• HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • COURSE
  • PODCAST
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • COURSE
  • PODCAST
  • DESTINATIONS
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

Adventurous Slomad Travel

  • Start Here
  • Destinations
  • Digital Nomad
  • Responsible Travel
  • Slow Travel
  • Van Life

Basse-Terre Island: Diving, Waterfalls, & Volcano Hikes

Last Updated: February 11, 2022 · Guadeloupe

Basse-Terre island in Guadeloupe is wild, lush, and teeming with adventure! There are so many things to do and see from chasing incredible waterfalls like the Chutes du Carbet to scuba diving in the renowned Jacques Cousteau Reserve in Guadeloupe National Park.

Unlike the Grande-Terre—the main island of Guadeloupe—Basse-Terre is so green and tropical! 🌴 Between the Soufrière volcano and the palm-tree-covered hills, Basse-Terre feels like a jungly paradise.

The contrast of the black beaches with the golden ones you’ll find in Grande-Terre is just beautiful; it’s like yin and yang.

Read on to discover everything you need to know to plan your epic trip to Basse-Terre island in Guadeloupe in search of the islands’ many amazing natural gems and wonders.

Table of Contents show
How to Visit Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe
Getting to & Around Basse-Terre Island in Guadeloupe
Where to Stay on Basse-Terre
Best Things to See & Do on Basse-Terre
Scuba Dive in Jacques Cousteau Reserve
Hike Soufrière Volcano
Explore the Waterfalls in Guadeloupe National Park
Day Trip to Les Saintes Islands
Hike the Sentier Grande Pointe / Roches Gravées
Chill on Malendure Beach
Bathe in Natural Hot Springs
Visit Sleepy Deshaies
What to Pack for Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe

How to Visit Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe

1st Carbet Falls framed by rainforest tropical plants
Carbet Falls

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

✈️ Find cheap flights to Guadeloupe on KAYAK from $67+

🚗 Book your rental car well in advance on Discovercars.com

🏠 Stay at one of these top-rated hotels in Basse-Terre

🎒 Pack reef-friendly sunscreen and a travel power bank

💧 Remember to hydrate—fill a reusable water bottle and take 1L per person

📸 Bring your travel camera and drone gear for epic shots

🛡 Protect your adventures with SafetyWing, the global travel medical insurance for nomads

☀️ Sunset in Guadeloupe is around 18:00 (6 PM), turn around on any hikes before dark

Getting to & Around Basse-Terre Island in Guadeloupe

Exterior building of Pointe-à-Pitre airport in Guadeloupe
Pointe-à-Pitre airport

The Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport (PTP) is the only international airport that serves the French Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe.

The airport is located in the western part of Grande-Terre, nearby Le Gosier and the highway connecting Grande-Terre to Basse-Terre island.

Once you land in Grande-Terre, your only option for getting to and around Basse-Terre is by rental car. It’s wise to go ahead and rent a car at Pointe-à-Pitre airport at least 2-3 months in advance before your trip dates. With the pandemic, car rentals in Guadeloupe are experiencing a surge in demand yet a shortage in available cars. It was such a struggle to rent a car when we were there—nothing was left! (And this was off-season.)

A rental car in Guadeloupe is simply a must for vacationers! If you don’t have a rental car for your time in Guadeloupe, you’ll find it very difficult to get around and do anything.

Where to Stay on Basse-Terre

market selling fresh fruits and vegetables in Bouillante
girl standing on stairs of Creole house with blue railing in Basse-Terre Guadeloupe

Basse-Terre isn’t very big, and you could road trip it within a matter of days. But to really appreciate the island and partake in its many adventurous outdoor activities, consider staying for at least a week. You won’t run of things to do—promise!

That said, not everywhere in Basse-Terre is ideal for a week-long stay.

While the location of your accommodation doesn’t matter that much if you have a rental car, you will save heaps of time driving around and getting stuck in traffic delays if you localize yourself somewhere on the west coast or the “Côte du Vent.”

The hot-springs town of Bouillante is home to beaches, thermal waters, and the Réserve Cousteau for diving and snorkeling around the Pigeon Islands.

female traveler wading in water at Pigeon Islands, Réserve Cousteau in Guadeloupe Caribbean

If you base yourself around Bouillante, you’ll be only 45 minutes drive from the cute seaside town of Deshaies, and only 55-ish minutes from the base of Soufrière Volcano.

The waterfalls in Guadeloupe National Park are scattered about, so you’ll need to do a bit of driving for those regardless.

I’d recommend spending 5-8 days in Basse-Terre divided into these destinations:

  • 3-4 days in Bouillante for Malendure beach, diving, snorkeling, restaurants, hot springs, and Guadeloupe National Park waterfalls!
  • 1-2 days in Deshaies.
  • 1-3 days in the south of Basse-Terre near Trois Rivières for an overnight trip/day trip to Les Saintes Islands and excursion to hike Les Chutes du Carbet Falls.

Looking for the perfect place to stay? We use Booking.com to find top-rated apartments and hotels wherever we go! ✨

Book by activity and location:

  • For easy access to the Soufrière Volcano hike — Gîte de la Vielle Sucrerie (St Claude)
  • Bouillante town, Cousteau Réserve, hot springs — Gîte La Nantillaise
  • Deshaies town, Grande Anse beach, more beaches — Mangoplaya or Langley Resort Fort Royal
  • Trois-Rivières (town with ferry to Les Saintes islands) — Bel Z’Iguane
  • Terre-de-Haut (islet of Les Saintes Islands) — Villa Le Sucrier

Best Things to See & Do on Basse-Terre

Scuba Dive in Jacques Cousteau Reserve

woman's legs and flippers while snorkeling in the Jacques Cousteau Reserve in Guadeloupe
female diver diving in guadeloupe
coral sponges in jacques cousteau marine park

Dive pioneer and adventurer Jacques Cousteau once dove around the Pigeon Islands, an area now known worldwide as the Jacques Cousteau Marine Reserve (or Réserve Cousteau). It was integrated into the Guadeloupe National Park and was eventually declared as the “heart” of the park.

It’s here you can witness some of the most beautiful dive spots in Guadeloupe. Read more about what it was like to dive at the Pointe Lézarde inside the protected marine park in my guide.

Hike Soufrière Volcano

Crater of Soufriere Volcano in Guadeloupe
soufriere volcano hike
Credit: Guadeloupe Advisor via Viator

Hiking Soufrière, the only volcano in Guadeloupe and the highest peak in the Lesser Antilles (1467 m)—was at the tippy-top of my bucket list. But, due to protests over the vaccine and several roadblocks, we couldn’t go.

If you do get the chance to do this awesome hike, prepare for incredible views and an intense workout. Soufrière is rarely clear, so if it’s an exceptionally clear day, stop what you’re doing and head up the mountain.

The trail difficulty is marked moderate-hard and takes around 3 hours. You can read more about the trails on Basse-Terre, including the ascent up to Soufrière and the Soufrière Loop trail on AllTrails.

Explore the Waterfalls in Guadeloupe National Park

Carbet Falls tumbles down the cliffside in the Guadeloupe National Park
hiker on bridge surrounded by tropical rainforest
Les Chutes du Carbet

Guadeloupe National Park is just incredible. It’s so lush, so wild, and bubbling over with raw beauty (sometimes, quite literally thanks to its natural hot springs!).

There are dozens of waterfall hikes to go on, but the jewel of them all just might be the tiered Carbet Falls deep in the rainforest. It’s even said they were logged in the journal of Christopher Columbus when arriving at the shores of Basse-Terre. (Can you imagine?)

Many other falls and springs can be found along the Route de la Traversée that cross the national park (and cuts cross the island of Basse-Terre so you don’t have to loop around from north to south).

Other waterfalls in Basse-Terre to take note of are:

  • Crayfish Waterfall (Cascade aux Écrevisses)
  • Saut de la Lézard
  • Saut de Matouba Falls
  • Acomat Falls
  • La Cascade Paradis
  • Saut des Trois Cornes
  • Bassin Bleue
  • Bras de Fort Falls

Day Trip to Les Saintes Islands

man driving scooter to beach in Les Saintes, Guadeloupe
Town of Terre-de-Haut with red roofs and turquoise water from the bay

One of the highlights of our time in Guadeloupe was our day excursion to Les Saintes — another subset of islets located just south of Basse-Terre. You can get there in 35 minutes by ferry.

Exploring Terre-de-Haut in one day was so much fun. No cars are on the island, as it’s so small and remote, so people only get around on foot, bike, or scooter!

If you have one or two days to spare, you must visit Terre-de-Haut (Les Saintes). It’s the traditional and well-kempt slice of Guadeloupe paradise with colorful Creole-style houses, cobbled streets, beachfront restaurants, and beaches galore!

Hike the Sentier Grande Pointe / Roches Gravées

girl hiking on the coastline in Basse-Terre Guadeloupe
girl hiking on the jungly coastline in Basse-Terre Guadeloupe
girl hiking on the coastline in Basse-Terre Guadeloupe

Hiking in Basse-Terre isn’t quite like what you experience hiking around Grande-Terre. While Pointe des Châteaux and Porte d’Enfer feature craggy cliffs and strong Atlantic winds and waves, the hikes on Basse-Terre are wet and wild.

I particularly loved the hike “Grande Pointe” south of Basse-Terre in Trois-Rivières.

This hike skirts the southern coastline and features an archaeological park with engraved rocks by the Arawak indigenous peoples who resided across South America and the Greater and the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean.

The river La Coulisse rejoins the ocean along this hike and actually leads you to another hidden waterfall. It’s best to go during the summer months, though, when there has been enough rainfall to hike up the river. I wouldn’t recommend doing it alone, so go with a group or find an outdoor guide who can safely take you.

Chill on Malendure Beach

Plage de Malendure Beach in Bouillante, Basse-Terre Guadeloupe

Malendure Beach is a popular black-sand beach just beyond the town of Bouillante. It’s the gateway to the Cousteau Reserve and the Pigeon Islands.

You can rent kayaks and SUP boards straight from one of the shops on the beach, eat cheap bokit sandwiches and churros from the beachfront shacks, or just watch the sun go down over the Caribbean Sea. It’s such a beautiful spot to relax (can get crowded, though).

Bathe in Natural Hot Springs

Woman bathing in "bains chauds" hot springs in Bouillante, Basse-Terre Guadeloupe
Hot springs in Bouillante, Guadeloupe

You can’t come to Basse-Terre and not steep in its thermal waters. Natural hot springs are aplenty on Basse-Terre, particularly in the town of Bouillante (thanks to the volcano!).

The “Bains Chauds du Bourg” is one of my favorite (free) hot springs; just simply wade in the sea and you’ll feel the incredibly hot water from the geothermal factory in Bouillante.

In fact, the natural hot water is so hot that the factory actually has to cool it before it sends it out into the sea! Les bains chauds de Thomas are also popular.

Visit Sleepy Deshaies

Deshaies, Guadeloupe. Credit: Stevegeer via Getty Images

Deshaies is one of the most popular towns to visit in Basse-Terre, besides Bouillante.

Apparently, it’s the traditional meets modern town of the island with enough restaurant options and beaches to keep tourists happy, while remaining down-to-earth and typical.

Chances are you’ve heard of it before if you’ve ever watched BBC’s hit show Death in Paradise, as Deshaies is the real-life filming location for it.

We didn’t get to visit during our time, so, along with Soufrière, I’m re-adding it to the list!

What to Pack for Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe

Male hiker looks at the 2nd Carbet Falls tumbles down the cliffside in the Guadeloupe National Park
female traveler overlooking Terre-de-Haut in Les Saintes islands in Guadeloupe France

If you are getting excited about traveling around Basse-Terre, amazing! Before you go, make sure to review this quick packing list to help plan your trip!

  • Bathing suit
  • Waterproof shoes for waterfall hikes
  • Biodegradable mosquito repellent (get some before you get here)
  • Reef-friendly sunscreen
  • Sunglasses and sun hat
  • Beach cover ups
  • Hiking trousers or shorts
  • Breathable shirts and tanks
  • Hiking sandals or boots (for Soufrière)
  • Scuba dive mask
  • Day bag
  • Reusable water bottle
  • Microfiber towel or beach towel

Basically, pack for tropical weather, hiking, beach adventures, and swimsuits for waterfall dips, hot spring soaks, and ocean dives! 🐠

If you have any questions about traveling in Basse-Terre, send me your questions in the comment section below. Bon voyage!

📍 LIKE IT? PIN IT!

By: Bri · In: Guadeloupe

you’ll also love

Travel couple overlooking Terre-de-Haut island in Guadeloupe CaribbeanWhere to Stay in Guadeloupe? 19 Best Hotels & Resorts
coral sponges in jacques cousteau marine parkDiving in the Jacques Cousteau Underwater Reserve
view of the Terre de Haut island bay with sailboats and red roofed Creole housesOne Day Itinerary Exploring Terre de Haut – Les Saintes Islands

Join the List

Stay up to date with the latest adventures and travel guides.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Next Post >

12+ Best Day Trips From Puerto Vallarta

Primary Sidebar

hello!

I’m Bri, an adventurous digital nomad living abroad full-time since 2015. It is my hope to inspire you to live a life of adventure, seek out meaningful experiences, and travel slowly and mindfully!

About Me

Connect

join the list

Featured Posts

Lyon in the fall with lake and Fourvière Basilica in background.

The Ultimate 3-Day Lyon, France Itinerary

Shipyard Cafe in St. Martins, New Brunswick #canada #adventure #cafe #newbrunswick

Best Coffee Shop in St. Martins, New Brunswick

Reading in my ecological treehouse @ Aldea Bamboo in San Pancho Mexico | Bucketlist Bri

25 Eco-Friendly Travel Tips for the Eco-Conscious Traveler

QUICK LINKS

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • WORK
  • COURSE
  • PODCAST
  • DESTINATIONS

Search

Let’s Connect!

@bucketlistbri

Eating as a solo female traveler in Japan 🇯🇵 Eating as a solo female traveler in Japan 🇯🇵 >>

I used to loathe eating alone in public but Japan literally is where you go to do just that! 🍜🍡🍣

My confidence level after walking into this bar and taking up space with no fear 🥲❤️‍🔥

Have you ever felt intimidated to eat alone in public or alone as a woman? 🙈 

S/o to all the courteous men and women who made me feel so welcome as a solo female traveler in Japan. No matter whether I was eating at 9pm in some random place on a rainy night or midday in a stand-up bar drinking beer, I was never judged nor “talked up” once. And it was amazing and freeing and sooo appreciated 🤍⚡️

#japantravel #solofemaletraveler #japanfood #solotravelstories #localtravel
Dear me, thank you 🥰 This is your sign to tak Dear me, thank you 🥰 

This is your sign to take yourself to your dream destination (even—or especially—if you have to go solo!) ✨✨✨

Follow along to see my adventures in Japan! 🇯🇵 

#japantrip #solotraveling #japanawaits #travelingsolo #mindfultravel
Memories from Morjim, Anjuna, & Panjim (Goa, India Memories from Morjim, Anjuna, & Panjim (Goa, India) 🇮🇳 

1. Waiting on India's first digital nomad conference to start! (CYF CON) 

2a. The funkiest hippie/night market in Anjuna

2b. Overlooking the beautiful and historic Panjim (the capital of Goa) 🌴

2c. One of the oldest + most popular Portuguese Baroque-style chapels in Goa (Lady of Immaculate Conception, Panjim)

3. I specifically requested a yellow scooter just so I could take a picture like this lol 🛵

4a. Kitty portrait inside a really cool speakeasy

4b. Feeling cute at the cutest little outdoor gin cocktail bar 

4c. Sunset over Chapora Bay + Arabian Sea

4d. Nightlife / beach shacks on Arpora 

5. Looking out at the sea from atop the ruined Chapora Fort

6. Bollywood dancing with the gals 💃🏼

7. Street shot in Panjim 📸

8. Wandering around the Fontainhas Latin Quarter (Panjim)

9a. Morjim Beach (shot from atop Chapora Fort)

9b. Local Goans + holy cow walking on Mandrem beach at sunset 🌅 

10. Enjoying our stay at the lovely  @anamivagoa 

PS. All of these memories and experiences wouldn’t have been possible without @nurall_co 💛 Nurall's next remote work retreat is in KHAO LAK, THAILAND 🇹🇭this July 2023 (cost: $900 USD only). Comment or DM me for an extra 5% off if you’re interested in signing up!

#goa #indiatraveldiaries #morjim #anjuna #panjim #slowtravel #remoteworklife #nomadiccreators #digitalnomadgirls
Whether its for adventure, community, or leveling Whether its for adventure, community, or leveling up your business, a digital nomad / remote work retreat is one of the best ways to work remotely and travel! 💻✈️

I’ve rounded up some of the best curated trips and retreats out there in my latest blog post (🔗 in bio to check it out!) 

Featured in my guide are:

@nurall_co 
@beunsettled 
@minoma.co 
@workwanderers
@the_nomad_escape
@remoteyear

Types of experiences you could discover with these guys range from training for 🥊 Muay Thai in Khao Lak, Thailand (@nurall_co co) to 🥾 hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain (@beunsettled) to ⛺️ camping out in the desert of Morocco (@minoma.co), and more!

WHY JOIN A NOMAD / REMOTE WORK RETREAT? 👇

Retreats offer curated itineraries/experiences designed to bring you epic adventures in bucket list destinations, plug you into the local scene, and collab with like-minded souls — all while leveling up your business/entrepreneurial skills and remote lifestyle and giving you creative space to cowork in beautiful places. 🤗

On a digital nomad retreat, you might...

💡Strike a new business idea
⚡️Spark a sweet romance with a stranger
👀 Get your project noticed by an investor
🥰 Form a life-long friendship (or a few!)
🌿 Build a new brand from scratch
💃 Change directions completely in your personal life
🧘‍♀️ Strengthen your sense of self, confidence, and spirituality

These are just examples of the very many outcomes you could gain from attending a digital nomad retreat.

In short, these programs have the power to evoke positive change in your life and, more often than not, your investment is rewarded handsomely (in more ways than one). ✌️

I’m long-time digital slomad, but after discovering Goa, India with @nurall_co I’m most definitely going to attend more retreats like this in the future! ✨✨

*Not spons, btw! Just sharing ways you can find a community of digital nomads, whether you want to be one or already are one! 👩🏼‍💻💛

My blog guide shares the deets about price, location, etc — go check it out and save this reel! ✨

#digitalnomads #remoteworkandtravel #grouptravel #grouptrip #remoteworklife #laptoplifestyle #digitalnomadgirls
< 1 week until we get to do this again! Adventur < 1 week until we get to do this again! 

Adventures await us in our beasty 1990 Roadtrek 🚐🌲🥾 — she’s been sitting out winter in Washington while we tanned our toes in Mexico 🇲🇽 

I’ve never been able to choose between the mountains ⛰️ and the sea 🌊 … you? 

Tell me what kind of summer you’re manifesting in the comments! 🧡

#vanlife #summeriscoming #granolagirl #roadtrek #pnwadventures #outdoorsy #homeiswhereyouparkit
And... WE’RE LIVE!! 🚀 I’m stoked (read 90 And... WE’RE LIVE!! 🚀 

I’m stoked (read 90% nervous, 10% excited), to share that @slomadstories is officially OUT THERE! 

I actually had the first episode published on April 4th, but was too shy to share about it until now. 

But, as you’ll hear when you tune in... (🥳) this podcast isn’t just about highlighting raw, meaningful stories of adventure by ordinary people who seek an extraordinary life — YES, it’s mostly about that — but the very heart of this podcast is about DOING things despite how much they SCARE you or thrust you into the UNKNOWN.

I’ve always *tried* to live my one very short life by seeking to know, chasing curiosity, and jumping headfirst into the journey. 

— This podcast is simply a new endeavor, a new project that WILL NOT stop whispering at my heart. I’ve been trying to deny this urge, this tug, for so long! The whispers started in 2020 when a person who I thought would become a close friend bailed on the idea to start one together. So I let the idea go, for a while. But then it came back twice as strong in 2022, when I was living as a temporary nomad in Portugal for two months. It was there that I had my podcast cover art designed. That was already 1.5 years ago! 

Life passes us by...

We hear the whispers, we see the project coming to life in our heads, we feel the pull...

But we say no over and over again, and we make very legitimate excuses, until ultimately, the idea, the spark, the magic, fades; it chooses someone else to birth the idea and manifest itself into creation (something I learned reading “Big Magic” by Liz Gilbert, it’s amazing, go read it!). 

I have no idea why I felt the need to start a podcast, it’s not like I am already juggling enough.

But I wanted to, for me.

For you ✨ 

For everyone who ever chased that feeling, that tug. 

Because that?? 

That’s been my life for the last decade. I moved abroad countless times — and stayed — from Nepal to Mexico and beyond, and I would’ve never done ANY of it if I had not listened to the whispers.

This podcast is about continuing in the pursuit of the unknown, seeking more, and taking decisive action.

Welcome to Slomad Stories, & thank you for being here. 🧡

Xx,
Bri
Follow My Adventures

Footer

On the Blog

  • Start Here
  • Destinations
  • Digital Nomad
  • Responsible Travel
  • Slow Travel
  • Van Life

Info

  • Work With Me
  • My Blog Course
  • Slomad Stories Podcast
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

adventures await x

Copyright © 2023 · Bucketlist Bri | All Rights Reserved

11 shares