Visit Guadeloupe Today
Tuesday, January 27th, 2009
Guadeloupe is an overseas department of France. A little bit of French will get you a long way here, as everyone speaks it but few people have a working knowledge of English. Forget the stereotype of snobbish French waiters pretending that they don’t understand you. Most locals speak in a Creole and will make attempts to understand what you are saying.
The main roads in Guadeloupe are well maintained and it is easy to get around by car or taxi. However, many of the islands’ natural sights are off the beaten track and require travel on less-well-kept secondary roads.
It is these natural wonders that make Guadeloupe worth visiting. The department of territory is actually made up of 9 islands. Basse Terre and Petite Terre are the best places for eco-tourist and adventure activities. Visiting some of the waterfalls on Basse Terre is a popular sightseeing activity. You can choose your experience. Some of the waterfalls only require a casual 10 to 15 minute walk, while others are far more remote and call for several hours of hiking over uneven terrain. However, the harder a falls is to reach, the more pristine and “untouched” it will appear.
The beaches on Grande Terre are somewhat touristy, but the nightlife and restaurant scene is thriving, especially around the capital city of Pointe-a-Pitre. Saint Barthélemy, another island, is popular with the upscale crowd. However, on any of the inhabited islands, if you venture off the beaten path, you will be able to experience the slow-paced lifestyle of Guadeloupe’s local population.