Guadaloupe
Guadeloupe is a lively center of Creole culture, boasting a spirited blend of French and African influences. As well known for its sugar and rum as for its dive sites and resorts, the archipelago offers an interesting mix of modern cities, rural hamlets, rainforests and secluded beaches. One of the most urbanized of the region's islands, you'll need to scratch beneath the French polish to get a grip on Guadeloupe's Creole core. Away from the tourist hub, the buzz of insects in the banana groves and the whiff of coconut rum will put you firmly back on Caribbean time.
Guadeloupe
is pleasant to visit at any time of the year, with a warm
climate year-round. During winter (December to February),
evenings are gorgeously mild and temperatures linger between
19-28ÁC (67-83ÁF). The driest months are between February
and April, with rain falling an average of seven days a month
and the humidity staying in the realm of the tolerable. This
temperate period is also the peak tourist season. The wettest
months are July to November, which is also hurricane season,
so keep an eye on weather reports. Most cultural events take
place in the spring and summer. The Fete
des Cuisinieres (Festival of Women Cooks) is a
colorful event held in early August where women in Creole
dress parade through the streets to the cathedral, where they
are blessed by the bishop.
Guadeloupe was among the islands charted by Columbus in 1493.
French colonies were established in 1635 and, in 1946, the
islands were given the status of Overseas Departments.
Guadeloupe still retains that enchanting mixture of French
and Creole influence, apparent even down to the mix of flavours
and ingredients in its cuisine. This Caribbean paradise comprises
Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre and five smaller islands, all of
which vary quite substantially in scenery.
Those considering Guadeloupe to merely possess a few pretty
beaches may be surprised to learn that it also boats a wildlife-infested
rainforest and the highest waterfall in the Caribbean. Basse-Terre
has a rough volcanic relief whilst Grande Terre features rolling
hills and flat plains. There are also many lush mountainous
areas with stunning and unspoiled tropical scenery. The beautiful
beaches vary too, from the white palm-fringed to the volcanic-created
black sand.
As might be deemed more typical of the Caribbean, Guadeloupe
boasts plenty of restaurants, bars and discos, with displays
of local dancing and music. The famous dance of the island
is called the biguine, where colourful and ornate Creole costumes
are still worn. Biguine is a form of clarinet and trombone
music with nasal vocals and improvised instrumental solos,
and roots in West African dance. It has long since evolved
into embracing more wide-reaching genres such as jazz and
pop.
If you do not feel your toes tapping, then rest assured that
one or two of Guadeloupe's renowned rum
punch cocktails (a brew of rum, lime, bitter
and syrup) will almost certainly get you up and dancing beneath
the stars.
Yet Guadeloupe is a fantastic destination because there is
also extreme quietude available, from St Barthélemy
to the outlying islands of Marie-Galante, La Désirade
and Les Saintes, undeveloped and attractive, with old and
crumbling mills offering frequent reminders of Guadeloupe's
historical connections as a major sugar plantation. Snorkellers
and divers won't be disappointed - Jacques Cousteau considered
Guadeloupe to be among the top 10 dive sites in the world.