Best Things To Do in Guadeloupe

11km out of St François town, the ‘Point of the Castles’ is one of (if not THE) most visited spots in Guadeloupe. Contrary to the name, there are no castles to be seen, but instead the end of a rugged, cliffy peninsular brimming with natural beauty. It was named a ‘Grand Site de France’ for its biodiversity and archaeological finds. From Pointe des Colibris at the tip, the view over the island’s peninsula and nearby islands of La Desirade, Petit Terre and Marie Galante is spectacular. If you time your visit right (springtime is best), you might spot some whales.

Soak up the magical atmosphere of the city, but most importantly, set aside a few hours to explore Mémorial ACTe. A centre dedicated to the expression and memory of slavery and the slave trade. Telling the history of slavery through documents, photos, artefacts and audio testimonials. The exhibition space shows different exhibits throughout the year, while the panoramic gardens are the perfect place to sit down with an ice cream and take it all in.

Find out about the history and production of rum, see the machinery in action and taste samples. There’s a lovely garden, as well as a shop where you can buy bottles of rum and souvenirs.

It hadn’t yet appeared when Columbus disembarked in 1493, but came to be around fifty years later, making this…. With more than 10 metres of rainfall a year, this is one of the rainiest places on the planet. The peak is hidden by clouds for around 300 days of the year. Strong winds whoosh through from the east. How the vegetation that survives these conditions on top of the volcanic fumes is remarkable. The weather can range from muggy, to drizzly, to complete and utter downpour – but don’t let that deter you. Wear good shoes and bring a raincoat, then head to Bains-Jaune for access to the Pas di Roy trail, where signs direct you to the summit (the hike takes 3-5 hours).

Deep in the rainforest of the National Park and along the Carbet river, the three Carbet Falls are some of the tallest and most beautiful in the Lesser Antilles. The second in size (at 110m) comes first in popularity, with a signposted, paved footpath from the visitor centre providing smooth access to a viewing point (in 20-30 minutes). The other two – one taller, one smaller – require longer and more challenging hikes, lasting 3-5 hours. The tallest clocks up 115m in height, and the third waterfall’s a tiddler in comparison, only 20m high but with a gorgeous pool at the bottom (there’s a shorter route to this one from Capesterre-Belle-Eau to Routhiers). Experienced hikers can hire a guide to experience all three.

This portion of National Park surrounds the Pigeon Islets off the shore of Bouillante. A French Naval officer, filmmaker, author and co-developer of the aqualung, Captain Costeau fell in love with the area when he shot parts of his film Le Monde du Silence here in the fifties. He encouraged its conservation, and it’s become one of the finest dive sites in the Caribbean. Besides corals, barrel sponges and fish, turtles and seahorses, underwater attractions include three shipwrecks and a bronze bust of Costeau in the middle of the coral garden.

The Parc de Mamelles zoo covers four hectares of rainforest, overseeing the conservation of hundreds of species of tree, bird, reptile and mammal - many rare and endangered. Has the EAZA quality label for quality and animal welfare. There’s a spectacular tree-top trail and kid’s go wild for the wooden play park

Full and half day boat trips are available from different companies in Bouillante, giving you the chance of spotting sperm whales, humpbacks, orca and dolphins. Often a marine expert will talk about the mammals, their habits and how to identify them.

Life is sweet on Marie Galante – and we’re not just talking about the sugarcane plantations that coat this cookie-shaped island. The beaches are drool-worthy: sands white and soft like icing sugar, warm, clear waters.

It feels like not a lot has changed here over the past few hundred years – the island still bears the name Columbus gave it (after his flagship) when he arrived in the 15th century; sugar cane is cultivated like it was in the 17th century, with wooden carts pulled by ox trundling to and fro. Seventy-two of the 19th century windmills that earned this place the nickname ‘Island of a hundred windmills’ remain - in one form or another. The rum produced here is still some of the best (if not THE best) on the planet.

Access to Marie-Galante is via a 45-minute boat ride from Pointe-à-Pitre or a 15-minute flight. You could easily spend a few days exploring, but it’s also possible to fit in the main sights in one day.

Two main islands, six tiddly islets and some stonkingly pretty scenery – featuring one of the prettiest bays on the planet, a miniature of Rio’s Sugarloaf Mountain and beaches that’ll blow your flippers off (put them back on, the diving here’s phenomenal).

Of the Les Saintes archipelago’s eight teeny islets, only the bigger two are inhabited: sprawling Terre-de-haut (to the east) and rounder Terre-de-Bas (to the west). Both are linked by a 15-minute ferry.

While other Guadeloupian islands have a mix of cultures, this one in particular has remained very French - from the settlers from Brittany and Normandy whose descendants make up most of the islanders (or Saintois if you know the local lingo).