Island adventures in Guadeloupe

• Guadeloupe is comprised of many islands, including two main isles named Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre, which are linked together by a four-mile bridge. They are distinctive only by their remarkably different landscapes.
• Grande-Terre has flat sugar-cane fields with low, dry hills. It is crowded with sunbathers due to its striking white-sand beaches. The lively port Pointe-a-Pitre sits on the southwestern tip of this island. The port mimics the French Riviera with its tall, modern buildings and the historic area houses and many wooden cottages that date back to the colonial period.
• The island also includes two museums, Musee Schoelcher, named after a French deputy who helped abolish slavery, and Musee St. John Perse, who was a Nobel Prize-winning poet from Guadeloupe.
• Not far from the port is the bustling tourist center of Gosier, which is famous for its stark-white sand. Many beaches feature white sands, watersports and picnic facilities, and shallow waters make for a perfect day of swimming. Another choice is the clothing-optional beach of Plage de L’Anse. It has several small, secluded inlets to enjoy a day of nude sunbathing.
• On the other hand, the island known as Basse-Terre is covered with wooded mountains and volcanic activity. Its waterfalls, lakes, hot springs and mapped trails are a nature-lover’s paradise.
• The capital city, also called Basse-Terre, is situated on the southwest side of the island. The city is much calmer than its counterpart’s Pointe-a-Pitre. Government offices inside colonial buildings and the Cathedral of Our Lady are two main sites to see. Also, the city includes two botanical gardens and a military fort.
• However, the main attraction on Basse-Terre is the 74,000-acre Parc National. Besides the breathtaking landscape of flora and ferns, the park also contains two famous mountains, Les Deux Mamelles, which reach as high as 2,500 feet. Views from the top allow for a fantastic panoramic view of the island.
• On the southern tip of the island, listen as you approach the amazing Chutes du Carbet, a trio of 410-foot waterfalls. It is a sound and sight unlike any other! Also, you may want to take the time out to visit the unique wonder of La Soufriere, a dormant volcano with steaming sulfur pits, mud cauldrons and smoke holes. If you are daring enough, you can hike to the crater’s edge for a view of smoldering mud pools and interesting rock formations.
• As for the beaches on this island, La Grande Anse is secluded and somewhat private. Malendure Beach, on the west coast, is the departure spot for divers wanting to explore the Underwater National Park. It comes highly recommended, as Jacques Cousteau named it one of the top 10 best dive sites in the world.
• Day trips are available to the offshore islands of Guadeloupe. Offering small, quaint towns and sheltered beaches, it is the perfect getaway for lovers.