Are you thinking of traveling to Guadeloupe but only have one week there and aren’t sure what to do or see? Here’s our suggested itinerary for seeing Guadeloupe’s must-see attractions in one week and making the most of your 7 days there.

Guadeloupe is an archipelago made up of five islands. You won’t have time to see them all in one week, which is why I recommend focusing your trip on two of the archipelago’s islands.

A week spent among turquoise waters, idyllic beaches, tropical jungles, and Creole culture, a trip set to the rhythm of two of the islands in the Guadeloupe archipelago: Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre.

One Week in Guadeloupe: Practical Information

When to Visit Guadeloupe: What’s the Best Time of Year?

There are two distinct seasons: the dry season and the wet season.

If you want to enjoy the beaches, be aware that there may be sargassum. Sargassum is a type of floating brown seaweed that washes up on beaches. As it decomposes, it gives off a rotten-egg smell that can be very unpleasant. Unfortunately, the sargassum season is lasting longer and longer.
If you want to go hiking, it’s best to avoid the trails after it has rained. So, plan your trip outside of the rainy season.

The best time to visit Guadeloupe is from December through April, during the dry season. But this is also the most popular and most expensive time of year.

During the rainy season, it rains much more frequently, and there’s a risk of hurricanes. However, prices are lower, and you might still have a great week.

Guadeloupe: Renting a Car

To get around in Guadeloupe, renting a car is essential. There are many rental companies; to compare offers, you can use platforms like Discovercars.

1 Week in Guadeloupe: Where to Stay?

The island isn’t very big, but don’t be fooled, distances can be long, and some roads are prone to heavy traffic. Even if you’re only spending one week in Guadeloupe, it’s best to book two places to stay.

One on the island of Grande-Terre and the other on Basse-Terre. On Grande-Terre, I recommend staying in Saint-Anne or Saint-François. As for Basse-Terre, I’d suggest staying near Deshaies.

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7 Days in Guadeloupe: What to Do? A Map of Points of Interest

Things to Do in Guadeloupe: Our One-Week Itinerary

One Week in Guadeloupe | 3 Days on Grande-Terre

Day 1: Arrival in Guadeloupe

Depending on what time you arrive, I recommend that you simply pick up your rental car, head to your accommodations, and relax on the beach in the town of Sainte-Anne to recover from jet lag.

Day 2: Exploring Grande-Terre

To start the week off, head to Petit-Canal to immerse yourself in Guadeloupe’s history. Indeed, the town has preserved vivid traces of the era of slavery. With its old prison, the slaves’ steps, and its art gallery, Petit-Canal is a town well worth a visit.

After this historic stop, we drive to Port-Louis, where the main attraction is Souffleur Beach. This beach is very popular with locals, especially on weekends, but the setting is beautiful, and it’s nice to stop for a bite to eat and a swim.

After this stop, head north on Grande-Terre to Porte d’Enfer and Pointe de la Grande Vigie. The view along the road to Porte d’Enfer is very pretty, even though, unfortunately, the beach is increasingly overrun with sargassum. As for Pointe de la Grande Vigie, it’s the northernmost point of the entire Guadeloupe archipelago, and the area offers a magnificent panoramic view.

The cliffs at Grande Vigie are also a great spot for whale-watching with binoculars during the season.

You can end your day at one of the beaches at Pointe des Châteaux and enjoy the sunset.

Day 3: The beaches of Grande-Terre and l’Îlet du Gosier

Day 3 of this week in Guadeloupe: we’re heading to Pointe des Châteaux to catch the sunrise. You’ll have to get up early, though. Depending on the time of year, the sun usually rises between 5:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. But it’s worth it.

Next, head to Le Gosier to visit Îlet du Gosier, right across from Datcha Beach. To get there, you can either take a shuttle or rent a kayak and paddle across.

Additional information :
– 2026 PRICES : €6 per adult
Shuttle departing from Anse Tabarin – ride takes 5 to 10 minutes

I recommend going early in the morning so you can enjoy the area with as few people as possible. In the afternoon, you can stay there and enjoy this little slice of paradise, but if it gets too crowded for your liking, you can take the shuttle back and enjoy the beaches on Grande-Terre.

• Caravelle Beach: Personally, I didn’t like it at all, it’s a beach right next to Club Med, pretty noisy, and mostly frequented by tourists.
• Bois Jolan Beach: My favorite spot on Grande-Terre: a white-sand beach with coconut palms right at the water’s edge and turquoise waters.
• Petit Havre Beach: Crystal-clear water and coconut palms.

Why go to Ilet du Gosier instead of taking an excursion to Petite Terre?

Petite Terre is a protected nature reserve with restricted and limited access. You can take a trip there; people often go to see turtles and, more generally, to go snorkeling.

To be honest, we went there and regretted it. It’s very pretty, we enjoyed seeing little lemon sharks, iguanas, and turtles, but it’s a nature reserve with incredible biodiversity that, in our opinion, should be better protected. After snorkeling, we noticed that the coral wasn’t in particularly good health, and perhaps the area could regenerate better if we left nature alone. We wish people would talk a little more about this, especially since there are plenty of other places that are just as beautiful.

One Week in Guadeloupe | 4 Days on Basse-Terre

Day 4: Heading to the island of Basse-Terre, the Route de la Traversée

Since you only have one week of vacation in Guadeloupe, I wouldn’t recommend spending more than that on Grande-Terre.

For us, the island of Basse-Terre is a real favorite. It’s wilder and more natural. It has a dense tropical forest, and the terrain is more mountainous. That’s also where La Soufrière volcano is located.

To start your day and take your first steps on Basse-Terre, head to the Jardin de Valombreuse. The Jardin de Deshaies is better known, but I preferred the one in Valombreuse. You’ll discover a wide variety of plant species there, and we were surprised by the number of hummingbirds in this garden.

Additional information :
– 2026 PRICES : €16.50
– Hours: Open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Website: Jardin de Valombreuse

The second stop of the day: take the Route de la Traversée. This road connects the eastern and western parts of Basse-Terre.

The island’s lush tropical forest is home to numerous waterfalls and rivers. There are many of them in Basse-Terre, and the “Cascade aux Écrevisses” is one of the easiest to reach.

It’s a beautiful waterfall in a stunning setting, but unfortunately the crowds can quickly spoil the experience.

Across from the Route de la Traversée is the Maison du Cacao. The tour is quick; you’ll learn everything from growing cacao trees to making chocolate, and at the end, you’ll even get to enjoy a tasting. It’s a great way to discover flavors you won’t know.

Additional information :
– 2026 PRICES : 14 €
– Hours: Tuesday through Saturday
Demonstration and tasting: English tour 11:30 a.m.
During peak season, we recommend reserving your visit

Website : La maison du cacao

In the afternoon, go to Malendure Beach in Bouillante to enjoy the ocean.

Malendure Beach is a must-visit spot for snorkeling enthusiasts. Here, you’ll have the chance to see sea turtles. Right across from this beach are the Cousteau Reserve and the Îlet Pigeon. It’s a stunning setting for observing marine life.

Day 5: The South of Basse-Terre

On this fifth day, we’re heading to the town of Capesterre-Belle-Eau to see the famous Allée Dumanoir before continuing on to les Chutes du Carbet (Carbet Falls).

Lined on both sides by two rows of royal palm trees, this 1,200-meter-long avenue is home to nearly 400 palm trees today.

If there’s one must-see attraction during your week in Guadeloupe, and especially in Basse-Terre, it’s the Carbet Falls. They’re located in the forest, at the foot of La Soufrière volcano.

Between Trois-Rivières and Capesterre-Belle-Eau, take the D4 toward the Carbet Falls. Be warned: the road there is a bumpy mountain road. After a few kilometers, you’ll arrive at the falls’ parking lot.

Additional information :
– 2026 PRICES : €6 per adult
– Parking at this address

/!\ The site is closed in case of heavy rain
The website

The second waterfall is the most accessible. It takes about 45 minutes to reach the waterfall and enjoy the view. The trail is equipped with wooden walkways. Once you arrive, you’ll find a 110-meter-high waterfall towering before you.

After this little getaway in the forest, I suggest we head to Grande Anse Beach, but this time, the one in Trois-Rivière. It’s a beautiful black-sand beach, a long stretch lined with coconut palms that offers an exceptional setting and view, especially of Les Saintes.

And, unlike the island’s other beaches, I found it much quieter and more peaceful, there were far fewer people there.

Be careful, this beach has very strong currents, so you need to be careful if you go swimming.

Before heading to the last stop of the day in the town of Basse-Terre, where Fort Louis Delgrès is located, I recommend taking a short detour to see the Vieux-Fort lighthouse.

Fort Delgrès is located in the municipality of Basse-Terre. It towers over the town and overlooks the sea, offering a panoramic view of the surrounding area. Designated a Historic Monument on November 21, 1977, it is best known as a key site in the struggle of the Guadeloupean resistance against the reinstatement of slavery.

If you’re visiting the island of Basse-Terre, this is a must-see, especially if you want to understand and learn a little more about Guadeloupe’s culture and history.

Day 6: A Day in Les Saintes

I mentioned at the beginning of this article that a week in Guadeloupe is a bit short to visit all the islands in the archipelago and that it’s best to focus entirely on two of them, but how could I not include Les Saintes?

Les Saintes is located 13 km from the island of Basse-Terre. Les Saintes consists of eight islands, but only its two main islands, Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas, are inhabited.

With its bay of turquoise waters and its pretty, colorful houses, Terre-de-Haut is a dream come true.

How to Get to Les Saintes

To visit Les Saintes in Guadeloupe for a day, you’ll need to take the ferry. In fact, the best way to reach Terre-de-Haut is by sea.

Departing from Trois-Rivières, in the south of Basse-Terre, the local company CTM Deher operates daily ferry service to the Les Saintes archipelago.

Additional information :
– 2026 PRICES : €27.50 round trip
– Paid parking: €5
– Shuttle schedule:
OUTBOUND | Monday through Saturday: 8:15 a.m. / 9:00 a.m. / 3:45 p.m. / 4:30 p.m.
Sunday: 8:15 a.m. / 9:00 a.m. / 4:30 p.m. / 5:30 p.m.
RETURN | Monday through Saturday: 6:15 a.m. / 6:45 a.m. / 1:15 p.m. (except Tuesday and Thursday) / 3:45 p.m.
Sunday: 6:45 a.m. / 3:45 p.m. / 5:00 p.m.

Getting Around on Les Saintes: A Car-Free Island

What makes Les Saintes unique is that there are no cars on the roads. To get around, you have four options: walking, biking, riding a scooter, or taking an electric cart (like a golf cart).

What to Do on Les Saintes

The best way to start your day in Les Saintes is to head straight to Fort Napoléon.

Located on a hill, it’s best to take advantage of the cool morning air to visit it. The slope is quite steep, so it’s easier to use a vehicle, even though it’s possible to walk there. But to be honest, I was really glad I had a golf cart to get there.

Situated at an elevation of 114 meters, it offers a breathtaking view of the bay. It’s by far the most beautiful viewpoint in Les Saintes.

Fort Napoléon is a former penitentiary and also a former political prison for opponents of the Vichy regime during World War II; it’s now listed as a Historic Monument.

After visiting Fort Napoléon, head to the beach. The best beach in Terre-de-Haut on Les Saintes is Pompierre Beach.

It’s renowned as one of the most beautiful beaches in Guadeloupe. This beach, lined with palm trees, is absolutely magnificent.

After a quick refreshment, a must given how hot it is in Les Saintes, I suggest you take a stroll through the narrow streets of Terre-de-Haut.

The houses in the village of Terre-de-Haut are typical of the Caribbean: colorful. The narrow streets are very charming, as are the church and the central square. Don’t hesitate to step inside the church, the ceiling is made from an inverted hull. For those who don’t know, a hull is the submerged part of a boat’s hull.

Before boarding the boat again, take the opportunity to do a little shopping in the stores of Terre-de-Haut. Several shops offer typical souvenirs from Les Saintes.

Day 7: Enjoy the northern part of Basse-Terre before leaving

One week in Guadeloupe goes by really fast, so on this last day we’re enjoying the northern part of Basse-Terre and its beautiful beaches.

Grande Anse Beach in Deshaies is certainly the most popular beach on Basse-Terre, and one of the most popular in Guadeloupe. So I recommend getting there early so you can easily find a place to park and lay out your towel. What can I say? The sand is fine, the water is warm, the setting is idyllic, it’s a true paradise beach. It’s pretty much the perfect backdrop for a “postcard photo.” The beach is lined with lush vegetation, so you’ll be able to find some shade there.

Another beach in northern Basse-Terre: Plage de la Perle. Located between Deshaies and Sainte Rose, this beach is slightly less popular than Grande Anse. It’s a long beach with golden sand and crystal-clear water. On a clear day, you can even see the island of Montserrat.

1 Week in Guadeloupe: Our Review

Seven days in Guadeloupe isn’t quite enough time to explore the archipelago. However, with a week, if you plan well, you can see and visit Guadeloupe’s must-see attractions. Ideally, though, you should spend two weeks there so you can travel around all the islands without rushing, go on a few hikes, and enjoy the experience to the fullest. We prefer Basse-Terre, it’s less touristy and more authentic—and it would be a real shame to miss it. Aside from that, we love the laid-back lifestyle in Guadeloupe, its people, its cuisine, and its Creole culture.

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