THE CARIBBEAN · GUADELOUPE
Good tours & day trips in Guadeloupe fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 14 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
From Baie-Mahault, skipper Simon takes a small group of up to 12 around Grand-Cul-de-Sac-Marin. Expect mangroves, Îlet Caret, Îlet la Biche, coral reef snorkeling, a wreck, starfish, a barbecue lunch, and a relaxed Caribbean atmosphere.
“Such a great day! Simon was amazing. My favorite thing we did in Guadeloupe. The lunch of the boat was delicious.”
Set out from Riviere-Sens Marina at 9 a.m. with Reve de Nav for a full day sailing from Basse-Terre to Les Saintes. Expect a small group of no more than nine, swimming and snorkeling near an accessible wreck, a three-course Creole lunch, and a chance to take the helm with guidance from skippers such as Mathieu, Raphaëlle, Didier, or Olivier. You return around sunset.
“Super sortie en mer avec possibilité de prendre la barre, rhum colombo et snurkling. Bonne ambiance et personnel très professionnel. Traversée et visites des saintes depuis le bateau. N'hésitez pas à aller voir sur Google ou j'ai laissé un avis avec une belle description”
From quiet Babin Beach, a qualified guide teaches you stand-up paddleboarding before leading you toward Islet Macou through the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin mangrove. Expect clear water, red mangrove tunnels, coastal wildlife, and a homemade lemonade stop in a small cove. Guides such as Mathieu and Lilian bring a friendly, informative touch.
“Lilian est très passionnée et les explications sur les mangroves sont parfaites. Citronnade maison offerte en cours de circuit. Passage à l intérieur de mangrove tres impressionnant. Merci à Lilian”
Spend four hours around Deshaies, Guadeloupe, visiting Death in Paradise locations with Kinga, a guide closely connected to the production. See the police station, Catherine’s Bar, Fort Royal, La Perle Beach, Grande Anse, and filming sites that larger tours may skip. Pickup and transfers are available, with a maximum of eight people.
“Kinga was a very knowledgeable Guide. Excellent tour through the film location. We enjoyed every minute.”
Spend about eight hours with Captain Brice exploring Guadeloupe’s Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin from Bas-du-Fort marina. You’ll pass through mangroves, snorkel at a wreck, eat a barbecue lunch among semi-submerged islets, and stop at Îlet Caret. Drinks, local explanations, and a friendly private-group setting are included.
“Great experience, Brice is very nice. Fun and educational walk at the same time. We had a great time.Auto-translated”
Spend 90 minutes learning to surf on Basse-Terre Island with Passion Surf Guadeloupe. Instructor Tillo explains the basics on land, then supervises you in the water with a maximum of six people. The session suits beginners and intermediate surfers, with a focus on safety, confidence, and respect for the marine environment.
“First time in less than an hour, up on the board and surfing! The instructor is awesome. He starts with a little ground school and then into the water, where he uses very positive encouragement to get to surfing it up! It was a fun drive from the cruise port and an awesome afternoon!!!”
Spend three hours aboard Saga, an 8-meter catamaran limited to seven people. From Terre de Haut, you will sail toward Terre de Bas, snorkel near sea turtles, and return through La Baie des Saintes. Guides including Arnaud and Yohan may let you steer, explain sailing, provide drinks, and share local tips.
“Super matinée avec Yohan au top on a vu une belle tortue et de superbes poissons!”
At Distillerie Bonne Mère in Sainte-Rose, your guide leads you through a 90-minute visit covering rum production, a distillation museum, an old cane railway bridge, copper columns, and a cellar holding nearly 10,000 barrels. The tour ends with a tasting of traditional Guadeloupe rums. Pierre may assist with English when available.
“Pleasant visit, many explanations were given to us, the dynamic animator pleasant, the setting well maintained, the perfect tasting. I strongly recommend visiting this beautiful rum.Auto-translated”
Join State Sailing instructor Arnaud or Joan for a three-hour catamaran trip around the Baie des Saintes. You can help with basic sailing maneuvers, relax on the trampoline, and swim or snorkel near sea turtles, colorful fish, and coral. The group is limited to seven people and returns to Terre-de-Haut.
“We had a wonderful time sailing and snorkeling with Joan! He was so knowledgeable about the area and an excellent sailor. The kids’ favorite experience from the trip was snorkeling with turtles. Merci beaucoup!”
Captain Xavier takes up to nine people across Guadeloupe’s calm Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin aboard Ti-Bo. You can help sail, snorkel near a fish-filled wreck, paddle among mangrove islets, and enjoy drinks and local food. The boat uses sail and solar power, avoids anchoring, and returns around 4 p.m.
“Most memorable part of the sailing trip was when Xavier taught us how to sail the boat. It was a team effort and we have created memories we will be laughing about for years as a group of friends. Strongly recommend, Xavier is a pro, he knoRead more”
Spend nine hours sailing from Marina Rivière-Sens to Terre-de-Haut with up to eight other passengers. Skippers such as Raphaëlle and Didier teach basic sailing, serve a homemade Creole lunch, and guide snorkeling at Pain de Sucre and a shipwreck. Expect a friendly, sea-focused day in English or French.
“Our skipper Raphaelle was amazing. She handled the sailboat like it was an extension of her own body. Very knowledgeable and very safety conscious. The rum tastings were great. The lunch and snacks were perfect. Raphaelle made the day perfect.”
Lena leads a small-group day from Sainte-Anne through Guadeloupe’s waterfalls, banana fields, black-sand beach, hot baths, and coastal waters. You’ll swim, snorkel near turtles, taste local food, watch the sunset, and receive photo and drone memories. The route can be adjusted for group size and mobility, but the waterfall walk requires care.
“Definitely worth it . We saw the most beautiful places in Guadeloupe thanks to this tour. I definitely recommend it ! :)”
Spend six full days exploring Basse-Terre and beyond with Raphael, a multilingual Guadeloupean guide. Expect La Soufrière, river pools, waterfalls, farms, rum distilleries, markets, beaches, cultural sites, local lunches, and lesser-known stops, with private transport and French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, or Creole available.
“It was a very good experience. Raphael was always very professional, good communication and detailed about his job. Very recommended!!”
You’ll pilot a small, license-free boat from Caraibes Gliss in Pointe-Noire to the Cousteau Reserve. After a safety briefing, use the map and marked buoys to reach six snorkeling areas, including the Japanese Garden, Coral Garden, Aquarium, and Turtle Garden. Equipment, a cooler, waterproof bags, and safety gear are provided, but you must walk or swim to the boat.
“Rented the small boat with (3) friends for a day of snorkeling! Owner Charlie was awesome to deal with; very organized and knowledgeable We loved the island and stop 3 and 4 Great day!”
Pick an island, a reef or a road.
