Located in the south of Grande Terre and attached to Guadeloupe since 1974, Marie-Galante, known as the “grande dépendance”, counts 12500 inhabitants. Fishing, livestock farming and the sugar cane industry in particular which involves 72% of the population, constitute the economy of the island. The cane is transformed into rum in three distilleries.
Departure from your hotel and transfer to the ferry terminal. After a 45mn crossing you will arrive in Grand Bourg in front of the catholic church, which has an amazing architecture. You will walk through the market where all the exotic flavours of the island can be found. Then visit of the island by bus.
Tour Programme: visit of Habitation Murat, old sugar plantation habitation. Ruins can still be observed. On the site there is also the big house made of cut stones. You will then go into a distillery where you will discover all the steps of the rum fabrication and learn everything on the sugar cane. A tasting is also organised on site.
According to timing, visit of a molasses factory or a cassava factory. And finally you will enjoy one of the most beautiful beaches of the island. Lunch will be served in a nice creole restaurant with local music.
Back to Guadeloupe at around 4 p.m., transfer to your hotel.
Grande Terre is the most populated island of the archipelago. In the North, the countryside is occupied by sugar cane plantations and bordered by a steep coastline where abrupt cliffs and some sandy coves can be found.
Departure from your hotel for a day dedicated to the discovery of the astonishing landscape of Grande Terre.
The Grands Fonds: narrow valleys surrounded by small limestone hills occupied by food-producing plantations. It is also a region of small farms and pasturelands, an amazing set of unique reliefs.
Arrival in Morne à l’Eau, walk through the famous cemetery known for its black-and-white-checkerboard tombs. Visit of Damoiseau Distellery in Le Moule, as well as rum tasting. It will then be time for a sea bath at the wonderful Souffleur Beach in Port Louis. After, a drive along the stunning cliffs of La Grande Vigie, which are 80 meters high! If the weather permits, the panoramic view over Grande Terre and the islands of Montserrat, Antigua in the North and La Désirade in the South East is breath-taking. Halt at La Porte d’Enfer where the souvenir of « Madame Coco » is still alive; a very chalky area of the island…
Creole lunch in a typical restaurant.
In the afternoon, you will visit La Pointe des Châteaux, a wild site reminding the jagged coastline of Brittany. A little path will take you up to the calvary which dominates La Pointe des Colibris.
Back to the hotel by the end of the day.
Basse Terre is mountainous and humid which contrasts with Grande Terre. Basse Terre guards an exceptional flora with a multitude of swirling fresh water rivers and waterfalls.
Departure from hotel, you will bypass the city of Pointe à Pitre and cross the Rivière Salée driving on the Gabarre Bridge, and then direction Sainte Marie, in Capesterre. You will make a first stop to take pictures of the Changy Hindu Temple: the guide will expound on the reasons and proceedings of the ceremonies that take place in this temple.
Then, you will penetrate the National Park and hike, with your guide, to the second Carbet Fall totally immersed in the tropical forest.
By midday, you will reach the market of Basse Terre cradled between scents, flavors and local color. Lunch in a creole restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit of Allée Dumanoir: road lined up with 400 royal palm trees, classified as historic monument. The day will end with the visit of the Archaeological Park of Engraved Rocks. A 30 minutes walk will take you to the discovery of 300 AD petroglyphs, done by the Arawak Indians Back to the hotel at the end of the day.
Guadeloupe National Park, designated as an international biosphere reserve by UNESCO, is located in Basse Terre. It is a heaven for nature lovers.
Departure from your hotel to La Route de la Traversée and Guadeloupe National Park. Stop in the tropical forest and 5 minutes walk to the Cascade aux Ecrevisses.
Stop at Malendure Beach where you will visit the Cousteau’s Underwater Reserve with a glass-bottom boat. Snorkelling and mingeling with colourful fishes will also be possible. Refreshments will be offered.
Stop at the Botanic Garden in Deshaies: this wildlife park, located in the wonderful property formerly owned by Coluche, offers an exceptional 10 acres landscape. You will discover all the richness of the Caribbean flora (waterfalls, streams, vegetal walls, orchids, cactus, water lilies, epiphytes, rare plants…)
Creole Lunch in a restaurant and, if timing permits it, sea bath by Grande Anse Beach, a 2.5km long gold sand beach.
Back to the hotel through Sainte Rose in the early evening.
Not far away from the south of Basse Terre are idyllic islands, the Saintes Archipelago. Major tourist site, with one of the most beautiful bay in the world, its miniature-like village, its delicious tourments d’amour…
Departure from your hotel and transfer to the Trois Rivière pier. After a pleasant crossing on board the ferry, you will disembark in Terre de Haut mostly populated by the descendants of fishermen from Brittany, Normandy, and Poitou.
Our shuttles will drive you to Fort Napoleon, built from 1844 to 1867 with the locals participating. The construction was interrupted during the second republic. Napoleon III resumed and ended the construction, hence the name of the fort. Today, the fort welcomes a museum of the history and heritage of Les Saintes. It also accommodates a botanic garden dedicated to succulent plants. Then departure to the wonderful Pompiere Beach for a swim.
Lunch will be served in a restaurant facing the sea where you will enjoy local specialities. In the afternoon you will have time to stroll in the village.
Around 4pm departure to Guadeloupe and transfer to your hotel.