Welcome to Guadeloupe!
If you're in the mood for wining and dining French-style and exploring the natural wonders of a Caribbean paradise, Guadeloupe has so much to offer.

Made up of two islands, Grande-Terre (218 sq. miles) and Basse-Terre (312 sq. miles), and separated by the Riviere-Salee river that connects the Caribbean and Atlantic Seas, Guadeloupe is located 65 miles south of Antigua and 73 miles north of Dominica. Ruled by France along with its nearby island dependencies of La Desirade, Marie Galant and Iles des Saintes, Guadeloupe is a sister island of St. Barts and the French half of St. Martin.

Christopher Columbus discovered the island in 1493 and named it Santa Maria de Guadeloupe de Estremadura, after a Spanish monastery. As he and his crew sailed around Guadeloupe, they noticed what appeared to be a white stone avalanche, which they later realized was a trio of waterfalls towering 300 feet.

Discover the mysteries of the falling stones and La Soufriere, Guadeloupe's dormant volcano, to which you can hike. Or go to Pointe des Chateaux which has several beautiful sand beaches and rocky cliffs that shelter sandy coves. This island has some breath-taking scenery - and has a lot of offer vacationers.

How to get there from the US:

• American Airlines
  800-433-7300
• Air Canada
  800-422-6232
• Air France
  800-237-2747
• Societe Nouvelle Air Guadeloupe
  011/590-82-47-00

Photo by Steven Goldsmith, courtesy
Clement-Petrocik Co.

Climate: Temperatures remain in the mid-80s throughout the year.

Currency: French franc, but U.S. dollars are also accepted.

Banking: Banks are open from 8:00 a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m., with a break from noon to 2:30 for lunch.

Language: French, Creole and some English.

Population: 408,000.

Capital: Basse-Terre.

For more information to help you plan your trip, contact:

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