Guadeloupe itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Guadeloupe, day by day: La Grande Soufrière volcano, Carbet Falls, Fort Delgrès and Basse-Terre Cathedral first, then the Deshaies botanical garden, the Cousteau Reserve, the Mémorial ACTe in Pointe-à-Pitre and the Îlet du Gosier as you add a day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Guadeloupe in 1 day
Day 1
La Grande Soufrière
Guadeloupe's active volcano and the highest peak of the Lesser Antilles, climbed on a steep trail from the Bains Jaunes.
Carbet Falls Must see
Three waterfalls on the slopes of the Soufrière in the national park, reached by forest trails of different lengths.
Fort Delgrès
Large 17th-century fort above the town of Basse-Terre, named after Louis Delgrès, who fought the return of slavery in 1802.
Basse-Terre Cathedral
17th-century cathedral of the Virgin of Guadalupe in the island's capital, a listed national monument near the old town.
Guadeloupe in 2 days
Day 1
Jardin botanique de Deshaies
Botanical garden on a hillside above Deshaies with tropical plants, parrots, lily ponds and a waterfall, once the estate of comedian Coluche.
Réserve Cousteau
Marine reserve around the Pigeon Islets off Bouillante, known for snorkelling and diving among corals, turtles and fish.
Fort Delgrès
Large 17th-century fort above the town of Basse-Terre, named after Louis Delgrès, who fought the return of slavery in 1802.
Basse-Terre Cathedral
17th-century cathedral of the Virgin of Guadalupe in the island's capital, a listed national monument near the old town.
Day 2
La Grande Soufrière
Guadeloupe's active volcano and the highest peak of the Lesser Antilles, climbed on a steep trail from the Bains Jaunes.
Carbet Falls Must see
Three waterfalls on the slopes of the Soufrière in the national park, reached by forest trails of different lengths.
Mémorial ACTe
Caribbean centre in Pointe-à-Pitre on the history of slavery and the slave trade, opened in 2015 on the site of a former sugar factory.
Îlet du Gosier
Small islet with a lighthouse and sandy beaches just off Le Gosier, reached by a short boat ride, for swimming and snorkelling.
Watch: Guadeloupe
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Guadeloupe
December to May, the dry season, is the best time, sunny and less humid, though it is also the busiest. June to November is the rainy and hurricane season, with the highest risk from August to October. Carnival fills the streets on Sundays from January to Ash Wednesday.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Guadeloupe on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Guadeloupe on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Guadeloupe on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Guadeloupe from Airalo
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Tips for Guadeloupe
- A rental car is the practical way to get around; distances look short but the mountain roads of Basse-Terre are slow and winding.
- Start the Soufrière climb early: the summit is often in cloud by late morning, and the trail is steep, wet and muddy, so wear good shoes.
- Paths to the volcano and the waterfalls close after heavy rain or volcanic warnings; check with the national park before going.
- Snorkelling and diving trips to the Cousteau Reserve leave from Malendure beach in Bouillante; book a morning trip for calmer water.
- Guadeloupe uses the euro, and French is the main language, with Creole widely spoken.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Basse-Terre Cathedral: Aristoi, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Carbet Falls: bobyfume, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Fort Delgrès: LPLT, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jardin botanique de Deshaies: myself, CC BY-SA 3.0
- La Grande Soufrière: No machine-readable author provided. Ofol assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5
- Mémorial ACTe: Bjrmoicorla, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Réserve Cousteau: Utilisateur:Grook Da Oger, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Îlet du Gosier: LPLT, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
