran
MARIE-GALANTE
My friend Rosalie had really insisted telling us we just couldn't miss this place. And you know what ? She was definitely right !
Marie-Galante has stolen my heart.
From our hotel's reception desk, we booked a deal including inbound/outbound boat ride, Hertz car rental for the day and fuel (yes, fuel included!) for 60€ p/p.
The deal is sooooo worthy cause otherwise, most of deals are "tour" ones where you visit the island with a group and a guide (for more or less 90€) and this was the last thing we wanted .
Marie-Galante is another island closer to Guadeloupe than Petite-Terre and bigger as well.
The departure is at 7:30am from Saint-François' Port and the arrival is around 8:30am at Saint-Louis in Marie-Galante.
What I advise you to do, is once you grabbed your car (most probably at Hertz Grand Bourg), is to visit Grand Bourg's local market where you'll find tons of wonders : pieces of clothes, spices, jewellery...
And then head to Moustique's Beach which is absolutely stunning. We were so lucky to be the ONLY ones on this several km long beach.
This beach is prettier than the one you imagined in your wildest dreams ! haha
Moustique Beach
For lunch, you need to stop at Au Plaisir des Marins restaurant in Saint-Louis. The dishes are sooooo delicious and copious and the price is very affordable. Not even mentioning you're eating on a dreamy beach, so the frame is just the perfect-est one.
Before heading back to Saint-Louis Port to take the boat, you can just chill on this splendid seashore which is in front of the restaurant. The sand is so thin and white and the water so calm and clear.
A perfect day in Heaven - think it was my favorite one (though I loved them ALL).
Saint-Louis Beach
SUMMARY
HOW TO COME
- Plane : Pointe-à-Pitre's airport
WHERE TO SLEEP
- Le Relais du Moulin near Sainte-Anne
- La Cocoteraie in Saint-François
- Hôtel-résidence Golf Village in Saint-François
- La Toubana in Sainte-Anne
WHAT DREAMY BEACHES
- Bois Jolan
- Saint-François
- Sainte-Anne
- Caravelle
- Malendure
- Grande Anse
WHAT TO VISIT
- Cascade aux Écrevisses
- Les Chutes du Carbet
- La Douche
- Point-des-Châteaux
- La Toubana
- Deshaies Botanical Garden
- Petite-Terre
-Marie-Galante
WHERE TO EAT :
- Le Lucullus in Sainte-Anne (we almost had all our dinners there, cause their fish are so delicious! And you also need to try their goats Colombo dish)
- Le Relais du Moulin - luxury hotel with a delightful restaurant in front of a pool. If you go there on Friday night, you'll have their mechoui which is so tasty!
- Au Plaisir des Marins in Marie-Galante
Beautiful article !