Tour Overview
| Duration | 7 Days / 6 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Guadeloupe — The Butterfly Island, French Caribbean |
| Price From | $2,495 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Dual-Island Discovery |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive Pointe-à-Pitre
Welcome to Guadeloupe, the “Butterfly Island” — so named because Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre form the shape of butterfly wings. Transfer to your hotel. Welcome dinner of accras, boudin créole (Creole blood sausage), and planteur (rum punch). Overnight in Le Gosier, Grande-Terre.
Day 2: Grande-Terre — Cliffs, Beaches & Pointe des Châteaux
Explore Grande-Terre, the “wing” of white-sand beaches and limestone cliffs. Visit Pointe des Châteaux, the dramatic easternmost point where the Atlantic crashes against surreal rock formations. Walk the trail to the giant cross at the summit for panoramic views. Continue to La Porte d’Enfer (Hell’s Gate), a narrow inlet where turquoise water flows between towering cliffs — despite the name, it’s paradise. Afternoon at Plage de la Datcha, a protected bay perfect for swimming. Lunch at a beachfront restaurant: grilled langouste (local spiny lobster). Overnight in Le Gosier.
Day 3: Basse-Terre — Volcano & Waterfalls
Cross to Basse-Terre, the mountainous “wing” dominated by La Soufrière volcano. Drive into the Parc National de la Guadeloupe, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Hike through rainforest to the Chutes du Carbet, a series of three spectacular waterfalls — the highest drops 115m (taller than Niagara). Visit the Maison du Cacao to learn how Guadeloupe’s award-winning chocolate is made from bean to bar, with a tasting of single-origin chocolates. Overnight in Deshaies, Basse-Terre.
Day 4: Cousteau Reserve & Pigeon Islands
Full day at the Réserve Cousteau, the marine protected area around the Pigeon Islands named after Jacques Cousteau who declared it one of the world’s top dive sites. Morning boat excursion: snorkel among vibrant coral gardens teeming with sea turtles, parrotfish, and barracuda. The underwater statue of Cousteau himself stands on the seabed, a pilgrimage site for divers. Picnic on the boat. Afternoon: optional scuba diving for certified divers, or relax on Malendure Beach. Overnight in Deshaies.
Day 5: La Soufrière Volcano Hike
Tackle La Soufrière (1,467m), the “Old Lady” — one of the Caribbean’s most active volcanoes. The 2-hour climb ascends through lush cloud forest, past sulfurous fumaroles and boiling mud pools. At the summit, peer into the steaming crater and (weather permitting) enjoy views across the entire island chain to Dominica and Montserrat. The descent passes thermal springs where you can soak tired muscles. Overnight in Deshaies.
Day 6: Marie-Galante — The Island of 100 Mills
Ferry to Marie-Galante, the pancake-flat island called “La Grande Galette” (The Big Pancake). This is Guadeloupe’s rum heartland, maintaining traditions now lost on the mainland. Visit the Distillerie Bielle, where rhum agricole has been made since 1869 — tour the fields where oxen still pull sugarcane carts, then taste award-winning vintage rums in the aging cellar. Visit the Habitation Murat, a 19th-century sugar plantation now a museum of rum history. Beach time at Plage de la Feuillère. Farewell dinner back in Le Gosier. Overnight in Le Gosier.
Day 7: Depart Guadeloupe
Morning at leisure. Transfer to Pôle Caraïbes Airport.
Inclusions
- 6 nights accommodation with breakfast + 4 dinners
- Guided Grande-Terre tour (Pointe des Châteaux, Porte d’Enfer)
- Cousteau Reserve snorkeling boat excursion
- La Soufrière guided hike
- Chutes du Carbet entry
- Marie-Galante ferry + rum distillery tour
- Maison du Cacao chocolate tour
- All transfers
