Guadeloupe – April 23

Guadeloupe – April 23

This was our first visit here. This is another port that it was hard to find a private guide. I don’t think they get a lot of cruise ships. When I run out of options, I usually use Viator or a Tours By Locals type company. None of Viator’s regular tours picked up at the port or could accommodate our timeframe. So, they had a private tour for 6 hours and we could set up whatever we wanted to do.

Viator - 6 hour Private tour similar to Town to Nature and lunch and snacks are included – port pickup

https://www.viator.com/tours/Guadeloupe/Daily-island-tours/d4311-46401P6

We were early getting off the ship and waited just a short while for Taina our guide and owner of her company Guadeloupe Explor. info@guadeloupe-explor.com

You could easily contact her directly without going through Viator. Her English is very good, and we had a great day with her. Today we were joined by Bob & Phyllis and Toni & John. 

Taina took us on a walking tour of Pointe-à-Pitre. We didn’t know it was a walking tour which wouldn’t have mattered if we weren’t lugging around our snorkel gear & another extra bag since we figured we could leave it in the vehicle. It was hard to walk around the markets with all of our stuff, taking photos with a free hand and then she hands us all a banana to eat with our 3^rd free hand. And to top it off it was raining on and off. 

We visited a couple of markets and unlike most of these places that we tourists go through taking photos, many of these people did not seem to like us there, much less take photos of them or their stuff. (they are French after all…lol) 

The first one was the famous central market, also known as Saint-Antoine market. This market had many colorful stalls, all loaded with spices, exotic jams and punch, with the traders were in traditional madras dress. The next one was fruits and vegetables. That is where Taina bought our bananas. The lady she bought them from didn’t mind photos being taken, while everyone else held up newspapers to cover their faces or yelled at us. 

Then we went to the small fish market of La Darse, which takes place every morning from Monday to Saturday, and was sold by the fishermen that caught the fish that morning.

We then walked through a park, a small flower shop and then visited a church. Just when I thought my arms might fall off from carrying snorkel gear and my bags, we arrived at her van. She had lots of juices and tea or coffee for us. Then, we stashed our stuff in the van and got in for the drive to the other island. Guadeloupe is known as the butterfly island since it’s really 2 islands connected by a small bridge and it forms the shape of a butterfly. (sort of)

Basse-Terre is a pristine land of mountains, with one volcano, rainforests, and rivers. Our first stop on the island was the Sugar Cane & Rum Factory of Montebello. Taina gave us a tour of the factory and we climbed small ladders to get up and look into the vats and other ones to get a good look at the equipment used to make the rum. Of course, there was rum tasting. Greg found a 4 year old rum that he liked and bought a bottle.

Then off we went to cross the National Park and we stopped at the Crayfish waterfall which was a short walk and then some of us took a bit longer hike to the river and a swimming hole. It had started to rain harder here, but we made it. Then, back to look at the small craft shops there. We cut our shopping time short since she said we needed to hurry to make the noon presentation at the chocolate factory since that was the time they did the tour in English instead of French. I was waiting for change for a pair of abalone earrings and then we left. (didn’t get my token magnet, but I had high hopes for the stalls at the pier)

We got to the Chocolate factory and they switched the times in English, so she said we could go have lunch, snorkel and then we could go back. 

She drove us to Restaurant an Ba Re'zen LA where we were given a choice of chicken or fish and water was included, but if we wanted a soft drink or beer it was extra. The food was very good and then after the meal we had a choice of coconut or passionfruit ice cream. YUM!

Our next stop was to snorkel from shore in the Cousteau reserve. I think the better snorkeling would be to take the boat to the island and snorkel there, but we only had time to snorkel from shore. (later, I talked to someone that did that and they said it wasn’t worth it and wouldn’t do it again) We had to snorkel quite far before we got to where the fish, corals and sea grasses were and since we only had an hour, by the time we got to the “good spot” it was almost time to turn around and go back. We should have skipped this part of the tour in hindsight since there wasn’t any place to change and then we were wet to finish the tour. It originally was scheduled for our last stop, but since we had to reschedule the English-speaking tour of the chocolate factory, it made it a short stop and not last. (and the snorkeling wasn’t that great)

The sand was “grey” and we were a mess and Taia was great at providing water to wash our feet so we could get our shoes back on. 

So, our last stop was at La Maison du Cacao, a Chocolate Factory with tasting and was 8 euro per person. Their website is in French, but here is the link to reviews on tripadvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1214312-d1645645-Reviews-La_Maison_du_Cacao-Pointe_Noire_Basse_Terre_Island_Guadeloupe.html

It was a very good presentation and we got to taste quite a few varieties of chocolate including hot chocolate. The chocolate was as good as the reviews stated. (not if you were a milk chocolate lover though) We bought an assortment which Taina stored in her cooler to keep it from melting. 

Then, we headed back across the bridge to the other island and she dropped us off at the port. Unfortunately, all but 2 of the vendors had closed for the day and I didn’t get the magnet I wanted but found another one that will be my token magnet from Guadeloupe. 

I wouldn’t hesitate to use Taina again should we return to this lovely island. She is establishing a very good business for herself and knows how to pamper her guests. (not counting the walking tour part where we had to carry all of our stuff.) If we weren’t snorkeling it wouldn’t have been a problem at all. 

We got back on the ship and ate upstairs at the buffet since by the time we got showered and our snorkel gear rinsed it was too late to make dinner. 

The we went to the evening entertainment which was Christina Bianco a female vocalist, and she did a lot of impressions of divas. She was funny and a great entertainer. She had a nice voice when she sang as herself as well. Not all of her impressions were that good, but she was fun.

Then, back to the room to get ready for our last port of this world cruise which is St. Maarten. 

Guadeloupe https://photos.app.goo.gl/CNew3GPRWZB8cfNV7