last edited Dec 11, 2019
Overview of Guadeloupe
Location Map of Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
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Quick Overview
Guadeloupe is part of the Lesser Antilles or "Windward Islands". It is a French department and an outermost region of France integrated into the European Union.
Guadeloupe "proper" consists of two islands: Basse-Terre (to the west) and Grande-Terre (to the east), separated by a narrow strait called the Rivière Salée, which is crossed by two bridges. Basse-Terre is the larger and more mountainous of the two, with the Soufrière volcano (1,467 m), while Grande-Terre is a largely cultivated plateau not exceeding one hundred meters in altitude. The vast majority of Guadeloupeans live on these two islands, particularly around Pointe-à-Pitre. A few kilometers to the south and east, Marie-Galante, the Saintes archipelago, and La Désirade form the "dependencies" and are administratively part of Guadeloupe.
The population of Guadeloupe, with diverse origins, is young. While the archipelago attracts many migrants from other islands in the region, tens of thousands of islanders also live in mainland France—a mainland on which Guadeloupe heavily depends for its resources.
Key Facts
- Type of place: French overseas territory.
- Location: in the heart of the Caribbean, about 7,000 km from mainland France.
- Latitude/longitude: 16.20 N, 61.16 W.
- Local time:
- Prefecture: Basse-Terre
- Nature of territory: French department (971).
- Official language: while French is the official language, Creole is also widely spoken.
- Currency: euro.
- Population: 394,100 inhabitants (2016).
- Area: 1,628 km².
- Density: 242 inhabitants/km²
- Highest point: Soufrière (1,467 m).
- Lowest point: sea level.
- Coastline: 440 km.
- Driving: on the right.
Tourism
Compared to many other Caribbean islands, Guadeloupe receives only a moderate number of visitors, just recently exceeding half a million each year (650,000 in 2017). Despite its attractions and the growth of ecotourism, the archipelago still primarily attracts French visitors (roughly three-quarters of arrivals), who most often come to see friends or family. Beyond this "affinity tourism," the island also welcomes its share of cruise passengers (310,000 in 2015), like most destinations in the region, as well as a contingent of Quebecers taking advantage of year-round direct flights from Montreal.
As for the reasons behind this lukewarm appeal, one factor is the better value for money offered by destinations like Dominican Republic or Cuba, to name just a few popular among French speakers. Additionally, without generalizing, the welcome (perceived or actual) for visitors in the French West Indies is not always top-notch.
Travel Essentials
- Destination: for beginner travelers.
- By air: France - Pointe-à-Pitre for 420 € to 820 € round trip.
- Entry requirements: ID card or passport.
- Exchange rate:
- Backpacker daily budget: 50 € to 70 € per person.
- Accommodation: guesthouses or, alternatively, all-inclusive resorts.
- Getting around: car rental.
- Risks: low health risks and fairly low security risks.
- Best time for climate/crowds/prices: mid-April to late June, and secondarily late November to early December.
- Interests (out of ): Nature ; Adventure ; Culture ; Relaxation/Holidays .
Addresses in Mainland France
- Tourism Committee of the Islands of Guadeloupe: 23-25 rue du Champ de l'Alouette, 75013 Paris. Tel.: +33 1 40 62 99 07. Open Monday to Friday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Addresses in Belgium, Switzerland, and Quebec
- Belgium and Switzerland: check with the French representations in each country or the aforementioned websites.