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Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

Adventurous Slomad Travel

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Hiking the Porte d’Enfer (Hell’s Gate) on Grande-Terre

Last Updated: January 4, 2022 · Guadeloupe

La Porte d’Enfer (Hell’s Gate/Door) is one of those “wow” hiking spots on Guadeloupe. The Porte d’Enfer hiking trail hugs the lagoon and clifftops, eventually reaching the impressive Trou du Souffleur blowhole beyond the Pointe de Tortue.

Despite its name, this natural gem feels like a magical place. Cliffs tower against the deep blue of the ocean and the white splashing of its waves. Diverse fauna and flora sleep, sway, and stand watch.

Admittedly, the Atlantic Ocean winds and large waves crashing against spiky rocks all make for a tumultuous atmosphere. On land, you’re safe. But observing the power of the ocean against the craggy cliffside does raise your awareness and sense of vulnerability. As I carefully inched toward the overhanging edge at the Trou de Madame Coco, I could feel my goosebumps reminding me to be of sure-footing, less I wish to end up in a watery grave.

If you are a hiker and adventurer at heart, you will absolutely love the sense of freedom and mystery of the Porte d’Enfer. Here’s how to hike the Porte d’Enfer trail on the northeastern side of Grand-Terre, Guadeloupe.

Table of Contents show
Guide: La Porte d’Enfer, Guadeloupe
Getting to Porte d’Enfer
La Porte d’Enfer Hiking Trail
Trou de Madame Coco
Trou du Souffleur
What Else to See on a North Grande-Terre Road Trip
Viewpoints
La Pointe de la Grande Vigie
Grotte de l’Anse Castalia
Anse-Bertrand

Guide: La Porte d’Enfer, Guadeloupe

woman hiking the Porte d'Enfer trail in Grand Terre, Guadeloupe

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 $99+

🚗 Rent a car in Guadeloupe from €17 on Discovercars.com

🏠 Slow down your travels by staying overnight in hotels in northern Grande-Terre

🎒 Pack and wear durable hiking sandals/shoes, sunscreen, and a rugged power bank

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

📸 Bring your best travel camera and drone gear for epic shots

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

☀️ Sunset in Guadeloupe is at 18:00 (6 PM), turn around on the trail minimum 1 hour in advance

Getting to Porte d’Enfer

With a rental car, getting to La Porte d’Enfer is easy. There are no buses, so beware that to get around the island you will need to rent a car. It’s best to reserve in advance for the best rates.

La Porte d’Enfer is located just off Hwy D122 on Grande-Terre, in the community of Anse-Bertrand.

From Pointe-à-Pitre:

  • 54 minutes, 38km/23mi
  • Take N5 to and beyond Morne à l’Eau
  • Rte de Bellevue
Roadside sign for the Porte d'Enfer Biosphere Reserve

From Saint-François:

  • 47 minutes, 40km/25mi
  • Take N5 to and beyond Le Moule
  • Follow D120 to D122, Rte de Douvilles

🌟 If you don’t have data/wifi on your mobile phone, you can go to an Orange store and buy a pre-paid SIM card with 30GB of data for €65. Alternatively, you can use the wifi in your hotel to download an offline map of Guadeloupe.

La Porte d’Enfer Hiking Trail

Porte D'Enfer Lagoon in Grand Terre
The Porte d’Enfer lagoon. The hiking trail hugs the coastline!

The parking lot for the Porte d’Enfer hiking trail will be on your left as you head north up the coast. You can’t miss it, seeing as there are speedbumps and signs indicating your arrival. Pull off to the left and park in the gravel lot. Cross the road and head into the trees. There’s a wooden bridge indicating the start of the trail.

Follow this leafy, sandy path for 5–10 minutes to reach the mouth of the Porte d’Enfer lagoon. I’ve seen some old photos of this spot, with turquoise blue water, but the reality today is red, murky water from pollutive sargassum (and someone mentioned construction?).

The hiking trail hugs the lagoon on its right.

  • Female hiker at Pointe D'Enfer Lagoon in Grand Terre Guadeloupe
  • Male backpacker at Pointe D'Enfer Lagoon in Grand Terre Guadeloupe

Pack comfortable hiking shoes (preferably closed-toed) because you’ll need to trample and climb over many jagged, sharp rocks.

It takes around 15–20 minutes hiking at a casual pace to reach the first scenic viewpoint at Trou de Madame Coco.

☀️ To reach the Trou de Souffleur and come back, account for at least 2.5 hours of hiking round-trip (9.8 km). Plan accordingly! It would be wise to pack sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses because there is little to no shade on the Porte d’Enfer trail.

Jagged rocks on the Porte d'Enfer hiking trail in Grand Terre
Make sure to wear comfortable hiking shoes — these rocks are spiky!
Trou de Madame Coco

Trou de Madame Coco

Just around the bend (facing the jagged Pointe du Piton jutting out of the ocean), is the Trou de Madame Coco. This striking hole is majestic and powerful. Waves ride over and spill down the rocks with such force, it’s frightening. Don’t get too close to the edge! If you’re taking photos and not looking, don’t step back. Just be careful — I can’t imagine anyone would survive a tumble into that thrashing water below.

Trou du Souffleur

The Trou du Souffleur is what most hikers come to see since you can witness water spitting out of the blowhole. You can even continue hiking beyond this trail, to do a half-loop in sort, but you’ll need to plan two cars if so.

What Else to See on a North Grande-Terre Road Trip

The landscape on northern Grande-Terre is wildly different than anywhere on Guadeloupe. A full-day road trip is a perfect way to explore it all.

  • female backpacker hiking in Guadeloupe
  • pointe du piton rock in ocean off Grand Terre coastline in Guadeloupe

Viewpoints

The Porte d’Enfer and coastline can also be seen from the side of the highway. Continue past the parking lot for the Porte d’Enfer hike. On the right side of the road are large pull-over areas where you can get out and take some panoramic photos of the Porte d’Enfer and its lagoon. You won’t be able to see Trou de Madame Coco from here.

La Pointe de la Grande Vigie

Why not see the northernmost tip of the Guadeloupe Islands? La Pointe de la Grande Vigie is just that. Go where few other travelers go with a visit to this protected area. A quick and easy trail loops around the tip so you can see the vast Atlantic and cliffsides of Grande Terre in front of you.

Grotte de l’Anse Castalia

Several other stops and viewpoints on a north Grande-Terre road trip are possible too! Though we didn’t have time to see it, La Grotte de l’Anse Castalia looks like a little slice of heaven. A short hiking trail leads you down to a carved-out blue swimming hole.

Anse-Bertrand

The town of Anse-Bertrand is a sleepy coastal town on the northwest side of Grande Terre. You can find lots of restaurants and budget-friendly accommodation options here. Definitely take the time to enjoy the Plage de l’Anse Bertrand and its white sand beach. The Plage du Souffleur just north of the neighboring town of Port Louis is also a sight for sore eyes.

If you love scenic hikes, you’ll seriously love Porte d’Enfer! The landscape is completely different than what you’ll see in Basse Terre, or even other places to visit in Grande-Terre (except maybe for the Pointe des Châteaux). If you have any questions, just shout!

Happy adventuring!

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  • Woman hiking on trail in Guadeloupe
  • Woman hiking in Guadeloupe, photo with text overlay "Porte d'Enfer Hiking Guide"

By: Bri · In: Guadeloupe

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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!

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Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨ 💻 WORKIN Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨

💻 WORKING ONLINE
While not all nomads/remote workers have online-specific jobs, it’s the easiest way to sustain an income for full-time or long-term travel. Here are some jobs you can do as a digital nomad!

• Blogging (This is what I do full-time!)
• Content Creation / Brand Sponsorship
• Virtual Assisting
• Social Media Management
• YouTube or Podcasting
• Graphic / Web Design
• Coding / Development
• Photography / Videography
• Freelance Writing (How I started)
• Marketing / Amazon FBA / Ecommerce

📍PICKING YOUR DIGITAL NOMAD DESTINATION
There are many countries out there offering digital nomad visas, but you don’t even need one to just travel as a tourist and stay in-country for 30, 60, 90, or 180 days. Nomads go everywhere as long as there’s a Wi-Fi connection, some countries you may consider are Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, Vietnam, Croatia, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Brazil, and beyond! Even lesser-known places such as Namibia are starting to offer nomad visas to entice long-term travelers to visit.

🏡 FINDING HOUSING ABROAD
Read my blog post for the full guide on this, but basically, check local Facebook groups for renting local housing for extended stays and then use Airbnbs for shorter stays or to negotiate longer contracts with the owner. There are even more “nomad rental websites” these days to make finding accommodation even easier. Don’t overlook co-living/working spaces too like Selina where the digital nomad community tends to congregate.

💛 EXPLORING LOCALLY/RESPONSIBLY
As always, be mindful and respectful when you visit these communities. Many small towns are struggling with rapid growth and overdevelopment so be mindful of your choices of where you stay, how you spend your money, and who you support.

My best advice + detailed guides are all on the blog, free for you to use! Let me know if you have any questions about digital nomad life! 

Lastly, don’t overthink it. Moving countries isn’t as intimidating as you may think! It’s become second nature for us now after several years! 🐈‍⬛💃🌎✨
I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover t I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover this incredible country beyond the resorts and beaches, having lived temporarily in 5 out of the 32 Mexican states (Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Chiapas, Oaxaca, and now Baja California Sur) as a digital nomad who’s been slow traveling/living in and out of Mexico since 2018. 

There is so, so much cultural and natural beauty in Mexico — I wish more people could experience this country for themselves and not through the eyes of the media.

***Please visit Mexico as a digital nomad (or tourist in general) responsibly and mindfully. Stay local, eat local, drink local, shop local, support local. Leave No Trace and be conscious of your choices and impact!*** 

Here are the cities/towns we’ve slow traveled/lived in for extended stays.

• Oaxaca City — a colorful, historic open museum rich in indigenous culture and gastronomy 
• San Cristóbal de las Casas — an endearing pueblo mágico in the Chiapas Highlands
• La Paz — the capital city of BCS teeming with marine life, diving, fish tacos, and desert vibes
• San Pancho — an eco-conscious town in Nayarit famous for its sunsets and community
• Tulum — no introduction needed (and I wouldn’t go back here as a nomad due to overdevelopment)

Other great cities/towns/destinations for digital nomads are:

• Guadalajara (state of Jalisco)
• Santiago de Querétaro (state of Querétaro)
• San Miguel de Allende or Guanajuato City (state of Guanajuato)
• Playa del Carmen (state of Quintana Roo)
• Valladolid or Mérida (state of Yucatán)
• México City/CDMX (state of México)
• Sayulita (state of Nayarit)
• Puerto Vallarta (state of Jalisco)
• Puerto Escondido (state of Oaxaca)

I’d love to know what you think about Mexico and where you’ve been in the comments! 🇲🇽💛

And for the detailed guide of 13 places to live/visit, read my blog @bucketlistbri .com (just type in “places to live mexico” in the quick search bar if you can’t find the post under my “Mexico” category).

#mexicomagico #digitalnomad #visitmexico #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #mexicotravel #mexicodestinations #nomadadigital #nomada #mexicomaravilloso #slowtravelling #mindfultravel
PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will f PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will follow you around the world until you face them no matter how much you travel or move countries 🙃 

I know I’m not the only one that feels restless at times and idolizes moving to a new region/country/continent to shake my feelings of anxiety or self-doubt or fear! (Also, I tend to think about moving to another country even when I just moved to a new one 😅)

I know because I have lived abroad for 8+ years. I used to try to drown out my icky feelings and past traumas with lots of alcohol but now I carry them with me like I do my mismatched socks — they add to the quirkiness and remind me I don’t have to be, and am not, perfect. 

And that life is more interesting that way, anyway. 

Anddd that most importantly, whenever I get lost, I can and will be found again — I just may look and think differently after new adventures but I am still loved and never lost forever 🧦 ✨💛 

In sum, whether you travel full-time or not, take care of yourself ✨💛

#nomadness #nomadlife #lifeofadventure #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #offbeattravel #remoteworklife #homeawayfromhome #slowtravelstories #mentalhealthawarness
The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri: 💛 P The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri:

💛 Paul
😻 Yoda
🌍 Traveling & adventuring
👩🏼‍💻 Blogging & writing

Among other things like nature, photography, reading, animals, journaling, art, playing Zelda/games, dancing/music, culture/languages, enjoying rly good food and drinks! 😋 

What about you? What recharges you?? 

#rechargemysoul #blogging #adventures #writing #soulfulliving #mindfulliving #mindfultravel #nomadcouple #creativeliving
1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨ 🌋 ARENA 1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨

🌋 ARENAL // LA FORTUNA (2 days)
- Hike in the Arenal Volcano National Park
- Indulge in a local chocolate/coffee tour (s/o to @northfieldscafe)
- Go on a wildlife safari float (s/o to Raúl for pura vida vibes!)
- Lounge in natural hot springs (highly recommend the budget-friendly Relax Termalitas in Fortuna)
- Visit La Fortuna waterfall
- Check out the Butterfly Conservatory

🦥 QUEPOS // MANUEL ANTONIO (2-3 days)
- Take a guided or DIY tour of Manuel Antonio National Park
- Chill out on the Espadilla beach
- Explore the cute towns
- Watch for wildlife in the trees!

🌿 MONTEVERDE // SANTA ELENA (2 days)
- Visit/hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
- Go ziplining
- Birdwatching on a canopy tour
- Monteverde coffee tour
- Do a nature night walk

My sister and I surprised our mom with this bucket list trip on her birthday, and we had a blast! 🥹

Send this itinerary to someone you know who has always wanted to go to Costa Rica 🦋💛✨🌿🦜🐒

#costarica #bucketlisttrip #puravida #costaricaitinerary #lafortuna #manuelantonio #monteverde #ecotourism
Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a q Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a quite a humbling experience, and one that’s been at the top of my bucket list for ages! 🥺

Right now is prime whale shark season in La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico, so Paul and I made sure to go before we jetted off to see family for the holidays! I’m still in awe of these gentle giants and the fact that we got to swim alongside them!

Read all about the best whale shake tours in La Paz + ethical whale shark tourism in my latest blog post! Link in bio 💛

Send this to a friend who loves whale sharks! 🐳🦈

#whalesharks #lapaz #bajacaliforniasur #ethicaltravel #responsibletravel #ecotourism #golapaz #mexicotravel #bucketlist #seaofcortez
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