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Guadeloupe
The French Antilles or French Caribbean Islands
The French Antilles or French Caribbean Islands form two Départements d’Outremer: one comprises Martinique, and the other Guadeloupe with its offshore group, Marie-Galante, Les Saintes, La Désirade, and two more distant islands, Saint-Barthélémy and the French part of Saint-Martin (shared with the Dutch).
Outer Islands of Guadeloupe
The outer islands of Guadeloupe are among the least visited of the West Indian islands; they can easily be reached by air or boat from Guadeloupe. One can still get on a trading schooner between the islands if patient.
Accommodation - Les Saintes
Terre-de-Haut: LL-A Bois Joli, reached by 10- minute boat ride or 5-minute scooter ride from town, at the west end of the island on hillside, T995038, F995505, T800-3222223 in USA, gorgeous setting, hotel van transport to town or airport, 21 rooms, 8 bungalows, MAP, most have a/c, phones, pool, bar, restaurant, 2 beaches, watersports.
Accommodation - Marie-Galante
Near St Louis L-AL Cohoba, at Folle Anse, T805-9679850 in Europe, T800-3222223 in USA. 100 rooms in Créole-style bungalows, 30 with kitchenettes, a/c, TV, well-equipped, 2 restaurants, dramatic pool, large conference room, bar, superb white sand beach. Other hotels are in C-D range. At Grand-Bourg L’Auberge de l’Arbre à Pain, T977369.
Marie-Galante
Marie-Galante, a small round island of 158 square km , is simple and old-fashioned but surprisingly sophisticated when it comes to food and drink. It was named by Christopher Columbus after his own ship, the Santa María La Galante, and has three settlements.
Transport - Les Saintes
Air Daily flight from Pointe-à-Pitre, 180F one way, 1545, 1645, also Mon-Sat 0800, 1415, 15 mins, Air Guadeloupe.
Accommodation - Les Saintes
On Terre-de-Haut: L1-A1 Bois Joli, reached by 10 min boat ride or 5 min scooter ride from town, at the W end of the island on hillside, gorgeous setting, hotel van transport to town or airport, 21 rooms, 8 bungalows, MAP, most have a/c, phones, pool, bar, restaurant, 2 beaches, watersports, T 99 50 38, F 99 55 05, T 800 322 2223 in USA; L3 Kanaoa, Anse Marie, T 99
Les Saintes
On Les Saintes (a string of small islands named Los Santos by Columbus: only Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas are inhabited) the people are descendants of Breton fisherfolk who have survived among themselves with little intermarriage with the dominant West Indian races.
Transport – La Désirade
Air There are daily air services from Guadeloupe 0700, 1545 Mon-Fri, 0900 Sat, 1645 Sun (Air Guadeloupe).
Accommodation & Places to Eat – La Désirade
B L'Oasis du Désert, Quartier Désert Saline, T 20 02 12, 8 rooms, restaurant, reservations advisable; Le Mirage, 7 rooms, T 20 01 08, F 20 07 45, restaurant. Le Kilibibi, local specialities, T 20 00 97; La Payotte, seafood, T 20 01 94; Chez Marraine, créole, T 20 00 93.
La Désirade
La Désirade is an attractive but rather arid island of 20 sq km, with 1,610 inhabitants, who occupy themselves in fishing, sheep-rearing and cultivating cotton and maize. A road 10 km long runs along the S coast to the E end of the island, where a giant cactus plantation can be seen.
Grande-Terre
Pointe-à-Pitre on Grande-Terre at the S end of the Rivière Salée, is the chief commercial centre, near the airport of Le Raizet and the port of entry for shipping.
Basse-Terre
On the other wing of the island, Basse-Terre is the administrative capital of Guadeloupe and the entire Department. There are some very pretty and authentic old buildings of the colonial period in the city. It is a charming port town of narrow streets and well-laid-out squares with palm and tamarind trees, in a lovely setting between the sea and the great volcano La Soufrière.
Shopping
An unusual fruit, the carambole, can be bought in Pointe-à-Pitre. The location of the markets is given above. Good Mamouth Supermarket near Le Raizet airport 3.50F by bus from Pointe-à-Pitre. There are lots of hypermarkets just like in France, stocked with excellent cheese counters and massive wine departments (both French only of course).
Diving & Marine
On the Leeward Coast (Côte-Sous-le-Vent, or the Golden Corniche), is the Underwater Reserve developed by Jacques Cousteau. Nautilus, from Malendure beach, S of Mahaut, black sand, T 98 89 08, F 98 85 66, is a glass-bottom boat which takes you round the marine park, departs 1030, 1200, 1430 and 1600, 80F adults, 40F children 5-12 years.
