trekking / excursions on Guadeloupe : Green leisures

Green leisures on Guadeloupe : trekking / excursions

A paradise for excursions and trekking

Guadeloupe is an island fit to discover on foot, offering 300 km of footpath (signposted and regularly checked), 10 picnic areas and natural reserves that expand on over 1,800 hectares of tropical forest. Nature is most exuberant in the zone of Basse Terre, which is definitely the place to go if you are a fanatic of tropical rainforests.

Excursions are not of great difficulty (with the exception of a couple of paths), and are a pleasant way to view the magnificent landscapes and observe the flora. Be prepared to leave early for longer walks, as nightfall comes rather brusquely, and plan the length of your journey in time to be able to take maximum advantage of your day. It is thus best to purchase a topographic map edited by the island’s national park. Don’t forget to take a hat to shield you from the sun’s tropical rays, plenty of water, a comfortable pair of long pants to protect your legs from sharp plants, as well as a windcheater. A fine pair of walking shoes will be of great use, as mud is more than frequent on the mountain paths in all seasons.

You will have no difficulties in tracing the best paths to take in order to see a maximum of Guadeloupe’s beauty. It is advisable to leave the coast at certain times and take a look at the natural park, the Soufriere, taking a rest at Gosier or Sainte-Anne. Basse-Terre offers a myriad of paths, and you are sure to find the one most adapted to your endurance and sport capacities. The pretty track leading to the Ponds (Etangs) will take you about one and a half to two hours from Capesterre to Matouba. The track from the Carbet falls to Capesterre, in the same region, requires better physical condition, it is advisable to leave some time to be able to take a rest whenever necessary.

The path from the Moreau falls to Goyave takes around 4 hours, the tour of the Soufriere approximately 2 hours and a half. This latter, pleasant and not too trying circuit hosts the famous Victor-Hugues track, which leads all the way across Basse-Terre, displaying the most beautiful of the island’s sites. If you wish to gain a deeper knowledge of the region’s landscapes, flora and fauna, don’t hesitate to take a professional guide on your quest.