The place can you discover rainforests, volcanoes, rum distilleries, historic cities, picture-perfect seashores and island hopping? If it took you a second, it’s as a result of, effectively, it’s exhausting to seek out wherever fairly just like the vastly underrated Caribbean archipelago of Guadeloupe.
The French Caribbean division has lengthy been off the worldwide journey map largely as a result of it’s, effectively, virtually an entire unknown to American vacationers — and nonetheless stays one.
However they’re all lacking out — it’s a various, layered, refined vacation spot that mixes European Union-quality infrastructure with spectacular pure magnificence.
And it simply received a bit simpler to achieve, due to the first-ever flights to Guadeloupe on Caribbean Airways.
The fast-growing Trinidad-based service is now flying tour occasions every week to Guadeloupe, with service by way of Saint Lucia and close by Dominica.
It’s a part of what has been a yr of what CEO Garvin Medera known as “dynamic development” for Caribbean Airways, which has been including new locations throughout the area from Tortola to San Juan and past.
Are you considering of planning a visit to Guadeloupe? It’s exhausting to decide on the place to begin, on condition that it’s house to 5 main islands, from the rainforest-rich Basse-Terre to the charming Les Saintes to the rum paradise known as Marie Galante.
When you attain the principle airport in Pointe a Pitre, the excellent news is which you can take ferries all throughout the archipelago.
On the “mainland,” which actually consists of two completely different islands: Grand Terre and Base Terre, we love the seaside city of Deshaies (you in all probability understand it from the BBC present Loss of life in Paradise): it’s a foodie paradise, with a number of improbable eateries proper on the seaside, and a variety of nice villas at good costs. https://www.antillesexception.com/en/villa-rentals/guadeloupe/deshaies
We’d additionally advocate hopping over to Marie Galante, which is house to a few of the highest-quality rum in the entire Caribbean, together with the spectacular Rhum Bielle. It’s a low-key, beachy little island, with uncrowded seashores and beautiful eating places. There aren’t a ton of accommodations, however there are some smaller, boutique type stays just like the Lodge L M (rooms beginning at $133).
