The archipelago of Guadeloupe is famous for its many facets. Highly colorful, it abounds in landscapes as contrasted as the populations of its islands, breathtaking natural sites, superb beaches... Having a vehicle allows access to all the natural and cultural sites scattered throughout the archipelago in complete freedom. However, this alternative does not exempt hiking enthusiasts from bringing good walking shoes, as they are as essential as a bathing suit and sun cream. This equipment will indeed prove to be essential to walk through the rainforest, to cross a river bed, to do canyoning, to climb up to the Soufrière volcano, to admire the fabulous Carbet Falls and many other extraordinary sites. Most of the sites have an unguarded parking lot: it is therefore advisable to be careful not to leave anything inside the vehicle in order not to tempt potential looters.
Getting around Guadeloupe
Renting a vehicle is essential to enjoy an independent stay in order to criss-cross the islands of Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre which make up mainland Guadeloupe and which give it the shape of a butterfly. If a bus network does exist, it remains rather limited and does not allow to easily organize trips on the whole island. The communes of Baie-Mahault, Pointe-à-Pitre, Les Abymes (including the airport), Gosier, Sainte-Anne and Saint-François benefit from the most developed network of orange buses which are easy to find. However, the stops are not all identified and the schedules are not necessarily well respected due to the heavy traffic, especially during rush hours.
An "Express" line provides access to the city of Basse-Terre (located in the south of Basse-Terre) with stops in the various communes that it crosses.
Numerous car rental companies are present at the exit of the Pôle Caraïbes airport in a dedicated area accessible thanks to the free shuttles of each rental company. In high season, it is necessary to reserve a vehicle in advance. In order to get the best price, take the time to compare the offers according to the services included, the characteristics, the comfort of the vehicles but also according to the duration of your stay, your program of visits and the number of people on board.
Getting around the islands
Maritime shuttles make rotations to reach the different islands of the archipelago: the islets of Les Saintes are accessible from Trois-Rivières and Pointe-à-Pitre, Marie-Galante is reached from Saint-François and Pointe-à-Pitre, La Désirade from Saint-François
If Marie-Galante, Terre-de-Bas and La Désirade have car rental offers, the island of Terre-de-Haut in Les Saintes has the particularity of being visited only by bicycle, scooter or electric car. Only a few vans and hotel shuttles that take their guests from the pier to their establishment are allowed to circulate. Here again, the few rental companies are overcrowded, so it is advisable to reserve your means of transportation in advance.
The Pointe-à-Pitre ferry terminal and the Trois-Rivières pier have on-site parking facilities for which a fee is charged. The fee for the Trois-Rivières parking lot is 5 € per day (to be paid in cash only) and it is very difficult to find an authorized parking space outside of this lot. The one in Saint-François is free
Driving in Guadeloupe
The road network is divided into national roads with some portions of two-lane expressways limited to 110 km/h and departmental roads. In the south of Grande-Terre, some of these departmental roads are located in "Les Grands Fonds", a hilly area that the population uses daily to avoid the inevitable traffic jams. These small winding roads, shared by the communes of Morne-à-l'Eau, Le Moule, Les Abymes, Le Gosier and Sainte-Anne, cross green landscapes and have signs that allow for easy orientation.
The Route de la Traversée (D23), also known as the Route des Mamelles, is the only road that crosses the island of Basse-Terre from east to west. Connecting Petit-Bourg to Pointe-Noire through the mountainous massif, it is the access road to the crayfish waterfall, to the Maison de la Forêt, to the Zoological Park, to the Cousteau Nature Reserve located in Bouillante... This mountain road with its extremely luxuriant vegetation is slippery in rainy weather. Caution is therefore required, especially since the archipelago is one of the poorest in the world with a high accident rate. The main roads of Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre are monitored by video in order to update in real time the various interactive panels advising drivers of possible traffic jams, work in progress, accidents... and to propose, as far as possible, an alternative route. Traffic can be consulted in real time on Trafikera.
Some specificities to know
Traffic jams are a daily hindrance to travel. Don't rely on the number of kilometers to be covered and always plan a safety margin, especially for an excursion or a maritime shuttle, otherwise your boat will leave without you. For example, the 15 km trip between Sainte-Anne and Gosier can take up to one hour and it takes about 1 hour 30 minutes to reach the city of Basse-Terre from Gosier (85 km).
The cities of Abymes and Pointe-à-Pitre have traffic lights, but they have not been working for years.
In times of bad weather and intense rainfall, landslides, submerged bridges, and flooded gullies (ditches) can surprise even the most experienced drivers.
Animals (goats, oxen and especially stray dogs) are still quite frequent and represent a real danger, especially after dark (from 6pm onwards in this latitude).
You will notice that no gas station displays the price of fuel. The prices are calculated every month and announced by the prefecture for the whole archipelago. In most of the stations (open between 6am and 10pm as a rule), the service is still provided by pump attendants in order to maintain jobs.
Local driving
Right-of-way signs are subject to varying interpretations. For example, it is recommended to keep a safe distance and to be alert to vehicles that are supposed to be waiting at a "Stop" or "Yield" sign; a driver may decide to enter the road without hurrying in the least and without taking care to check if a vehicle is approaching. Conversely, a driver with priority may stop to let a non-priority driver pass.
Especially in rural areas, the arm out the side window may replace the turn signal, indicate that the driver is stopping, or thank (in advance) for letting the driver pass even though he or she does not have priority.
Passing on the right is a habit that is essential to know, because when a vehicle waits to turn left, most drivers use the side of the road or the bike lane to pass on the right. As for traffic circles, during busy periods, traffic can be more anarchic than respectful of priorities, with a non-systematic use of the blinker, but with a smile, everything passes... As you can see, the key words are courtesy and patience and your car journeys as well as your stay will go smoothly and you will only want to come back...
USEFUL INFORMATION
When is it?
The destination is popular from December to April for its pleasant temperatures (26 to 28 °C), which also corresponds to the breeding season of humpback whales, which can be observed in the company of their young. The cyclone season extends from June to November but rest assured, the approach of possible phenomena is constantly monitored by meteorologists who are able to inform the population in advance.
Duration
The time difference (5 hours in winter, 6 in summer) and the duration of the flight (about 8 hours) lead to plan a week at least in order to enjoy the stay.
Budget
The high season, which corresponds to winter in France, increases the price of air tickets, accommodation and car rental companies, with a peak during the Christmas and New Year period. The airfare remains the most important factor that has a significant impact on the cost of your stay. Count from 450 € for a round trip flight without luggage in the hold in low season.
Public
The archipelago offers a wide range of activities that can accommodate all types of people, including families, groups, romantic duo trips and, of course, honeymooners.
The most
The islands of the archipelago and their specific population.
The diversity of landscapes and activities
The authenticity of natural sites.
A varied culturalheritage.
Sunshine all year round.
A luxuriantvegetation with endemic species.
A mixed and tastycuisine.
The minuses
The humidity level which can be surprising when leaving the airport.
The higher prices during the high season (from the end of December to the end of April).
Getting there
Several companies serve the destination from Europe between Air Caraïbes and Corsair from Orly airport, Air France (from Orly and Charles de Gaulle), Air Belgium from Charleroi airport in Belgium or Air Canada and American Airlines for the American continent.
Useful
The Guadeloupe Islands Tourism Committee also has a branch in Europe with an agency located in Paris (Tel. 01 40 62 99 07), an office in Montreal, Canada and in New York.
Sleep
The archipelago has a range of accommodations accessible to all budgets, from dormitories to 5-star hotels, including bed and breakfasts, cottages, apartments, villas, unusual accommodations..
