Guadeloupe Travel Guide

This tiny member of the French territory, Guadeloupe plays host to thousands of tourists each year searching for sunshine, natural beauty and a uniquely French experience. Not as cosmopolitan as her sister, St. Barth's, Guadeloupe mixes French with Creole, Europe with the Caribbean and the east with the west in an unapologetic fashion.

Although butterflies are known for their perfect symmetry, butterfly-shaped Guadeloupe is comprised of two island wings marked by dramatic contrasts. To the left, Grand-Terre - a flat land of chalky fields and perfect white beaches that resemble the island's chief export: sugar. To the right - Basse-Terre, a mountainous forest region filled with volcanic peaks, waterfalls and hot springs. The city of Pointe-a-Pitre feels like the French Riviera, with skyscrapers standing alongside palm trees. On the other hand, at the Parc National on Basse-Terre the scenery is anything but man-made, including four-story waterfalls, thick, colorful flora and largely dormant volcanoes to be explored.

This French-speaking island is amiable to tourists, although English is rarely heard outside of the hotels. Water sports abound on the isle originally named "Island of Beautiful Waters" by the Carib Indians. Jacques Cousteau named it one of the top ten dive sites in the world, while water-skiing, sailing, windsurfing and parasailing are offered at most major hotels. "Dry sports" are almost as popular, including hiking, bicycling and horseback riding on the beach.

Looking to ditch the thousands of cruise ship day-trippers that descend on the island daily? Head for the offshore islands of Guadeloupe, where you'll explore abandoned sugar mills, spectacular views and empty beaches. The nightlife of Guadeloupe is as spicy as the Creole cuisine, including gambling, discotheques and restaurants that appeal to a range of tastes. Stick with the local dishes, though. Authentic Creole cuisine is one of the many things that Guadeloupe does right.