Popular Destinations in Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe National Park
Guadeloupe National Park is designated World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.
The park is located on Bass e-Terre Island and often draw hordes of
tourists every year. Guadeloupe National Park includes 300 kilometers of
hiking trails, La Soufriere Volcano, Col de la Mateliane Mountain Pass, and
a wide range of flora and fauna, encompassing around 100 species of orchids
and around 11 species of bats. The park is also an excellent place to visit
for birdwatchers as it boasts diversity with resident species such as the
pearly-eyed thrasher, Lesser Antillean pewee, and black woodpecker. An
excellent way to tour the park is via Route de la Traversee, which is a
picturesque trans-coastal highway passing through the tropical forest of
imposing bamboo and mahogany trees. Along this route are lots of picnic
areas, lookouts, jungle waterfalls, and a roadside center at Maison de la
Foret. Tourists can also stop for a refreshing swim at Cascade aux
Ecrevisses, a beautiful waterfall gushing into a pond.
Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Natural Reserve
Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Natural Reserve is nestled between the northern
shores of Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre. It is a 15,000-hectare reserve
boasting mangrove forests, coral reefs, mudflats, turquoise lagoons, tiny
islets, and seagrass meadows, as well as several transitional areas where
sustainable human activity is allowed. The reserve, together with
Guadeloupe National Park, forms the UNESCO-listed Guadeloupe Archipelago
Biosphere Reserve. Some of the prolific marine lives living within the
reserve are sea urchins, turtles, giant sponges, and a remarkable diversity
of fish. Birdwatchers can spot species such as herons, kingfishers, frigate
birds, and pelicans. Tourists can explore the reserve on a guided boat tour
named the Blue Lagoon tour.
Marie-Galante Island
Marie-Galante, named the Big Pancake by its natives, is a flat and round
island popular for its beautiful beaches. Tourism and sugar farming are the
main industries here. Swimming, sunbathing, and hiking are all popular
activities that tourists can enjoy on the island. Chateau Murat, built in
1839, was the biggest sugar plantation in the country, and its eco-museum
honours the island’s arts and culture, especially the rich history of its
sugar industry.