Guadeloupe

Currency: Euro | Exchange Rate: €10 = USD $10.43 | €10 = ¥1,648.13

Sainte-Anne

Guadeloupe is divided into two “wings” of its butterfly shape: Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre. Sainte-Anne is located in the latter. While the beaches are the main draw, the town center and markets are a must-see.

I think what struck me the most about the region was the diversity. While a majority of the tourists were white people from France, a vast majority (about 75%) of the inhabitants of the island are Afro-Caribbean. And while the main language of the island is French, there are still some pockets that speak Guadeloupean Creole. The food there consisted of a lot of fresh fruit (mainly bananas and pineapples) as well as seafood, although both are typically exported back to France so are not as easily accessible to the local population.

I would be remiss not to mention the fact that Guaeloupe, while referred to as an “overseas department” by France is, in fact, a modern-day colony. I know this is a controversial statement, and one that will upset many French people, but after hearing from our own guide that, for example, all bananas over a certain length are exported back to France, and that people in Guadeloupe tend to know more about the infrastructure of mainland France than they do their own island, it’s hard to argue otherwise. This isn’t a jab at the French, it’s just an invitation to have a larger conversation about modern-day colonialism. Travel is political.

Pointe-Noire

Translated to “Black Point” in English, Pointe-Noire takes its name from the black volcanic rocks in the north of the city. It’s home to stunning waterfalls and steep hikes. The roads are windy, but the view is absolutely worth it. There was a traitorous hike that my family and I part-took in, but it ended up at a stunning water basin with an incredible waterfall and some of the largest, most vibrant foliage that I’ve seen in a while (very similar to that of which I saw in San José, Costa Rica, near the Poás Volcano). I took a dive into the water, and although a good portion went up my nose, it was my favorite experience of the whole trip.

Sainte-François

Sainte-François sits on the eastern tip of Grande-Terre. It was once a popular fishing village, and now is home to a harbor of different ships — from sailboats to yachts. It has plenty of ocean-side hikes available, and a weekly night market for locals and tourists to grab keepsakes!

I wish I had more to say about the area, but I was only there for a short while on a hike that ended up getting what seemed like tons of sand in my shoes.

Deshaies

Deshaies is located on the Northwestern tip of Basse-Terre and is most famous for its stunning rose-gold beaches! You may have to squint your eyes and wait for the right lighting to see the sand turn into that stunning color. The beach is lined with small restaurants that are perfect to eat in in your swimming suit. I tried Ti’ Punch here for the first (and likely last) time. Ti’ Punch is the national drink of Guadeloupe, and consists of rum, sugar, and lime. It’s typically served warm. And while I wasn’t a huge fan, I should also mention that I don’t really like alcohol, like, at all, so take my opinion with a grain of salt (or sand, I guess).

Because the island is so small, most excursions can be completed in a day or two.

I would highly, highly recommend guided tours. In my experience, Guadeloupe is not transit-friendly, in that public transportation is not reliable and the roads are steep and windy — traffic laws are also a bit hazy. There are tours that go all over the island, although I stayed in the Southeast and the Northwest.