Discovering the Beauty of Guadeloupe – 7 Days Butterfly Island Explorer

Discovering the Beauty of Guadeloupe — 7 Days / 6 Nights

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Pointe-a-Pitre — Welcome to the Butterfly Island

Arrive at Pointe-a-Pitre International Airport on the island of Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe, where your English-speaking guide will greet you with a warm Caribbean welcome. Transfer to your hotel in Le Gosier, a charming seaside town on the southern coast known for its protected lagoon and views over the offshore islet of Ilet du Gosier. After settling in, embark on an afternoon orientation tour of Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe’s largest city and economic capital. Visit the vibrant Marche de la Darse, the spice-scented covered market where vendors sell vanilla pods, cinnamon bark, Bois Bande aphrodisiac bark, colorful madras fabrics, and fresh tropical fruits. Watch fishermen unload their catch at the marina and browse the stalls of the main market hall. The tour continues to the Memorial ACTe, a strikingly modern museum housed in a dramatic silver-lattice building on the waterfront, dedicated to the history and memory of the Caribbean slave trade. This powerful museum, opened in 2015, is recognized as one of the finest cultural institutions in the Caribbean. Enjoy a welcome dinner of Creole specialties such as colombo de poulet (chicken curry with turmeric and cumin), accras de morue (salt cod fritters), and a glass of traditional ti’ punch made with local rhum agricole. Overnight in Le Gosier (Hotel Creole Beach or similar).

Day 2: Basse-Terre — Rainforest, Waterfalls & National Park

After a tropical breakfast of fresh fruits and French pastries, drive west across the Riviere Salee (Salty River), the narrow mangrove-lined channel that separates Grande-Terre from Basse-Terre, the mountainous western wing of Guadeloupe shaped like a butterfly. Enter Parc National de la Guadeloupe, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve protecting 17,300 hectares of pristine tropical rainforest, volcanic peaks, and endemic wildlife. Your guide leads a moderate hike along well-maintained trails to Cascade aux Ecrevisses, one of the park’s most accessible yet stunning waterfalls. The 10-meter cascade tumbles into a clear emerald pool ideal for a refreshing dip — keep an eye out for the small freshwater crayfish that give the waterfall its name. After your swim, continue deeper into the forested interior, where giant tree ferns, mahogany trees draped in epiphytes, and the calls of the Guadeloupe woodpecker create a prehistoric atmosphere. For those seeking a challenge, an optional guided ascent of La Soufriere volcano (1,467 meters) can be arranged — this active volcano, the highest peak in the Lesser Antilles, features steaming fumaroles and sulfur vents at its summit, with panoramic views extending to Dominica and Montserrat on clear days. Alternatively, relax at Plage de Grande Anse, one of Basse-Terre’s finest golden sand beaches, fringed with coconut palms. Return to Le Gosier for dinner at a beachfront Creole restaurant. Overnight in Le Gosier.

Day 3: Les Saintes Archipelago — Fort Napoleon & One of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays

Board the morning ferry from Trois-Rivieres or Pointe-a-Pitre for the 45-minute crossing to Les Saintes, an archipelago of nine islands that Guadeloupeans simply call “Les Saintes” — but foreigners who discover this paradise never forget it. Disembark at Terre-de-Haut, the main island where cars are rare and electric golf carts and scooters are the preferred transport. The village of Bourg des Saintes, with its whitewashed houses, red roofs, and bougainvillea-draped lanes, feels more like a Greek island than the Caribbean. Your guided walk explores the town before hiking up to Fort Napoleon, a 19th-century fortress built on a hilltop at 120 meters elevation. The fort, which never saw battle, now houses a museum of Saintois history and culture, but the real draw is the panoramic view from the ramparts: the Baie des Saintes, officially classified as one of the most beautiful bays in the world by the UNESCO Club des Plus Belles Baies du Monde. The deep blue water dotted with green islets and traditional Saintois sailing boats creates a scene of almost painful beauty. Enjoy lunch at a waterfront restaurant specializing in tourment d’amour, the famous coconut tartlets of Les Saintes. Afternoon at leisure: swim at Pain de Sucre beach, snorkel among colorful reef fish, or rent an electric cart to explore the island’s other coves and viewpoints. Take the late afternoon ferry back to Basse-Terre and return to Le Gosier. Overnight in Le Gosier.

Day 4: Grande-Terre — Plage de la Caravelle & Pointe-a-Pitre Heritage

Today is dedicated to exploring the eastern wing of the butterfly. Drive along Grande-Terre’s southern coast to Plage de la Caravelle, consistently rated as one of Guadeloupe’s finest beaches. This protected crescent of white sand backed by coconut palms faces west, catching the afternoon sun and offering calm, shallow waters perfect for swimming and wading. The adjacent Club Med resort shares the beach but the public section is generous and well-maintained. Rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard to explore the shoreline, or simply claim a patch of sand beneath the palms. Lunch is served at a beachfront restaurant: grilled dorade with Creole sauce, christophine gratin (chayote squash baked with cheese), and sweet potato flan. In the afternoon, return to Pointe-a-Pitre for a deeper dive into the city’s heritage. Visit the 19th-century Cathedrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, a striking iron-framed church that survived the 1897 earthquake. Browse the boutiques along Rue Frebault and Rue de Nozieres for French perfumes, Caribbean spices, and local crafts. If time permits, visit the historic Place de la Victoire, a shaded park where trees planted by Victor Hugues in 1794 still stand. Overnight in Le Gosier.

Day 5: Marie-Galante — Rum, Windmills & the Island of a Hundred Mills

An early ferry from Pointe-a-Pitre takes you to Marie-Galante, a round limestone island nicknamed “La Grande Galette” (The Big Pancake) for its flat profile. Marie-Galante is the birthplace of many of Guadeloupe’s finest rums, and sugar cane fields still dominate the landscape. Your exploration begins in Grand-Bourg, the main town, where the 19th-century Eglise Notre-Dame de l’Immaculee Conception stands proudly on the waterfront. Visit the Murat Estate, a former sugar plantation that includes the ruins of a 19th-century sugar mill, the master’s house, and a museum explaining the island’s sugar and rum history. The distillery of Pere Labat, named after a 17th-century Dominican missionary who revolutionized rum production, offers a comprehensive tour and tasting: sample rhum blanc agricole straight from the still, vieux rhum aged in French oak barrels, and liqueurs flavored with local fruits. Enjoy lunch at a Creole table d’hote, where a Marie-Galantaise family cooking recipes passed down through generations. Afternoon: visit Capesterre, a charming fishing village on the eastern coast, and the Gueule Grand Gouffre, a dramatic natural arch carved into the limestone cliffs where waves crash through the opening with great force. Relax at Plage de la Feuillere, a pristine beach with calm waters and views of Dominica on the horizon. Late afternoon ferry back to Grande-Terre. Overnight in Le Gosier.

Day 6: Cousteau Reserve — Pigeon Islands & Underwater Paradise

Drive to the western coast of Basse-Terre to the small town of Bouillante, gateway to the Cousteau Reserve, officially the Reserve Naturelle du Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin. Named after the legendary oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who declared this among the world’s top diving locations, the reserve protects a remarkable marine ecosystem surrounding the Pigeon Islands (Ilets Pigeon). Board a glass-bottom boat or a dedicated snorkeling excursion to explore the underwater world. The Pigeon Islands sit at the heart of a protected marine zone where coral gardens, sea fans, and barrel sponges provide habitat for an extraordinary diversity of tropical fish: parrotfish in electric blues and greens, French angelfish with their dramatic stripes, trumpetfish drifting vertically among the corals, hawksbill sea turtles feeding on sponges, and, with luck, the shy nurse shark resting under a rock ledge. Visibility often exceeds 20 meters in these calm, warm waters. For certified divers, optional scuba dives explore walls, caves, and the famous “Jardin de Corail” (Coral Garden). Between snorkeling sessions, lunch is served at a waterfront restaurant in Bouillante, where fresh-caught fish and lobster are the specialties. In the afternoon, visit the nearby hot springs of Bouillante, where geothermally heated water emerges in natural rock pools along the coast. The mineral-rich waters are reputed to have therapeutic properties. Return to Le Gosier in the evening for a farewell dinner featuring traditional Antillean music. Overnight in Le Gosier.

Day 7: Le Gosier Beach & Departure

Spend your final morning relaxing at Plage de la Datcha in Le Gosier, a popular local beach with views of Ilet du Gosier and its lighthouse just offshore. The calm lagoon waters are perfect for a last swim in the Caribbean Sea. Wander through a local craft market for last-minute souvenirs: bottles of rhum agricole, bags of vanilla from Basse-Terre, jars of colombo spice mix, or traditional madras fabric items. Depending on your flight time, enjoy a final plate of accras and a planteur cocktail at a seaside cafe. Transfer to Pointe-a-Pitre International Airport for your departure, carrying memories of waterfalls, volcanoes, rum distilleries, French-Creole cuisine, and the warm hospitality of Guadeloupe, the Butterfly Island.

What’s Included

– 6 nights accommodation at 4-star hotel in Le Gosier
– Daily breakfast and dinner
– Professional English-speaking guide for all 7 days
– All transfers and transportation in air-conditioned vehicle
– Ferry tickets to Les Saintes and Marie-Galante
– Fort Napoleon entrance fee
– Memorial ACTe museum entrance
– Snorkeling excursion to Pigeon Islands / Cousteau Reserve
– Pere Labat rum distillery tour and tasting
– National park entrance fees
– Airport transfers to/from Pointe-a-Pitre (PTP)

What’s Excluded

– International flights to Pointe-a-Pitre
– Lunches (~$15-25/day)
– Travel insurance (mandatory)
– Tips and gratuities
– Optional La Soufriere volcano guided ascent
– Personal expenses and souvenirs