Guadeloupe - Water Sports, Surfing, Scuba, Land Sports
WATER SPORTS
For swimming and snorkeling in Guadeloupe, it's a good idea to ask locally which areas are currently the best. Snorkeling equipment is available at most hotels. Glass-bottom boats at Malendure Beach offer snorkeling trips to Pigeon Island, and a number of companies offer half- or full-day Guadeloupe snorkeling trips from various other locations on the island.
For swimming and snorkeling in Guadeloupe, it's a good idea to ask locally which areas are currently the best. Snorkeling equipment is available at most hotels. Glass-bottom boats at Malendure Beach offer snorkeling trips to Pigeon Island, and a number of companies offer half- or full-day Guadeloupe snorkeling trips from various other locations on the island.
The best Guadeloupe surfing spots are along the north shore of Grande-Terre at Le Moule, Port Luis and Anse Bertrand; the best months are October through February for the biggest waves, but consistently good surfing on moderate waves is possible year-round. In the summer, Ste. Anne, St. François and Petit-Havre sometimes have good waves. Boards generally rent on either a daily or weekly basis and are available in Le Moule and St. François.
For Guadeloupe scuba diving, the most popular spot is Ilet Pigeon (Pigeon Island), off Basse-Terre's west coast, which Jacques Cousteau called "one of the world's 10 best" diving areas. On or near Malendure beach, facing Pigeon Island, several schools have licensed instructors. Dives are also available from the Gosier area and from the small island of Terre-de-Haut off the southern coast of Basse-Terre. All Guadeloupe dive operations are supervised by monitors who have French Government certification. They offer a variety of programs, from initiation to one-day and week-long courses.
Guadeloupe dive operators are located in the Malendure/Bouillante/Pigeon area, Pointe Noire, Deshaies, Port Louis and Sainte-Rose on Basse-Terre. Although the west and north coasts of Basse-Terre are the most popular Guadeloupe dive areas, scuba is also available through dive operators in Gosier, Sainte-Anne and St. François on Grande-Terre.
Guadeloupe windsurfing is so popular a sport that prestigious, international windsurfing events are often held on the island. Lessons and rentals are available at most beachfront hotels. Ste. Anne and St .François are two of the most popular areas for windsurfing in Guadeloupe.
Water skiing in Guadeloupe is available in 15-minute increments per outing, with facilities at the beachfront hotels in Gosier, Ste. Anne and St. François. Water skiing is also available at Baie Mahault and Fort Royal on Basse-Terre. If you want to jet ski in Guadeloupe, rentals are available at most locations that offer water skiing.
Those who enjoy small boats will find many options in Guadeloupe. Motorboats can be rented on an hourly basis. Canoeing and kayaking are available in the resort areas of Gosier, Bas-du-Fort and St. François as well as in Sainte-Rose and Petit-Bourg. Sunfish, Hobie Cats and pedalboats are available at many Guadeloupe beachfront hotels, usually at an hourly rental rate.
LAND SPORTS
Land-based sports in Guadeloupe include golf, tennis, biking and hiking. Golf is available at the island's only course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, located in St. François. A number of tennis clubs around the island are available to visitors. Biking in Guadeloupe is a major sport as evidenced by the 10 day Tour de la Guadeloupe international race held on the island each August.
Hikers will find challenges on Guadeloupe trails of varying length and difficulty in the Parc National’s spectacular rain forest, climbing La Soufrière volcano, or exploring the Caribbean’s highest waterfalls, Les Chutes du Carbet. Guadeloupe horseback riding is offered at a number of different locations on the island. Off-road exploration by quatre-quatre (4x4) vehicle is also available, primarily on Basse-Terre.
Guadeloupe fitness centers are located throughout the island, many offering daily or weekly rates for visitors. Relaxing Guadeloupe day spas operate independently or are located at some of the island's larger hotels.
For Guadeloupe scuba diving, the most popular spot is Ilet Pigeon (Pigeon Island), off Basse-Terre's west coast, which Jacques Cousteau called "one of the world's 10 best" diving areas. On or near Malendure beach, facing Pigeon Island, several schools have licensed instructors. Dives are also available from the Gosier area and from the small island of Terre-de-Haut off the southern coast of Basse-Terre. All Guadeloupe dive operations are supervised by monitors who have French Government certification. They offer a variety of programs, from initiation to one-day and week-long courses.
Guadeloupe dive operators are located in the Malendure/Bouillante/Pigeon area, Pointe Noire, Deshaies, Port Louis and Sainte-Rose on Basse-Terre. Although the west and north coasts of Basse-Terre are the most popular Guadeloupe dive areas, scuba is also available through dive operators in Gosier, Sainte-Anne and St. François on Grande-Terre.
Guadeloupe windsurfing is so popular a sport that prestigious, international windsurfing events are often held on the island. Lessons and rentals are available at most beachfront hotels. Ste. Anne and St .François are two of the most popular areas for windsurfing in Guadeloupe.
Water skiing in Guadeloupe is available in 15-minute increments per outing, with facilities at the beachfront hotels in Gosier, Ste. Anne and St. François. Water skiing is also available at Baie Mahault and Fort Royal on Basse-Terre. If you want to jet ski in Guadeloupe, rentals are available at most locations that offer water skiing.
Those who enjoy small boats will find many options in Guadeloupe. Motorboats can be rented on an hourly basis. Canoeing and kayaking are available in the resort areas of Gosier, Bas-du-Fort and St. François as well as in Sainte-Rose and Petit-Bourg. Sunfish, Hobie Cats and pedalboats are available at many Guadeloupe beachfront hotels, usually at an hourly rental rate.
LAND SPORTS
Land-based sports in Guadeloupe include golf, tennis, biking and hiking. Golf is available at the island's only course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, located in St. François. A number of tennis clubs around the island are available to visitors. Biking in Guadeloupe is a major sport as evidenced by the 10 day Tour de la Guadeloupe international race held on the island each August.
Hikers will find challenges on Guadeloupe trails of varying length and difficulty in the Parc National’s spectacular rain forest, climbing La Soufrière volcano, or exploring the Caribbean’s highest waterfalls, Les Chutes du Carbet. Guadeloupe horseback riding is offered at a number of different locations on the island. Off-road exploration by quatre-quatre (4x4) vehicle is also available, primarily on Basse-Terre.
Guadeloupe fitness centers are located throughout the island, many offering daily or weekly rates for visitors. Relaxing Guadeloupe day spas operate independently or are located at some of the island's larger hotels.
For swimming and snorkeling in Guadeloupe, it's a good idea to ask locally which areas are currently the best. Snorkeling equipment is available at most hotels. Glass-bottom boats at Malendure Beach offer snorkeling trips to Pigeon Island, and a number of companies offer half- or full-day Guadeloupe snorkeling trips from various other locations on the island.
The best Guadeloupe surfing spots are along the north shore of Grande-Terre at Le Moule, Port Luis and Anse Bertrand; the best months are October through February for the biggest waves, but consistently good surfing on moderate waves is possible year-round. In the summer, Ste. Anne, St. François and Petit-Havre sometimes have good waves. Boards generally rent on either a daily or weekly basis and are available in Le Moule and St. François.
For Guadeloupe scuba diving, the most popular spot is Ilet Pigeon (Pigeon Island), off Basse-Terre's west coast, which Jacques Cousteau called "one of the world's 10 best" diving areas. On or near Malendure beach, facing Pigeon Island, several schools have licensed instructors. Dives are also available from the Gosier area and from the small island of Terre-de-Haut off the southern coast of Basse-Terre. All Guadeloupe dive operations are supervised by monitors who have French Government certification. They offer a variety of programs, from initiation to one-day and week-long courses.
Guadeloupe dive operators are located in the Malendure/Bouillante/Pigeon area, Pointe Noire, Deshaies, Port Louis and Sainte-Rose on Basse-Terre. Although the west and north coasts of Basse-Terre are the most popular Guadeloupe dive areas, scuba is also available through dive operators in Gosier, Sainte-Anne and St. François on Grande-Terre.
Guadeloupe windsurfing is so popular a sport that prestigious, international windsurfing events are often held on the island. Lessons and rentals are available at most beachfront hotels. Ste. Anne and St .François are two of the most popular areas for windsurfing in Guadeloupe.
Water skiing in Guadeloupe is available in 15-minute increments per outing, with facilities at the beachfront hotels in Gosier, Ste. Anne and St. François. Water skiing is also available at Baie Mahault and Fort Royal on Basse-Terre. If you want to jet ski in Guadeloupe, rentals are available at most locations that offer water skiing.
Those who enjoy small boats will find many options in Guadeloupe. Motorboats can be rented on an hourly basis. Canoeing and kayaking are available in the resort areas of Gosier, Bas-du-Fort and St. François as well as in Sainte-Rose and Petit-Bourg. Sunfish, Hobie Cats and pedalboats are available at many Guadeloupe beachfront hotels, usually at an hourly rental rate.
LAND SPORTS
Land-based sports in Guadeloupe include golf, tennis, biking and hiking. Golf is available at the island's only course, designed by Robert Trent Jones, located in St. François. A number of tennis clubs around the island are available to visitors. Biking in Guadeloupe is a major sport as evidenced by the 10 day Tour de la Guadeloupe international race held on the island each August.
Hikers will find challenges on Guadeloupe trails of varying length and difficulty in the Parc National’s spectacular rain forest, climbing La Soufrière volcano, or exploring the Caribbean’s highest waterfalls, Les Chutes du Carbet. Guadeloupe horseback riding is offered at a number of different locations on the island. Off-road exploration by quatre-quatre (4x4) vehicle is also available, primarily on Basse-Terre.
Guadeloupe fitness centers are located throughout the island, many offering daily or weekly rates for visitors. Relaxing Guadeloupe day spas operate independently or are located at some of the island's larger hotels.
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French Caribbean International has been the premier guide to the French West Indies since 1994. We provide a wealth of helpful travel information for visitors to the Caribbean islands of St. Barthélemy (St. Barts, St. Barth, St. Barths), St. Martin / St. Maarten, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Les Saintes and Marie-Galante.