Transport : Within the island of Guadeloupe

Transport on Guadeloupe : Within the island

Car

In order to be permitted to drive in the West Indies, you must hold a national driver’s license, similarly to Metropolitan France. The road network, however, is not suitable for driving at the 90 km/h you are used to on the mainland. Roads are narrow, towns are at a close range and are not well signposted, and animals wander around without care for traffic, it is thus necessary to be prudent. Locals tend to drive extremely fast and we would suggest that you respect the speed limits and drive as carefully as possible.

Speed bumps are another factor that limits fast driving: they are everywhere and tend to be almost as high as walls in certain cases, it’s best to have a jeep to drive through easily. Traffic jams are also very common, especially on the sole coastal road, usually full of tourists visiting the region. Weather conditions, such as sudden downpours can also contribute to the endless delays on these roads.

Major road network

Roads 4, 6 and 8 are in good condition on Grande-Terre, though signposting is scarce in the Grands-Fonds, and many tourists get lost in this region. The best option is to ask the locals: they are friendly and helpful in pointing you towards the good direction. Driving is slower in more mountainous regions, and roads here are narrower and more winding, it is best to slow down in these areas as the side of the mountain road may be instable. The long, straight paths of the RN1 (from Pointe-a-Pitre to Capesterre through Basse-Terre) are often mistaken for a rally course by certain motorists; beware of Formula1 pilots in these parts. The D23 (route de la Traversee) passes through a beautiful green forest, and is one of the newest routes on the island: it is not more than twenty years old. It tours Basse-Terre from east to west, it is quite narrow yet in very good condition, a real tourist favourite, especially around the slope climbing from the waterfall of Ecrevisses, from where you can marvel at the beautiful view. More dangerous roads include the Saint-Francois road in the direction of Moule, and the RN2: be extremely prudent when driving in these regions, particularly on the east coast of Basse-Terre as the RN1 is usually full and locals tend to drive exceedingly fast.

Road maps

Collect your IGN (National Geographic Institute) map on arrival to Pointe-a-Pitre airport in the baggage reclaim area, or later on the island in any car rental shop.

State of roads

Water flowing through the roads is a typical problem in the rainy season, though in certain towns locals have dug ditches to avoid the flooding of the roads. Climate is harsh on the bitumen, and local bridges and pavements must endure a permanent clash of elements, many roads are thus under construction all year round. All in all, however, thanks to local and national road maintenance programmes, Guadeloupe’s road network is in fairly good condition, national roads are numbered and well conserved, and only secondary roads tend to be a bit winding or steep. The greatest number of accidents is caused by the excessive speed of local drivers, so it is advisable to be prudent and not to follow the local example.

Pay tolls

Highway fees are inexistent, as are highways themselves. Be prepared for pay tolls around paths leading to the sea, prices here vary but are never an excessive amount.

Signposting

Road signs tend to be imprecise and often misleading, which is not the case for tourist signs around the main beaches, informing visitors of different leisure facilities in the area (diving, sailing, skiing..). These indications are generally detailed and trustworthy.

Bus

Taking the bus is an excellent and colourful way to discover the island. The most important advantage (though rather inconvenient if you’re in a hurry or you like to keep timetables) is that busses stop wherever travellers so require: a simple sign of the hand is enough to bring the bus to a halt wherever you may be headed. Busses run every weekday, though never on weekends or after 6.30-7 pm. (except if you are travelling outwards from Pointe-a-Pitre, as this is the hour when everyone leaves the city for home). Inside the bus, you will experience a joyful mingling of locals and tourists, to the swaying ambiance of reggae and ragamuffin. Prices are flexible, varying according to distance…as well as other factors.

POINTE-A-PITRE BUS STATIONS. Gare routière de la Darse. Gâtine Platform (towards the south). Gare routière de Mortenol. (towards Le Moule and Anse-Bertrand). Gare routière de Bergevin. (towards Basse-Terre).

Taxi

Private taxies have the reputation of being quite expensive, and not always equipped with a taxi-meter. You have a great choice of taxies on the island, but to avoid an unpleasant surprise, it is best to fix a price with the driver before heading off on your journey.