Guadeloupe: Use Your Euros Here
For those cruisers who want a little bit of Europe while in the Caribbean, Guadeloupe is a good place to start. However, remember that you are in the Caribbean and that really makes a different. The cultural intermixture over the years has given the island a distinct feeling that differs dramatically from the mother country.
Guadeloupe, which is known as "the Emerald Isle" is actually two islands side by side joined by two bridges. An areal view looks like a butterfly. Grand-Terre, the Eastern island has rolliing hills and sugar cane fields, while the Western island of Basse-Terre is mountainous and dominated by the volcano of La Soufriere.
This lens is one of a series that the author is providing on over twenty cruise destinations in the Caribbean. Each lens will include general information on the destination, suggested shore excursions, and video and photographic illustrations where appropriate.
Guadeloupe's Location In The Caribbean
Representative Shore Excursions In Guadeloupe
As in other destinations, you have a variety of shore excursions that you can choose from, but you can only choose one or two shore excursions within the time you have available.
Remember that you can always see the rest on your NEXT cruise to Guadeloupe.
I have chosen Costa Cruise Lines for representative shore excursions for Guadeloupe. My first Caribbean cruise was on the Costa Atlantica and I fell in love with the Costa cruising experience. You may check out more details on each by going to the Costa Shore Excursions page for Guadeloupe.
- Discover Guadeloupe: 4 hours. This well organized visit will give you the opportunity to discover the lush volcanic island of Basse-Terre. The "Domaine de Valombreuse" botanical garden is considered the most beautiful on the island and will captivate you with its exceptional richness. Here you will be able to taste the local fruit juices before crossing the national park of Guadeloupe and the dense tropical forest, and enjoying the refreshing Cascade aux Écrevisses ("Crayfish Waterfall"). Finally, after crossing the magnificent sugar cane plantations, you can enjoy the magic of a genuine distillery, the "Domaine de Séverin", where you will be able to taste one of the Caribbean's best rhum agricole.
- Aong The Tree-Tops In The Parc Des Mamelles: 4 hours. Here's your chance to discover the tropical rain forest in the Parc des Mamelles! You will also get to know the forest from above. Suspended walkways will allow you to wander through the canopy (the uppermost level of the tropical forest), from one tree to the next at a height of at least 15 metres above ground. You will discover marvellous varieties of trees, vines and epiphytes, such as wild pineapple and orchids, and admire little birds' nests and countless insects. You will also be able to enjoy a spectacular view of Pigeon Island, in the Cousteau Reserve. Finally, you will be able. to admire the enchanting nearby Crayfish Waterfall, situated in the middle of Guadeloupe National Park.
- Carbet Waterfalls 4 hours. Leaving the port of Pointe a Pitre , you will travel in comfortable coaches to one of the most attractive place of Guadeloupe, the Carbets water Falls. They are three . The upper is 120 M, the closest to see. The middle at 95 m ,and the smaller at 20m.The sources are coming from volcano Soufriere , culminating at 1647 M , and terminate in the sea at Capesterre Belle Eau. Your guide will lead you on a challenging hike through the lush tropical rainforest towards the mid - level fall. On the way back, your guide will take you at Mrs Perumal Home who will welcome you in a pretty tropical garden , and will offer you a fruit juice together with creoles sweets.
- Kayaking and Snorkelling at Cousteau's Reserve 4 hours +/- On the island's Caribbean coast you can explore the protected sanctuary named after Captain Jacques Cousteau, the famous French sailor, oceanographer and film director, whose film "The Silent World" featured several scenes shot here. Pigeon Island is a protected nature reserve where special authorisation is required to go ashore. Your trip will start on the black sand beach of Malendure. After a short ride by kayak to Pigeon Island, you will disembark on a white sand beach where your guide will explain the history and the wilderness of this small island. You will then go for a hike on a former lava outflow up to the top of the island "Le Piton" where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the crystal clear ocean, a panoramic view of the Guadeloupe National Park and, weather permitting, the active volcano of Montserrat. Before going back to the main island you can enjoy some snorkelling in two of the reserve's most famous spots: the coral garden and the natural pool.
- Exclusive ECO Zodiac Boat Tour No Specific Time Given Located between the north of Basse-Terre and the north of Grande-Terre, the natural reserve of Grand Cul de Sac Marin is part of the Guadeloupe National Park. Encircled by a 25 km long coral reef, the grand Cul de Sac is famous for its variety of flora and fauna and is an official Biosphere Reserve. You will board your own zodiac boat and start your exploration of the mangroves with their birds, crabs, starfish and multicoloured sponges. After leaving the mangroves, you will sail to a very small island with beautiful crystal clear water and a wonderful coral reef. The very small draft of the boat will allow you to reach the places with the most beautiful sea life. Here, in a real-life giant aquarium one to three metres deep, you can see the most striking eastern Caribbean tropical corals and fish. Put on your mask and flippers and have fun snorkelling in this aquarium. On the way back you will stop on another small island "l'Ilet Blanc" so named because of its white sand, where you can enjoy a r. efreshing fruit juice or rum punch.
Brief Preview of Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is an archipelago located in the eastern Caribbean Sea at , with a land area of 1,628 square kilometres (629 sq. mi). It is an overseas department of France. As with the other overseas departments, Guadeloupe is also one of the twenty-six regions of France (being an overseas region) and an integral part of the Republic. As part of France, Guadeloupe is part of the European Union; hence, as for most EU countries, its currency is the euro.Guadeloupe is pictured on all Euro banknotes, on the backside at the bottom of each note, right of the Greek ???? (EURO) next to the denomiation. However, Guadeloupe does not fall under the Schengen Agreement. The prefecture of Guadeloupe is Basse-Terre.
View Out To Sea In Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe and Martinique
Martinique et Guadeloupe
Martinique, the ultra-romantic tropical paradise featured in 1999 MGM film, "The Thomas Crown Affair" chosen as the seductive hideaway to which billionaire Thomas Crown (Pierce Brosnan) flies off with the tempting female investigator Catherine Banning (Rene Russo).Called the "Island of Flowers", Martinique, a seductive little corner of France in the Caribbean is the perfect setting for engaging into romance. The island combines all the elements of stylish and chic French savoir-faire, with a sensuous and fun-loving Creole joie de vivre. Also pics of The Guadeloupe Islands. Music from The Thomas Crown Affair Soundtrack (1999): Caban La Ka Kratchie by Georges Fordant.
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History of Guadeloupe
== Discovery and settlement ==
The earliest settlers on Guadeloupe arrived around 300 BC and developed agriculture on the island. They were removed by the more warlike Caribs. It was the Caribs who called the island "Karukera," which is roughly translated as "island with beautiful waters." They were also the tribe to meet all of the later settlers to the island.
Columbus' second journey brought him to this island on November 14, 1493. He named it for an image in a Spanish monastery he had visited: Santa María de Guadalupe de Extremadura, an image of the Virgin Mary venerated at Villuercas, in Guadalupe, Extremadura.
No settlements were established on the island for many years but it was used as a trading post. However, in 1635 the French Compagnie des Îles de l'Amérique sent explorers to take control of the island. They succeeded, but nearly wiped out the Caribs in doing so. It was not annexed to the Kingdom of France until 1674.
Other Great Resources For Your Guadeloupe Cruise Destination
Ulysses Travel Guide Guadeloupe
Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009) 
Rum & Reggae's French Caribbean (Rum & Reggae series)
Amazon Price: $11.95 (as of 07/06/2009)
The Leeward Islands: Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Barts, St. Eustatius, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, and Montserrat (Discovering)
Amazon Price: $19.95 (as of 07/06/2009)
Martinique, Guadeloupe, Dominica & St. Lucia (Martinique Guadeloupe Dominica & St Lucia)
Amazon Price: $19.55 (as of 07/06/2009)
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La Guadeloupe vue du ciel (Guadeloupe by Air)
Photos From Guadeloupe
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Basse-Terre Island (bottom left) from space, September 1994. North is to the upper left in this view.
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Posted September 26, 2008
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