Travel Guide Marie-Galante
Coconut palms and white sand, turquoise sea and blue lagoons are the Caribbean! Small island depending on Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante has hardly more than 10 000 inhabitants and culminates at Morne Constant (204 m). Second island of Guadeloupe by its surface, it evokes by its round shape and its almost non-existent relief a cake. Marie-Galante is home to dream beaches, protected by their coral reef, but also sugar cane plantations including the remarkable one of Château Murat, on the south coast, dating from the 19th century and equipped with a mill, one of the many on the island, a museum and renovated old buildings. This is the land of sugar cane and... rum. If you are an amateur, you can follow the route of the three distilleries of the island to benefit from tasting. In addition, there are small typical fishing ports and hikes on the mornes that offer dreamy panoramic views. Discover Grand-Bourg, the main town with its charming market, its baroque church, its eco-museum of sugar cane and its gentle way of life. Go for a walk in Roussel-Trianon. Discover also Saint-Louis, the oldest commune where the first French settlers settled. Enjoy the splendor of the sunsets. Everything is gathered for an enchanting stay.
What to visit Marie-Galante?
Suggested addresses Marie-Galante
When to go to Marie-Galante?
For a long time Marie-Galante was only a day trip during a stay in Guadeloupe. This is no longer the case, tourism is still developing. A stay in Marie-Galante can be considered all year round. A generous sun and a perfect bathing water are always there. If you come during Pentecost, your stay will be enhanced by the music festival "Terre de Blues". You should know that it is difficult to find accommodation during the holiday season, or even to rent a car, especially during the Terre de Blues festival at Pentecost. The period from December to April is the high season. It is the most sought-after, and therefore the most expensive, so it is best to book well in advance. Between April and November, the frequentation is less intense and the rates are more advantageous. This is the low season.
Weather at the moment
Marie-Galante has a tropical climate, hot and humid throughout the year. The average monthly temperatures range from 21°C in January to 32°C in August. Two seasons are distinguished, a cooler and drier one from December to May and a hotter and rainier one from June to November. The wind contributes to soften the feeling of heat. The water temperatures are very pleasant all year round. Cyclonic phenomena can occur from August to October.
The Guadeloupe archipelago is located in the French West Indies and the Euro is used there. After a flight from Paris to Pointe-à-Pitre, you can take a ferry from Point-à-Pitre to Marie-Galante for 20 € to 40 €. If you go during the rainy season, accommodation rates are more affordable. The cheapest is to rent an apartment (from 300 € per week) with a kitchen to prepare your meals. Luxury villas and 4 star hotels (more than 3 000 € per week) are also available.
You stay in France even after a few hours by plane: an identity card or a valid passport is enough to enter Guadeloupe for French and European Union citizens. However, if you wish to travel to the surrounding islands, a passport becomes necessary.
There is no mandatory vaccination to go to Maire-Galante. It is nevertheless recommended to be vaccinated against yellow fever and to be up to date concerning diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, hepatitis A and B, whooping cough (reappearance of the disease in adults, even in France). When you are there, don't forget that you must protect yourself from the sun. You must also protect yourself against mosquitoes. Concerning food, do not eat anything that has not been boiled, cooked or peeled. Finally, it is better to avoid contact with animals, including pets, that you may come across. And keep yourself informed before your departure about the evolution of Covid in the area and the rules in force.
Practical information
- When to travel?
- Weather forecast
- Budget
- Formalities
- Health
- How to travel by yourself?
- How to get organized?
- Getting around
Media
How to go to Marie-Galante? Our advice & tips
Get in touch with a Caribbean specialist who will inevitably have in his catalog proposals for a stay in Guadeloupe with an excursion to Marie-Galante. Ask him to organize a tour and a stay dedicated to Marie-Galante via Pointe-à-Pitre. He will be in touch with tourism professionals on site who will welcome you to simplify your stay and accompany you to your hotel. The seaside pleasures and the tourist visits will be on your program.
Discover our selection of travel agencies for this destinationNo problem to go alone to Marie-Galante. Take a flight to Pointe-à-Pitre, then a ferry that connects to Grand-Bourg in barely an hour. On the spot you can rent a car and start your discovery of the island. Book your first night in advance, then as your tour progresses. You can also stay in the same hotel or, better yet, rent a cottage, or even a house with a pool if your budget allows it, and explore from your point of arrival.
The different localities are connected by public transport several times a day (except Wednesday, Saturday afternoon and Sunday). There are also private minibus companies. Car rental companies (cars, scooters, bicycles, electric bikes) are available at the port of Saint-Louis and at the Grand-Bourg ferry terminal. In the villages of Marie-Galante and in the heart of its lush nature, walking and biking are very popular with tourists.
