12 days in Guadeloupe in December with two kids

hi, I’m heading to Guadeloupe in December for 12 days with my family—teenager, younger child, and my wife. I’m looking for folks who can help me plan this trip. I already have accommodation in the hills of Saint-François. Still need to map out daily outings and budget for meals. Thanks in advance!

Hi there, Guadeloupe is a stunning island with tons of activities for the whole family. To help you plan your trip, here are some ideas and tips, in addition to my travel journal. :

Guadeloupe is divided into two main parts: Grande-Terre, which is drier and more touristy, and Basse-Terre, which is lusher and wilder.

On Grande-Terre, you’ll find beaches (Grande Anse, Plage de la Caravelle...), Pointe des Châteaux, water activities (scuba diving...), and the Pointe-à-Pitre market. On Basse-Terre, there’s hiking (La Soufrière, Chutes du Carbet), the Deshaies botanical garden, the cross-island road, Bouillante...

Plan your stay by area and consider a day trip to an island like Petite Terre or Marie-Galante, or Les Saintes...

Hello, Thank you so much for your feedback! I’ll check out all your tips—thanks a bunch!

Hello, Guadeloupe is a stunning island with plenty of activities for the whole family. To help you plan your trip, here are some ideas and tips, in addition to my travel journal:

Guadeloupe is divided into two main parts: Grande-Terre, which is drier and more touristy, and Basse-Terre, which is lusher and wilder.

On Grande-Terre, you’ll find beaches (Grande Anse, Plage de la Caravelle, etc.), Pointe des Châteaux, water activities (scuba diving, etc.), and the Pointe-à-Pitre market. On Basse-Terre, there’s hiking (La Soufrière, Chutes du Carbet), the Deshaies botanical garden, the Route de la Traversée, Bouillante, and more.

Plan your trip by area and consider a day trip to an island like Petite Terre, Marie-Galante, or Les Saintes...

Are you sure about your trip... with everything going on in the French West Indies right now?

I spent a month on each island in 2023 (Martinique and Guadeloupe).

Unfortunately, it’s not quite the postcard-perfect scene... A car is essential, and life’s expensive. But the locals are really friendly—that makes up for it a bit!

In Guadeloupe, we stayed in St François... 2 km from Raisins Cliffs beach. Despite the owner’s claims that the beach was NEARBY... (everything’s relative, after all).

Have a great trip! !

I think with December coming up, it’ll be quieter there. My sister-in-law has family in Guadeloupe, which let us go three times (at a lower price...). Honestly, it’s nothing like the reputation you hear. The people are really friendly, but a bit like the Bretons—you have to earn their trust. Last time, we rented a sailboat (with a skipper) for 3 days. My teens loved it, which isn’t always a given. I’ll try to find the route we took.

Oh, well, I found it. Here’s the itinerary. But it wasn’t with this company—it was a local rental. Though since we weren’t the ones who paid... 4-day itinerary in Guadeloupe - Guadeloupe route

Hello, Thank you so much! Best regards,