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February 12, 2025 14 mins
Discover the hidden gems of the Guadeloupe Islands, a French Caribbean paradise brimming with culture, history, and natural beauty. Join travel expert Darley Newman and local guides on an island-hopping adventure. Stroll through the lively markets on the island of Grand-Terre in the city of Pointe-à-Pitre, savoring fresh tropical fruits and the vibrant sounds of Gwo-Ka music—an Afro-Caribbean musical genre rooted in African, European, and Caribbean traditions. 

Dive into the history of the islands at the Memorial ACTe Museum, dedicated to the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.On Basse-Terre, walk in the footsteps of freedom fighters at Fort Delgrès, named in honor of Louis Delgrès, who heroically resisted the re-establishment of slavery in 1802. Savor local flavors with a taste of Guadeloupe’s iconic rum and indulge in the bokit, a beloved sandwich that captures the essence of island life.

Next, get active with a hike through the lush landscapes of Guadeloupe National Park and the towering La Soufrière Volcano. Hear from Audrey Yacou from the Guadeloupe Islands Tourism Board about annual events you might like to experience like Carnival, a celebration that showcases the rich cultural diversity of the islands. Whether you’re looking for adventure or relaxation, this episode offers practical tips on the best hotels and travel options, including convenient year-round direct flights from Miami. Don’t miss this immersive guide to the ultimate Guadeloupe getaway!
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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
When we talk about hidden gems in travel, there's a French Caribbean

(00:04):
destination that really stands out. It's the Guadeloupe Islands
and if you're looking for a beach vacation that's so much more,
this is your guide to these islands. In this podcast, we're taking you on location
on an island hopping adventure to uncover the Guadaloupe Islands',
rich food, culture, history, and outdoor adventures,

(00:26):
including Guadeloupe's largest city and the Guadeloupe National Park
with its active volcano and gardens, spas, and stunning beaches.
We'll talk to locals who will share the top hotels, restaurants, activities, festivals,
and the scoop on Carnival. It's really rooted in African tradition blended with European

(00:47):
and Caribbean elements, but there's this deep sense of history and identity tied to it.
So let's go island hopping. It's the Travels with Darley podcast,
where we take you to some of the world's best places with locals as our guides.
Located in the Eastern Caribbean between Dominica and Antigua,

(01:11):
the Guadeloupe Islands are an archipelago of stunning natural beauty
and abundant French Caribbean flavors.
An overseas department of France, French and Creole are spoken here,
and the islands are somewhat less discovered than their Caribbean counterparts.
We're starting our adventures on Grande Terre, an island known for its

(01:33):
sugar cane plantations, dramatic coastline, and Pointe-a-Pitre,
the largest city in the Guadeloupe Islands.
Often compared to New Orleans,
Pointe-a-Pitre's thriving markets, music, and art attract locals and travelers alike.
I'm meeting up with local Sandra Venite for an insider's introduction.
Darley, I just love the city of Pointe-a-Pitre because it's always something new to see and to discover.

(01:59):
You just have to look up and you always see something new, so I really like that.
Yeah, isn't it beautiful? It's so pretty. It's very alive too. There's the market going on and people everywhere.
Is it always like this?
It is on Saturday for weekends, people come here, with Saturday, we feel for the weeks, then
we come to the market, get a little bit of music, a little bit of jazz,
so it's kind of always jamming, especially on weekends and Saturdays.

(02:23):
Pointe-a-Pitre is really a city that you get attached to very, very quickly.
It's a perfect city to walk around and just look and
watch everything around you. It's pretty cool.
It does remind me of New Orleans, actually.
From French colonial architecture to live music to art, if you're visiting this city,
you might run into a bit of it all.
Down by the harbor, Sandra takes me to discover one of the city's dynamic markets,

(02:50):
where fruits and spices and fresh seafood are sold daily, a true feast for the senses.
All right, Darley, so in the Guadeloupe Islands, we have a lot of local fruits, very fresh, okay?
So I'm gonna test your knowledge right now. All right, so let's see what you got.
Okay. So do you know about this one?
Star fruit.
Oh la la, you're good.
I've been traveling some.

(03:11):
Okay, okay, I can see that.
But I don't know what this is though.
Oh, so this is Red currant.
We call it here Groseille.
So this is a very cultural food, so we use it to do like local juice,
rum-punch, and also for Christmas, this is what we do our Christmas drink with,
so it's very important here.
In the market, you'll find everything you'd need for a fresh daily meal or snack,

(03:33):
and further down the road,
Sandra and I come upon another market day treat, live Guadeloupean folk music, called Gwo-ka.
Listed by UNESCO as a symbol of Guadeloupean intangible heritage,
Gwo-ka combines Guadeloupean Creole songs, dancing, and rhythms, played on ka drums.
It's a method of expression that dates back to the 18th century,

(03:56):
and was originally created by the islands' enslaved peoples.
And it's not just something that's infectious in Guadeloupe's streets.
Travelers can also take classes in Gwo-ka, something I'm keen to try while in the Guadeloupe Islands.
Academy Duca in Pointe-a-Pitre offers Gwo-ka classes.
If you've tried fitness classes like Zumba, you might like Gwo-ka.

(04:20):
From city life to a nature escape, we're driving from the island of Grande Terre to the island
of Basse-Terre, and we're crossing over a short bridge that connects the two islands,
so we're technically island hopping already.

(04:40):
Basse-Terre is Guadeloupe's green island, with the majority of its interior being covered by dense
tropical forest and exterior rimmed in exotic black, pink, and caramel sand beaches.
Audrey Yacou is an expert on the Guadeloupe Islands.
As the PR and Marketing Officer for their tourism board, it's not only her job to know the ins and outs of the

(05:01):
islands, it's her passion. We're hearing from her on and off during this podcast to get further
tips on travel to the Guadeloupe Islands. I actually grew up in Basse-Terre in the north of the island,
in a beautiful town called Sainte-Rose, a very special place. It gets this mix of natural beauty and
rich culture. There's so much to do there. To name a few things, people can go visit the

(05:24):
Ecomusée, which showcases the history and tradition of the islands, to the Rum Museum and while you're
at it, you know, you might as well just enjoy a tasting. For adventure lovers, there are ATV rides
through the lush landscapes, horseback riding. A lot of people think that Pointe-a-Pitre is the capital
of the Guadeloupe Islands, but it's actually Basse-Terre, on the island of Basse-Terre. Basse-Terre is a kind of

(05:49):
sleepy little city. It's the home of government institutions. It's also a great place to try a local
specialty. If you head down by the water in the center of town, you'll find a variety of food trucks
that serve a special sandwich that's unique to the Guadeloupe Islands called the bokit. Bokits are
like a culinary institution on the Guadeloupe Islands. What makes them unique is the bread, which is made

(06:13):
with a basic flour, water, and salt, but instead of baking it in an oven, it's fried. Bokits are
thought to have been developed in the 1800s as a quick and inexpensive homemade meal. And today,
everybody eats them. A bokit can be filled with just about anything, ranging from chicken, to seafood,
to ham and cheese, and for just a few euros, you've got more than a meal. Mm. It's good. Definitely

(06:40):
filling. Very good. While in Basse-Terre, history enthusiasts may want to visit Fort Delgrès, a national
historic monument. It's here that in the early 1800s, two of Guadeloupe's leaders, including Louis Delgrès,
set off an explosion that took the lives of French troops and themselves in an effort to protest the

(07:02):
reinstitution of slavery. Like most Caribbean islands, the history of the Guadeloupe Islands is intertwined
with the history of slavery. And today, forts like this offer travelers the chance to learn about this
complex history, while enjoying serene views of the coast. Back over the bridge and we're learning
about another must visit location in the Guadeloupe Islands, the Memorial ACTe Museum. Audrey Yacou

(07:26):
shares what makes this site so special. The Memorial ACTe Museum is surely one of the most powerful
places you can visit in Guadeloupe. It's a world-class museum dedicated to the history of slavery and the
Transatlantic Slave Trade, but it goes way beyond that. It's also about resilience, culture, and the
shared legacy of the African diaspora. The museum opened in 2015, and it's not just a museum,

(07:52):
it's truly a whole experience. The architecture alone is breathtaking. There are interactive exhibits,
art installations, and multimedia displays connecting the past to the present.
What makes the Memorial ACTe so special is how it tells a story, not just of the pain and injustice of
slavery, but also of the strength and creativity that emerged from those struggles. The Memorial

ACTe Museum is part of UNESCO's Routes of Enslaved Peoples (08:15):
Resistance, Liberty and Heritage Programmes.
In 2015, shortly after inauguration, when Reverend Jesse Jackson visited, he called it the most
phenomenal museum of its kind in the world. He was absolutely right. It's a space where you can
surely reflect, learn, and honor the legacy of those who came before us. Back over the bridge to

(08:41):
Basse-Terre, and we're finding out more about what active nature enthusiasts can do in the Guadeloupe
Islands. We're climbing high into the rugged mountains of the Guadeloupe National Park,
where hiking trails and waterfalls abound. Designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO,
the Guadeloupe National Park boasts more than 30 waterfalls and over 250 miles of hiking trails,

(09:04):
many suitable for the novice hiker. Hiking expert Laurence Barret, who's been leading
travelers into the rainforests for many years, is taking me up to the highest peak in the Lesser
Antilles, La Soufrière volcano. The volcano's name is La Soufrière. It's an active, explosive volcano,
and we are going to go to the top of the volcano, to the foot of the volcano first.

(09:28):
Is this a hike that I can do as a beginner? Yes. It's easy? It's a, you must be in good shape.
Now the last time this erupted was in the 1970s, correct? Yes, it was in 1976.
Is it something that we have to worry about today? No, it's very well-observed and very secure.
So they're monitoring it well? Yeah.

(09:51):
On that note, I'm ready to climb the volcano. For eco-enthusiasts,
hiking up to La Soufrière is an exercise for all the senses, especially your sense of smell.
While at the base, you'll find exotic plants and flowers, higher up, Laurence tells me
I'll be smelling something entirely different.
We are going to smell the volcanic gas today. The sulfur. The sulfur, yes.

(10:17):
That's what I had to look forward to near the summit.
For now, I was beginning to feel the sometimes wet conditions of La Soufrière.
Well, luckily, the weather is very fine. It can change very quickly.
Preparing for the rain. Yes.
The abundant rainfall and sometimes harrowing winds don't seem to deter locals from coming here to work out.

(10:39):
Guadeloupeans are very active people. They love exercising.
They love coming to the volcano, La Soufrière, for practice running, trekking, walking a lot.
I can see how it's a great workout, actually, but running, I don't know.
As we walk up higher, I get my first views of La Soufrière.

(11:00):
It's dramatic up here.
In all her mysterious glory. Laurence explains La Soufrière's local nickname, the old lady,
and I can understand her fickle nature.
It's rare when La Soufrière's dome isn't covered in smoke or gas.
Though we do get a few windows of clarity when the views of the dome and the sea are spectacular.

(11:24):
Only to disappear once again with a sweep of a cloud.
Back down below, I enjoy a free reward post hike, soaking in La Soufrière's hot springs.
If you're headed here, bring your rain gear and bathing suit to fully enjoy the abundance of this

(11:45):
national park.
So how do you get to the Guadeloupe Islands and when should you go?
There are direct flights year-round out of Miami operated by American Airlines and Air France.
Since last September, 2024, it is now called the Guadeloupe International Maryse Condé Airport,

(12:09):
which is such a meaningful tribute.
Maryse Condé is one of Guadeloupe's most celebrated figures.
A world renowned author whose work beautifully captures the complexity of identity, culture and
history, not just for Guadeloupe, but the entire Caribbean, actually.
She's an inspiration and naming the airport after her is a powerful way to honor her legacy.

(12:30):
December to April is considered peak tourist season in the Guadeloupe Islands,
and it's a great time to visit for a variety of reasons,
including special festivals like Carnival.
Carnival in Guadeloupe is absolutely amazing. It's one of the biggest celebrations on the island
and it's not just a one day thing actually. It lasts for weeks.
Starting the first Sunday of January, running all the way through Ash Wednesday.

(12:52):
It's really a mix of vibrant music, dancing, costumes and tradition that really brings everyone together.
You can see parades in almost every town, but the main ones happen in places like Pointe-a-Pitre and Basse-Terre.
It's truly amazing to see the streets just come alive with the sounds of drums, horns and Gwo-ka

(13:12):
music. The costumes are incredible, bright, colorful and often handmade.
One of the unique things about the Guadeloupe Carnival is the mix of cultural influences.
It's really rooted in African tradition blended with European and Caribbean elements, so
there's this deep sense of history and identity tied to it.
Whenever you visit the Guadeloupe Islands, you're sure to come away with more than island vibes,

(13:38):
but a deeper respect and meaning for the culture and history that makes this destination so unique.
I'm Darley Newman, and if you enjoy the Travels with Darley Podcast,
please subscribe and stay tuned for our next episode, also on the Guadeloupe Islands.
[Music]
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