Your vacation in Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe – sometimes known as the Butterfly Island on account of the shape of two of its major islands, Basse Terre and Grande Terre – is a group of islands in the eastern Caribbean, and is a French overseas department. It’s located southeast of Puerto Rico. As part of France, Guadeloupe is now part of the European Union (EU).

The island of Basse Terre has green and lush vegetation; it’s also mountainous, with a volcano. Grande Terre is a flat and dry island with a lot of beaches, some of them very touristic. Marie Galante is the biggest island off of mainland Guadeloupe. The islands of les Saintes are comprised of Terre de Haut and Terre de Bas, two of the most beautiful bays. La Désirade is a dry and cliffy island. The island of la Petite Terre is largely wild and uninhabited. Saint Martin island is the French part of Guadeloupe, adjacent to Sint Maarten, the Dutch part. Saint Barthélemy is the jet setters’ island.

Not to be missed during your stay is the plate Colombo, which consists of curried chicken and rice, an influence imported from India.

Official language

French

Currency

Euro

Electricity

230 volts, 50 cycles

Shopping

You can buy French perfume, wines, lingerie and local handicraft. Fashion boutiques are on Frébault, de Nozières and Schoelcher Streets. Some stores offer a discount to customers who pay by traveller's cheques or credit card.

Useful information

Even though Guadeloupe is part of France, it has its own sports teams.

The climate in Guadeloupe

Everyday temperatures in Guadeloupe vary around an average of 27°C, with a maximum of 32°C and only rarely descend lower than 20°C. Once in a while, in the months of December and January, however, temperatures can fall below 20°C at night – an occasion so rare that it makes the news every time! Eastern “trade winds” contribute to the moderation of the region’s tropical heat. Water temperatures vary between 20 and 24°C on the more turbulent Atlantic coast, and around 25°C on the much calmer Caribbean front.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guadeloupe

Official language

French

Currency

Euro

Electricity

230 volts, 50 cycles

Shopping

You can buy French perfume, wines, lingerie and local handicraft. Fashion boutiques are on Frébault, de Nozières and Schoelcher Streets. Some stores offer a discount to customers who pay by traveller's cheques or credit card.

Useful information

Even though Guadeloupe is part of France, it has its own sports teams.